Aboriginal Arts and Culture Leadership Grant

The Aboriginal Arts and Culture Leadership Grant aims to support:

• the sharing of cultural skills and knowledge to young peoples through mentorship opportunities that promote the world views, cultural practices and activities of First Nations and Métis peoples in Saskatchewan;
• the development of cultural organizations in their ability to deliver and sustain cultural programming with First Nations and Métis peoples and communities, as well as to respond to emerging needs and changing demographics of the province;
• increased employment opportunities for First Nations and Métis arts and culture resource peoples who offer cultural programming unique to Saskatchewan;
• cultural awareness, cultural activity, skill development, personal growth and positive lifestyles at the individual, group and community level; and
• the building of capacity for communities and cultural organizations to assess community needs and to effectively plan and implement cultural programs for, and by, First Nations and Métis peoples.

The maximum amount that can be requested for any activity is $30,000.

The recommended request amount to this program is up to $15,000. Grant awards exceeding $15,000 are typically awarded to projects that present a significant opportunity to broadly impact numerous priorities and purposes of the AACL grant program.

Additional considerations will be applied in reviewing submissions requesting between $15,000 and $30,000 that include:

• The extent of commitment to the project, including other self-generated income, in-kind support of staff and volunteers;
• the extent that the project will be accessible to underserved communities;
• the uniqueness of the activity; and
• the potential for long-term impact.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• provide significant opportunities to meet the purpose of the AACL grant program;
• deliver relevant cultural activities based on cultural impact, accessibility and service to communities;
• contribute significantly to participation in intergenerational cultural activity;
• support Indigenous peoples’ cultural revitalization and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, laws, protocols, and relationships to the land;
• take constructive action on addressing the ongoing legacies of colonialism that have had destructive impacts on Indigenous peoples’ cultures and languages;
• demonstrate strong partnerships and community support;
• take place in the province’s northern and/or rural or otherwise underserved communities; and
• are from communities and organizations new to the AACL grant program.

Eligible Applicants include:

• Registered Non-Profit organizations in Saskatchewan.

These organizations must:

• have a primarily cultural mandate in Arts, Heritage, Multiculturalism or Cultural Industries as defined by SaskCulture’s Cultural Policy, or otherwise demonstrate significant engagement in cultural activity;
• be in existence as a registered non-profit for at least one full fiscal year. If your organization has been incorporated for less than a year, please contact the SaskCulture consultant to discuss options;
• be in good standing with Information Services Corporation (ISC);
• have no outstanding grant follow-ups due to SaskCulture; and,
• provide a signed copy of the organization’s annual financial statement that was most recently submitted to the ISC to show evidence of good standing as a non-profit organization in Saskatchewan

OR

• First Nations, Tribal Councils, Métis Locals, or Municipalities.

The applicant must:

• be in good standing with the Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program; and
• have no outstanding grant follow-ups due to SaskCulture.

Ineligible Applicants include:

• Unincorporated community groups. (These groups may consider partnerships with eligible organizations.);
• Organizations that have received significant Sask Lotteries funding in the last year;
• Libraries;
• Districts for Sport, Culture and Recreation;
• Organizations receiving Annual Global Funding
• Individuals; and,
• Schools and post-secondary institutions. Interested schools should inquire about:
  • Artists in Schools program at SK Arts as an alternative to this grant program;
  • Multicultural Education Initiatives through the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan;
  • Eligible Cultural Organizations (ECOs) are ineligible to apply. ECOs should include project ideas in their next Annual Global Funding application;
  • Contact the SaskCulture Outreach Consultant to discuss your project and your eligibility to be advised on what alternate project funds might be available to you or,
  • Use SaskCulture’s “Find a Grant” tool to explore other options.

Initiatives must directly address the purposes and priorities of this funding program, including:

• Direct costs related to the development and delivery of a cultural project that supports the sharing of First Nations and/or Métis cultural skill and knowledge with young people.
• All funds are to be used for the benefit of cultural development in Saskatchewan and for residents in the province.
• Applicants can access only one AACL grant at a time.
• Applicants may not apply to multiple SaskCulture funding programs to support the same activity for the same time frame:
  • Priority will be given to projects and organizations not already funded by other Lotteries-supported grant programs
• Eligible initiatives should start eight (8) weeks after the application submission and must end within one (1) year of the initiative’s start date. Retroactive funding is not eligible.

When submitting a proposal, please ensure that only eligible expenses are included. All expenses must fall within the indicated start and end date of the grant. All expenses must be verifiable with receipts.

If you are unsure whether your project fits the Purpose of this grant, please contact the consultant, and check the list of successful applicants and project descriptions.

Eligible Expenses include:

• Wages, honorariums, and contract agreements for cultural resource people who are offering their skills and expertise for the term of the project. These do not replace wages for the core job responsibilities of existing staff;
• Honorariums for program participants who are directly contributing their knowledge and/or lived experience to community engagement projects;
• Travel expenses for program participants. This includes gas, rental of vehicles, bus transit and airfare. While the primary cultural activities must take place in Saskatchewan, travel outside of the province is eligible if it is to bring resource peoples in locally to conduct work that cannot otherwise be conducted by someone in Saskatchewan;
• Material expenses related to the cultural activity, including gifts related to First Nations cultural protocols;
• Facility costs would only be considered eligible in situations where additional space is required for the project to move ahead. The existing space/facility of an applicant organization is not eligible and would be considered as an in-kind contribution- i.e. rent, utilities and office overhead;
• No more than 20% of the total grant award can support food expenses that are a part of the cultural experience that is being offered for participants. A strong rationale would need to be provided to exceed this amount; and,
• No more than 10% of the total grant request can be utilized for advertising and promotion costs for the initiative. A strong rationale would need to be provided to exceed this amount.

All expenses must fall within the indicated start and end date of the grant. Expenses incurred before or after the grant period will not be eligible.

The following items are not eligible for AACL funds:

• Capital expenses, such as construction, renovations or repairs;
• Cash prizes, gifts, or the purchase of alcohol;
• Activity that exclusively promotes definable religious or political viewpoints;
• Allowances, wages or personal expenses for program registrants and participants;
• Salaries and expenses of existing staff of the applicant organization;
• Office and administration fees, including utilities, rent and/or rental of an applicant organization's own facilities; and,
• In-kind contributions (such as volunteer hours, donations for food, goods, services, equipment, waiving rental fees, etc.) do not replace eligible expenses and should not be included in the budget.

Applications must be submitted via the Online Grant Platform (OGP) by the deadline.

• SaskCulture will review applications to confirm basic eligibility requirements have been met. If a submission is ineligible, the applicant will be notified. Only complete, signed and submitted applications will be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their application is successfully submitted. Two different people must sign the application.
• Completed applications received in full and on time will be reviewed by volunteer peer assessors who will include representatives from First Nation and/or Métis communities in Saskatchewan. The volunteer peer assessors will adjudicate applications based on the following criteria:
  • What is the impact on the purpose and priorities of the AACL grant program?
  • What is the quality and merit of the proposed activity?
  • What is the extent of participation, accessibility and leadership opportunities for First Nations and Métis peoples?
  • Does the initiative include resourcefulness, collaboration, partnerships and community engagement?
  • Is there evidence of the ability of the applicant organization to carry out the project and deliver quality programs and/or services?
  • Is there potential for ongoing impact and legacy?
  • Does the application demonstrate realistic and responsible use of resources (funds, volunteers, etc.)?
• Returning or otherwise annual projects funded by SaskCulture may have their most recent project Follow-Up Report provided to assessors as part of the assessment process.
• Applicants can expect to be informed of funding results within eight (8) weeks of the application deadline. Dissatisfaction with the results of a grant assessment, either with the denial of the grant or with the amount of funding awarded, does not constitute valid grounds for appeal.
• Successful applicants receive 75% of their total grant allocation upon grant approval and the remaining 25% upon SaskCulture’s acceptance of a recipient’s properly filed Follow-Up Report (FUR).

Once your organization has been approved for a grant, applicants will:

• Use the funds for the eligible activities outlined in their application. Any changes to the use of funds must be approved by SaskCulture. Funds may not be transferred to other activities or organizations and unused funds must be returned to SaskCulture;
• Be required to retain all supporting receipts. All first-time grant recipients will be required to submit receipts. Other grant recipients will only submit receipts if requested to do so by the Outreach Consultant. Failure to submit receipts may affect the approved grant amount. For example, partial or no final payment, or a grant return of the first payment may be required;
• Have access to the Follow-up Report form on the Online Grant Platform, following the automatic system notification of approved funding;
• Be required to submit a Follow-up Report within 45 days of the completion of the project. This report must detail the activities of the project and indicate how it met the goals of the funding program;
• Refer to the Follow-up Report Form at the beginning of the project, as statistical information will need to be gathered during the project. The grant recipient may want to use the budget tool regularly as a project management tool;
• Use the funds for the funded project within 12 months of the project’s start date: and,
• Recognize Sask Lotteries as the funder in all relevant promotions and event opportunities, as well as highlighting SaskCulture’s funding program to help build awareness of the programs.

Example:

YOUR ORGANIZATION NAME received financial assistance from Sask Lotteries, thanks to a SaskCulture program.

Logos and promotional materials, along with how-to guides, are available at Using Logos.

Failure to meet the above funding obligations to the satisfaction of SaskCulture will be grounds to withhold the final payment if applicable, and will restrict access to future funding.

You will receive correspondence stating that your application has been denied funding for this particular funding program. While all decisions, made by volunteer Peer Assessors, are final, this news should not deter you from applying for future funding opportunities.

• Review the funding program criteria and determine how your application might better address the priorities. If your project’s objectives do not line up with the criteria of the funding program, take the opportunity to explore other options.
• Check your project budget and ensure that your costs are realistic based on your intended outcomes.
• Contact the Outreach Consultant to discuss ideas and/or changes needed for success. If the Consultant feels your project still has potential, adjust your application and try again at a different deadline or for a different fund.