Em Ironstar
Executive Director Saskatchewan Arts Alliance
Submitted
Recent debates about arts funding in Saskatchewan have focused on two very different situations: the urgent need to protect Globe Theatre in Regina and the public reaction to Saskatoon’s Modern Erratics public art installation.
Both conversations have raised legitimate questions. Public investment must be responsible.
Communities deserve transparency about how decisions are made, how projects are managed, and how public dollars are spent.
But these debates should not lead us to conclude that arts and culture are not worth investing in. The Globe Theatre’s situation demonstrated what can happen when a major cultural project faces extraordinary challenges. A global pandemic, inflation, supply-chain disruptions and the complexity of restoring a heritage building created pressures that could not have been fully anticipated when the project began. Regina City Council ultimately recognized that protecting the investment already made was in the community’s interest.
The conversation in Saskatoon has been different. Residents have questioned the cost, process and value of three recycled-plastic sculptures. Those questions are fair. Public art requires strong planning, communication and accountability.
The broader lesson from both situations is the same: communities need thoughtful arts policies, not less commitment to arts and culture.
That matters in every Saskatchewan community. Arts organizations operate in theatres, galleries, museums, community halls and festivals across the province. They create opportunities for people to gather, participate, learn and celebrate their local identity. They support artists and cultural workers, contribute to local economies and help build the sense of belonging that makes communities stronger.
A province-wide survey commissioned by the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance found that 744 per cent of Saskatchewan residents believe arts and culture are important to their quality of life. Eighty-four percent said the arts improve their communities, and 80% said the arts bring people together.
Those benefits do not disappear because a community is smaller. In fact, smaller organizations often have fewer resources and less room to absorb rising costs.
When funding remains flat while costs increase, organizations are effectively being asked to do more with less every year. That can mean fewer programs, reduced access, less support for artists and more time spent responding to financial pressures instead of planning for the future.
Predictable, indexed funding — combined with transparent decision-making and accountability —gives organizations the stability to plan, remain accessible and continue serving their communities.
The answer to recent controversies is not to walk away from the arts. It is to make sure public investments are thoughtful, accountable and sustainable.
Saskatchewan communities have already told us that arts and culture matter. Now our public policies need to reflect that.
