Micro-Grant Program
Provides support to professional artists and arts organizations.
The Micro-Grant Program provides support to professional artists and arts organizations to achieve outcomes that create access for first-time and under-served applicants, contribute to professional practice and development, and advance the professional arts and artistic practices in Saskatchewan. The program is delivered in three streams: First Grant, Organizational Development, and Professional Development.
The Organizational Development stream provides support to professional arts organizations to increase their organizational and artistic capacity by:
- Undertaking specialized artistic or administrative training and education
- Strategic planning
- Undertaking operational transitions
- Creating access for underserved applicants
The First Grant stream supports Saskatchewan-based Professional Artists and Professional Artist Collectives who have not received a grant from SK Arts. The goals of this stream are to:
- Support and provide access to previously unfunded and underserved professional artists and artist collectives in Saskatchewan
- Contribute to the development of professional artists in Saskatchewan
The Professional Development stream supports Saskatchewan-based Professional Artists, Arts Professionals and Professional Artist Collectives in their continuing development through small-scale formalized or traditional learning opportunities such as paid mentorships, workshops, courses, conferences, or seminars.
Deadlines
- First Grant: December 1, 2026, February 1 and September 1
- Organizational Development: June 1
- Professional Development: December 1, 2026, February 1, June 1 and September 1
Contact
First Grant
Tomas Jonsson
(306) 519-7831 (Regina) or 800-667-7526 (Toll-Free)
tjonsson@sk-arts.ca
Organizational Development
Geoff Smith
(306) 260-5784 (Saskatoon) or 800-667-7526 (Toll-Free)
gsmith@sk-arts.ca
Professional Development
Danica Lorer
(306) 290-7738 (Saskatoon) or 800-667-7526 (Toll-Free)
dlorer@sk-arts.ca
General
Pauline Whitehead
(306) 220-3793 (Saskatoon) or 800-667-7526 (Toll-Free)
pwhitehead@sk-arts.ca
Application and Information
All Streams
First Grant
Organizational Development
Professional Development
Eligibility
First Grant
Eligible professional artists and professional artists collectives based in Saskatchewan who have not received a SK Arts grant previously. To apply to this program an applicant must not have previously received a SK Arts grant. This does not apply to:
- recipients of the Prince Edward Arts Scholarship,
- artists who have been a part of a SK Arts-funded project but were not the lead applicant,
- artists who have been a member of a previously funded collective but have yet to receive funding as an individual, or
- collectives that have not received funding but have members who have received funding as individuals.
Organizational Development
This program supports professional arts organizations with a centre of operations in Saskatchewan and a primary mandate in the arts, working in areas of research, creation, production, presentation, professional development, exhibition, publishing or community engagement. These organizations:
- Are in good standing at SK Arts and have no overdue grant reports,
- Have a demonstrated history of public programs and operations, and
- Produce, present or contribute to the creation and development of professional artists’ work.
Professional Development
This grant can be used to support artistic and professional skills development for individuals and collectives.
Professional Artists
Eligible artists who apply to this program must demonstrate they meet the following professional art criteria:
SK Arts exists to support the work of professional artists and arts organizations for the benefit of all people in this province, but we acknowledge there are many different ways to define the term professional artist. SK Arts is also aware that this term may not be recognized in some cultures and that people from diverse backgrounds may define the term differently. We believe that a professional artist makes a significant and ongoing
commitment to developing their artistic practice. For the purposes of SK Arts’ programs and funding, a professional artist typically meets a number of the following criteria, in a manner appropriate to their art tradition, to demonstrate this type of significant and ongoing commitment.
Arts Professionals
Arts professionals work in the arts sector, like arts managers or technicians, and have achieved similar status to professional artists through training, professional experience, and practice. An arts professional provides evidence that they have significant experience working in the arts sector through an extensive resume. Arts professionals must choose opportunities in their field, expanding their current skills, not something outside of their past or present work.
Professional Artist Collectives
A professional artist collective is two or more professional artists who regularly create, produce, or present work together under a group name. Typically, a collective can show an established history of working together and has registered as an applicant in SK Arts’ online grant system. One collective member serves as the contact person (must be a Saskatchewan resident), submits the application on behalf of the collective, and ensures that all grant and reporting requirements are fulfilled. Fifty per cent of the collective must meet the Saskatchewan residency criteria.
Please review the guidelines for each stream for full details on eligibility.
Maximum Funding
- First Grant: $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for collectives
- Organizational Development: $5,000
- Professional Development:
- $1,000 for projects within 100 km of the applicant’s current living (not mailing) address, or
- $2,500 for projects that require travel
Photo credit: Elaine Angelski creates pottery as part of a project during the COVID-19 lockdown. Photo by Daniel Dillon.
