Photo by Kevin Hogarth.
Message from the CEO
On the granting side, we saw historic levels of uptake in SaskCulture’s programs. In 2024, the Aboriginal Arts and Culture Leadership Grant received 38 applications — a 46.2 per cent increase from the 26 received in 2023. The Métis Cultural Development Fund also saw an increase, with 37 applications submitted in 2024, a 32 per cent increase from the previous year. We launched an Accessibility Fund to ensure lottery funds are accessible to as many organizations as possible. SaskCulture provided ten lunch and learn webinars — over 400 people tuned in to learn with us! As part of our Funding Program Renewal Project, our staff was busy working with consultants to launch the largest consultation in our organization’s history. This marked a significant milestone in our efforts to listen, learn, and better understand the evolving needs of Saskatchewan’s cultural community. This consultation is the first of more to come, as we
continue to work toward a funding system that is more inclusive, responsive and sustainable. None of this would be possible without funding provided through the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation. The past year was definitely one that required all hands on deck. I want to thank our partners and the SaskCulture staff for their dedication and seemingly endless levels of passion and energy. Of course, I need to thank our Board of Directors for their leadership and insight as we move forward to build a more culturally vibrant Saskatchewan!
As we do our daily work and try to keep up, as well as attempt to respond to all the needs and issues facing the cultural sector, it sometimes does not leave us much time to reflect on the work that has been done. Yet reflection is important, not only to celebrate our accomplishments, but also to honour the people and partnerships that make that progress possible. This past year, we celebrated several milestones. Culture Days celebrated its 15th year! In Saskatchewan, we once again surpassed attendance records at Culture Days events with over 120,000 Culture Days participants attending 315 different events in 52 communities. Creative Kids has funded over 16,000 applications in nearly 300 communities in our province since its start nearly 15 years ago. That put $7.6 million dollars in the pockets of cultural workers in our province.
Sincerely,
Dean Kush
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