Two Yorkton organizations received grants from the Saskatchewan Arts Board at the recent deadlines:
- Godfrey Dean Art Gallery Inc. received a $49,000 Professional Arts Organizations Program grant to support its operations.
- Yorkton Film Festival received a $53,000 SaskFestivals grant to support its operations.
Don Stein, executive director of the Godfrey Dean Gallery said the funding is a continuation for the gallery.
“It’s the same funding we’ve been getting the last 10-12 years,” he said, adding they did have to reapply as the program is evolving to a four-year cycle.
The stability of a four-year cycle is a big step, said Stein as it allows for planning with greater knowledge of the money you have to work with.
In the case of the money for the Godfrey Dean Gallery it is for day-to-day operations.
“This stuff allows you to just operate, it’s not tied to a projector an artist ... It allows us to operate as a professional art operation,” said Stein.
Randy Goulden, executive director of the Yorkton Film Festival said the funding is something they have received in past years, but they had to re-apply in April for a new cycle of funding.
“We’re really pleased that we have sustainable funding with a four-year program,” she said, adding the SaskFestivals grant “is one of our (YFF’s) major funders.
“It’s really good news for the Board of the Yorkton Film Festivals.”
The Professional Arts Organizations Program provides support to professional arts organizations’ programs and services, governance, management, administration and operational functions. The program is supported by funding from SaskCulture Inc. through the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation.
The SaskFestivals program provides financial support for festival organizations’ artistic programs, services, governance, management, administrative and operational functions. The program is supported by funding from SaskCulture Inc. through the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation.
At the most recent grant deadlines, the Saskatchewan Arts Board awarded funding to more than 180 individuals and organizations, totaling almost $5.3 million. Arts Board funding supports a variety of initiatives, including organizations that provide ongoing programs in the arts, the creative work of professional artists, community art projects and the engagement of professional artists to work in schools with students and teachers.
Established in 1948, the Saskatchewan Arts Board is the oldest public arts funder in North America and second oldest in the world after the Arts Council of Great Britain. We provide grants, programs and services to individuals and groups whose activities have an impact on the arts in Saskatchewan and ensure that opportunities exist for Saskatchewan residents to experience all art forms. For more information on our programs and services, visit www.saskartsboard.ca.
