Strategic Priority 1
Funding is sustainable and adaptable to changing needs
Community voices drive change Advancing inclusive and responsive funding
Communities across Saskatchewan are helping shape how SaskCulture’s funding programs evolve. Through ongoing conversations, feedback, and shared experiences, people are identifying what’s working, what’s not, and where changes are needed to make funding more accessible and inclusive. These conversations are helping identify barriers and highlight ways to better support equity- denied communities, including Indigenous, ethnocultural, 2SLGBTQ+, and disability communities. SaskCulture continues to listen and adjust its approach as it learns. “We are continuing to listen carefully and apply what we’re learning as we go,” says Dean Kush, chief executive officer, SaskCulture. “This is not a one-time process; it’s ongoing, and it’s shaping how we move forward as an organization.”
Feedback gathered through consultations and research has also directly informed SaskCulture’s five-year Strategic Plan. Rather than treating Funding Program Renewal as a separate initiative, the Strategic Plan positions it as ongoing work to strengthen SaskCulture funding programs. Among the changes informed by this feedback is a move to provide 100% upfront payment for SaskCulture’s project grants. This approach removes cash flow barriers and enables organizations to focus their energy on delivering meaningful work in their communities. This shift reflects what was heard through funding research and sector consultations about trust-based granting practices. It is balanced by a follow-up reporting process that supports accountability. Other changes focus on making funding more intentional and impactful. The Multicultural Initiatives Fund – Project, for example, now includes two streams for Major and Small projects, to increase support for smaller initiatives from rural regions in the province. This ensures that funding supports work that reflects community priorities. Changes are also being made to how programs are experienced by applicants and assessors. Many grant programs now include a trauma- informed approach, asking applicants to consider how their work supports participant well-being,
What’s being heard is already shaping action.
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