SAA News Release

SSHRC Awards $200,000 for Saskatchewan Arts Research

For immediate release

June 25, 2013

SSHRC AWARDS $200,000 FOR SASKATCHEWAN ARTS RESEARCH

The Saskatchewan Partnership for Arts Research (SPAR) is pleased to announce the receipt of a $200,000 Partnership Development grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for a three year study entitled, Understanding the Arts Ecology of Saskatchewan. Formally announced in March, SPAR was formed by four partners: the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance, Saskatchewan Arts Board, SaskCulture and the University of Regina.

This research project will explore the interconnections between artists, arts organizations and the surrounding community. We anticipate the results of this research will have significant impact on programming offered by arts agencies and governments, as well as an impact on the understanding within the arts community and the wider public as to how artists work, what they contribute to our economic and cultural well-being along with the obstacles they face.

Based at both the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan, researchers will collaborate at each stage of the process with a Community of Understanding, which includes artists; arts patrons; provincial and municipal government officials, and arts research specialists at the national and international levels. The research team consists of researchers from the Fine Arts, Sociology, Human Justice, Kinesiology and Health Studies, Geography, and Economics.

Already preparation leading to a survey process is helping to create improved understanding of the Arts community. A cultural mapping project to identify and locate provincial arts organizations and related facilities is underway.

The Saskatchewan Arts Alliance has created an online artist registry which has the potential to become the first ever comprehensive listing of provincial artists. Individuals who wish to be included in this registry should go to https://secure.artsalliance.sk.ca/?path=connect/saskatchewan-artists-registry.

For further information about this project, please contact:

Jessica Riess, Communications & Outreach Officer
Saskatchewan Arts Alliance
T. 306-780-9820  |  outreach@artsalliance.sk.ca  | www.saskartsalliance.ca

Mary Blackstone – Interviews arranged through the SAA office.