Saskatchewan Arts Board

The Saskatchewan Arts Board is an arms-length funding agency that provides grants, programs and services to individuals and groups whose activities have an impact on the arts and the people of Saskatchewan. Established by the Government of Saskatchewan in 1948, it was the first agency of its kind in North America.

The professional and management staff of the Arts Board provides consultation services in a variety of areas including community and organizational development, research, information, advocacy and communications. In addition, the Arts Board is involved in a number of partnerships and co-operative arrangements with like-minded organizations and manages the world's largest collection of art objects exclusively by Saskatchewan artists.

The importance of the input and feedback of the community it serves is a priority throughout the Arts Board's operations and is formalized within the "Arts Board Act, 1997". Although officially appointed by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council, one-third of the members of the Arts Board’s board of directors are chosen from a list of nominees provided by the arts community. This process assists in ensuring the Arts Board is representative of the thoughts, ideas and directions of the community itself. The board reports to the province’s minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

The Arts Board offers several funding opportunities to individuals and organizations, including [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_arts_smarts_program.shtml ArtsSmarts] , [http://artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_air.shtml Artist in Residence Grant] (Developmental and Residency and Residency Renwal Phases), [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_ia.shtml Independent Artists Grant] , [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_imminent_travel.htm Imminent Travel Grant] , [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_new_media.htm New Media Assistance Grant] , [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_project.shtml Project Assistance Grant] , [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_ta.shtml Indigenous Pathways Initiative – Traditional Arts Grant] , [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_bag.htm Indigenous Pathways Initiative – Contemporary Arts Grant] , [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_global.shtml Global Grants Multi-Year Assistance and Special Initiatives] , [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_annual_global.shtml Global Grants Annual Assisance] and [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_pco.shtml Provincial Cultural Organization Grant] programs.

The Arts Board also offers two scholarships for students in the arts: the [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_prince.shtml Prince Edward Drama Scholarship] and the [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Grants/grants_premier.shtml Premier's Centennial Arts Scholarship] .

Lieutenant Governor's Arts Awards

On the occasion of its 40th anniversary in 1988, the Arts Board established the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Arts. The award honours Saskatchewan individuals whose accomplishments have had a major impact on the arts provincially, nationally and internationally.

In 2004, the awards program expanded and the Arts Board established the Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Awards to recognize the achievements made by individuals, groups and organizations in the arts. Award categories include Lifetime Achievement, 30 Below, Leadership, and Innovation in the Arts. In 2008, in celebration of the Arts Board's 60th anniversary, two new award categories were added: Volunteer and the Arts and Learning. Nomination criteria is found [http://artsboard.sk.ca/News/pdf/LG%20Awards%20Call%20for%20Nominations%202008.pdf here] .

In celebration of Saskatchewan’s Centennial in 2005, the Co-operators commissioned an original piece of artwork by Joe Fafard that will be awarded to Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Awards recipients for years to come. In addition to the artwork, all award recipients receive a cash prize.

Past recipients of the Lieutenant Governor's Arts Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Arts are found [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca/Tribute/tribute.shtml here] .

Selected Related Readings

W.A. Riddell, "Cornerstone For Culture: A history of the Saskatchewan Arts Board from 1948 to 1978". Published by the Saskatchewan Arts Board, 1979.

"Saskatchewan Arts Strategy, Focus on the Future". The Report of the Saskatchewan Arts Strategy Task Force, December, 1990.

"Saskatchewan Arts Board Annual Reports", 1949-2004 . Saskatchewan Arts Board Reports and Documents, www.artsboard.sk.ca

A.W. Johnson, "Dream No Little Dreams. A Biography of the Douglas Government of Saskatchewan, 1944-1961". U. of Toronto Press, Toronto, 2004.

*The quote by T.C. Douglas concluding paragraph two is cited in Johnson, page 163. Originally found in Lewis H. Thomas, ed., "The Making of a Socialist: The Recollections of T.C. Douglas" (Edmonton: University of Alberta, 1982), 320-321.

External links

* [http://www.artsboard.sk.ca Saskatchewan Arts Board]