Open
SaskFestivals – Project
Support for professional arts festivals
Record updated
- Funding available
- $ 9,000
- Deadline
- Open continuously
- Location
- Saskatchewan, Canada
Overview
SaskFestivals – Project supports Saskatchewan non-profit organizations and not-for-profit ad hoc groups, collectives, and unincorporated organizations with maximum funding of $9,000, to deliver professional festivals, series, and community projects across Saskatchewan. Eligible costs can include artists’ fees, production, and promotion for arts activities in music, dance, theatre, crafts, literary arts, media, and visual arts.
At a glance
Funding available
- Maximum funding
- $9,000
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible candidates
- Location
- Saskatchewan
- Eligible Industries
- All industries
- Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
- Organisation size
- All organization sizes
- Audience
- All groups
- Legal structures
- Non-profit
Start applying for this program
Take a practical assessment to gain a clear understanding of how well this program aligns with your specific needs and long-term goals.
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Legally registered Saskatchewan non-profit organizations.
- Ad hoc groups, collectives, or unincorporated organizations operating on a not-for-profit basis.
Who is not eligible
- Provincial cultural organizations and organizations that receive operational member funding from a provincial cultural organization.
- Organizations that receive funding from SK Arts’ Professional Arts Organizations Program or from the Development or Established streams of the SaskFestivals program.
- Festivals and events that are competitive in nature and charge participants a fee to compete, or that support definable political, religious, or spiritual viewpoints, seek only a special interest audience, or recruit new members.
- Festivals and events that are primarily fundraisers or charity events.
- Applicants with outstanding reports for any previous grant received from SK Arts.
Eligible expenses
- Payments to artists, including professional fees, royalties, and travel.
- Production and materials.
- Equipment rental.
- Promotion, advertising, or marketing.
- Personnel and administration.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Projects in which artists are not paid for their work, and non-arts program components of festivals or events.
- Festivals, events, programs, series, or activities that take place before the application closing date.
- Activities that contravene provincial or federal law.
- Activities that use or present Indigenous cultural material, traditional knowledge, or stories without consultation and permission from the community.
- Prizes, gifts, and awards, except ceremonial gifts or tobacco directly related to the project artists.
Eligible geographic areas
- Saskatchewan
Activities funded
- Professional festivals and series.
- Festival arts activities in music, dance, theatre, crafts, literary arts, media, and visual arts.
How to apply
- Submit the application online only through SK Arts’ SmartSimple system.
Documents Needed
- Balanced budget.
- Support letter from an Elder or member of the Indigenous community if the project involves Indigenous material or traditional knowledge.
Selection criteria
- Artistic impact, including artistic merit, professionalism, and contribution to the development, understanding, and appreciation of art and artists in Saskatchewan.
- Community impact, including relevance to stakeholders and the public and community engagement through audience participation, volunteerism, partnerships, and sponsorships.
- Planning, including the ability to carry out the project and realistic, achievable, cost-effective development and implementation plans.
- Bonus points for applicants with no prior funding through the SaskFestivals program and applicants from locations outside Saskatoon and Regina.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are assessed by an independent panel of reviewers through a competitive process based on the assessment criteria.
- Recipients must submit a final report through SmartSimple, including a financial report, within 30 days after the project end date.
- Receipts for major expenses totaling the amount of the grant awarded are required for the final report.
- Recipients must acknowledge the support of SK Arts and Sask Lotteries wherever possible and appropriate.
- If awarded, the recipient’s name, community, brief project description, and grant amount will be made public.
Additional information
- The Arts Professions Act requires written contracts in all transactions between professional artists and those who hire them, engage their services, or use their creative work.
Contacts
Official sources
Frequently Asked Questions about the SaskFestivals – Project Program
What is the SaskFestivals – Project?
SaskFestivals – Project supports Saskatchewan non-profit organizations and not-for-profit ad hoc groups, collectives, and unincorporated organizations with maximum funding of $9,000, to deliver professional festivals, series, and community projects across Saskatchewan. Eligible costs can include artists’ fees, production, and promotion for arts activities in music, dance, theatre, crafts, literary arts, media, and visual arts.
How much funding can be received?
SaskFestivals – Project Funds up to $9,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the SaskFestivals – Project program?
To be eligible for the SaskFestivals – Project program, you must:
The applicant must be legally registered in Saskatchewan as a non-profit organization, or operate as an ad hoc group, collective, or unincorporated organization on a not-for-profit basis.
The proposed program must engage professional artists during its presentation.
The project must provide public access to the arts through a festival setting.
What expenses are eligible under SaskFestivals – Project?
Payments to artists, including professional fees, royalties, and travel.
Production and materials.
Equipment rental.
Promotion, advertising, or marketing.
Personnel and administration.
Who can I contact for more information about the SaskFestivals – Project?
You can contact Saskatchewan Arts Board or by phone at (306) 787-4056.
Where is the SaskFestivals – Project available?
The SaskFestivals – Project program is available the province of Saskatchewan.