March 23, 2017
UPCOMING FUNDING DEADLINES
March 31, 2017

April 17, 2017

April 17, 2017

April 30, 2017


Opportunities
Job Gallery
Summer Heritage Interpreter (Saskatoon) - Mar 24

Collections Curator (Saskatoon) - Mar 24

Executive Director (Saskatoon) - Mar 30

Sask Aboriginal Storytelling Project Coordinator (SK-wide) - Mar 31

Community Program & Outreach Coordinator (Kronau) - Apr 9

Museum Coordinator & Admin Assistant (Kronau) - Apr 9

Summer Event Coordinator Assistant (French - Regina) - Apr 16

Summer Assistant Editor (French - Regina) - Apr 16)
Events
Check out SaskCulture's events listing for cultural activities around the province.
NEWS
Provincial Budget 2017-18 - Tough Day for Saskatchewan
As expected the 2017-18 Provincial Budget did not bring much good news, but based on other sectors, the impact to culture could have been much worse. Reductions were made throughout the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport's budget; however, as stated by the government, "key programs and services remain strong and viable".  While funding for Wanuskewin, Western Development Museum and the Saskatchewan Science Centre remained status quo, both Saskatchewan Arts Board ($6.6 million) and Creative Saskatchewan ($7.3 million) were reduced by 5% . In addition, the Culture on the Go grant of $800,000 was eliminated. 
 
The Community Initiatives Fund was decreased by 3.6% to $8.89 million, Community Sport, Culture and Recreation Programs was decreased by 51%, and Parks saw increases and decreases, mainly decreases to  Regional Parks and Meewasin Valley Authority , which resulted in an 11% reduction
 
The Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation was reduced to $300,000 (from $504,000), and will become solely a grant program run through the Ministry. And, the Main Street Program, run previously through SaskCulture, and the Commercial Rink Sustainability Program, important to the recreation community, were both suspended.
 
Besides the cuts made to STC and an one per cent increase in provincial sales tax, there were other areas of this budget that will have an impactSaskCulture is also concerned about cuts made to Saskatchewan libraries, which are funded through the Ministry of Education The seven regional library systems will be decreased by $3.5 million to $2.5 million in 2017-18; and the municipal library funding for Regina and Saskatoon Public Libraries, of $1.3 million, will be eliminated. Libraries have a crucial role in helping to deliver cultural programming to Saskatchewan people, and these cuts may cause reductions in these types of services.
 
SaskCulture will be meeting with the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport later in April and will have an opportunity to better discuss the implications of these funding decisions, and what we can look forward to in the future.
 
 
Federal Budget Focus on Infrastructure and Reconciliation
Released the same day as the provincial budget, today's 2017-18 federal budget had a positive outlook with a focus on infrastructure and support to Indigenous communities.
 
Last year, the Canadian government invested $1.9 million over five years to support key national cultural institutions.  This year, the government will increase its investment to $1.8 billion over 10 years starting in 2018-19.  Of this amount, more than $1.3 billion will be provided to provinces and territories through integrated bilateral agreements, on a base plus per capita allocation. The investment will be delivered through the second phase of social infrastructure funding. 
 
A further $300 million over 10 years was identified to go the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to help construct, renovate and better equip the creative spaces and hubs.
 
Budget 2017 is also proposing to invest $89.9 million over the next three years to support Indigenous languages and cultures. This includes $69 million to significantly enhance the Aboriginal Languages initiative; $14.9 million for Library and Archives Canada to support the digitization of existing Indigenous language and cultural materials; and $6 million for the National Research Council of Canada to develop, in collaboration with Indigenous stakeholders, information technology to preserve oral histories by converting speech to text, and creating other interactive education materials.
 
In addition, to celebrate and promote Canada's linguistic diversity, $80 million over 10 years will be invested to support the construction of community educational infrastructure in official language minority communities.   
 
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: Cameco Creative Kids Northern Cultural Fund
The application deadline for the Cameco Creative Kids Northern Cultural Fund  has been extended to March 29, 2017. Get your application in for creative programs for children and youth ages 4 to 19 in Northern communities that address the cultural, creative or artistic needs of their community, up to a maximum of $7,500.  Visit the Creative Kids website for the guidelines and application.
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Call for Nominations - SaskCulture Board of Directors
SaskCulture is seeking volunteers for the SaskCulture Board of Directors. SaskCulture strives to build a culturally vibrant future in which all citizens of Saskatchewan individually and collectively, celebrate, value and support participation in and access to cultural experience.   Positions to be filled include one, two-year term in Cultural Industries, Heritage, Métis and Membership at Large. 
 
The complete application package for the SaskCulture Board is available on the SaskCulture website.
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Saskatchewan's New Poet Laureate 
The Saskatchewan Writers' Guild announced Brenda Schmidt of Creighton as the seventh Poet Laureate of Saskatchewan.
ORGANIZATIONAL RESOURCES
In this week's Organizational Resources feature, we take a look at some steps and resources to help organizations build inclusiveness.

Once an organization has decided that building inclusiveness is important to its sustainability, the following steps may be considered in order to assess, build, nurture and sustain a culturally inclusive workplace:
  • Assess your organization
  • Nurture a culturally diverse board
  • Take the bias out of recruitment and hiring
  • Build and maintain a culturally diverse workplace
  • Ensure inclusive policies
  • Learn about other cultures in your community
  • Reach out to diverse groups
  • Work to end racism
  • Evaluate your progress
For more information, resources and helpful links, be sure to check out How Can We Build It In Our Organization.
Stay Connected
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The whole issue revolves around Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and features an interview with ICH stewards Dale Jarvis and Kristin Catherwood; stories about how food is an integral part of ICH; the importance of nature to Indigenous culture; and the Town of Allan's Culture Days celebration with its myriad of heritage-themed activities.

SaskCulture's E-Update is a weekly electronic bulletin that includes information on upcoming SaskCulture events, programs and activities, along with other information and events that may be useful to cultural organizations, or individuals, interested in building a culturally vibrant community. 
 
SaskCulture receives financial assistance from  Saskatchewan Lotteries.