ABOUT US

We foster connection with artists and communities by building a sense of empathy, understanding, and belonging through the development of authentic relationships. Connection is of paramount importance as we build relationships with each community. This empowers our work to leave a positive and lasting impact on both project participants and others in the community. Connection makes social change possible.

We work with artists and Saskatchewan communities to create platforms through which everyone and anyone will be able to express themselves, regardless of their social, economic, religious, cultural, or gender identities. We believe everyone deserves to hold a meaningful sense of belonging within society. Equity is a benchmark goal  that we aim toward in all our undertakings, and we strive to ensure that the work we do is accessible to everyone.

Creativity is a means and an end in our work. We support artists and communities in expressing their identities and speaking their voices through socially-engaged arts programming. Creativity allows us  to do things differently, challenge the status quo,  and connect with each other through shared experience. Creativity opens our minds to new thought processes and allows us to learn and unlearn, so we can foster the growth of healthier communities through engaged artistic practice.

Many of the communities in which we work are impacted by historical trauma, ongoing injustice, and economic poverty. When a crisis or tragedy arises, this must be prioritized above all else: our ideal project timeline, Western societal assumptions, or funder expectations. We also strive to keep a steady focus on the changing needs and limitations of staff in order to reduce stress and burnout, and to make our workloads more manageable.

We recognized that leadership means listening to the voices of others. We endeavour to learn from our communities so that we can be always doing better for each other. While developing programs, we strive to prioritize the specific needs and strengths of the communities and artists. This often calls for strategies that are tailored and often idiosyncratic, fostering a strong sense of innovative leadership.  We stand up for important social issues in our communities as a means of creating social change.

We understand that the work we do must be a reflection of the communities we serve, supporting and allowing the communities to tell their stories in their own voices. We strive to be responsive to the nuances and changing needs of artists and  communities, and we value flexibility, wherever possible, as new and unexpected challenges arise.

We recognize and understand that many of the communities we work with are disproportionately impacted by colonial oppression, historic harm, injustice, neglect, and misrepresentation. In this understanding, we embody a culture of  support through models of compassion and empathy. We strive to work without judgment of each other, and utilize compassion to learn from, and connect with, each other. Compassion is vital to  creating understanding and true positive change in communities.