The Saskatchewan government has pledged an $800,000 investment in the Culture on the Go program, which helps Saskatchewan artists take their shows on the road.
The funding is divided equally between Creative Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Arts Board. The difference between the two is that Creative Saskatchewan helps people tour outside the province and the production must have a commercial bent, while the Arts Board helps people tour mostly within the province and are not necessarily commercial.
“The most significant difference is the tours we support must have commercial intent. The Arts Board doesn’t have that intent,” said JP Ellson, the CEO for Creative Saskatchewan.
The Arts Board recently helped Saskatoon’s Sum Theatre take its original play on a four-date international tour.
“The tour put us on the national and international stage as a company that produces relevant and exciting new Canadian theatre,” play co-writer, actor, and Sum Theatre Artistic Director Joel Bernbaum said in a news release. “I’m grateful to the Arts Board for providing this foundational piece of my growth as a theatre artist.”
To get funding from Creative Saskatchewan, the production has to have at least six dates with no more than five days between performances. They provide a marketing plan and Creative Saskatchewan has an advisory council or jury assess them.
“The people who look at them are quite knowledgeable as to what’s a reasonable cost,” Ellson said.
Pretty much any artistic endeavour is eligible for Culture on the Go: music, theatre, dance, crafting, and coming up are a few book tours.
“Our mandate is to increase the gross domestic product of Saskatchewan that’s brought about by economic activity in the creative industries,” Ellson said.
When reviewing an application, Creative Saskatchewan looks at details of the tour, where they are going, and the capacity of the venues.
“The most important part is what is their plan to market it, to increase the exposure of themselves,” Ellson said.
Creative Saskatchewan has helped fund such artists as Dead South, Young Benjamins, and JJ Voss.
Culture on the Go began in 2009 and was originally a program exclusively run by the Saskatchewan Arts Board, but the funding was split when Creative Saskatchewan began two years ago.
“Culture on the Go benefits Saskatchewan artists and audiences as it promotes cultural activities within Saskatchewan, across Canada and internationally,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Mark Docherty said in a news release. “The success of Saskatchewan’s creative industries contributes to our economy and the work of Saskatchewan artists enhances our quality of life.”
