As the City of Saskatoon faces significant budgetary pressures in the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, Administration has put forward a list of reductions for council to explore during budget deliberations.
Of those more than 100 budget scenarios—all of which are aimed at lowering property tax rates in 2026 and 2027 —some include cutting arts and cultural supports. SaskMusic would like to reaffirm the importance of community-rooted funding for essential arts and cultural services.
"Community-based arts and cultural funding in Saskatoon serves as a cornerstone of the city’s cultural economy. While we recognize that Council is only just beginning budget deliberations, cuts to the arts would be devastate Saskatoon’s arts and cultural workers, at a time when Canadian creative entrepreneurs need more support, not less,” says SaskMusic Executive Director, Lorena Kelly.
“Funding at all levels —municipal, provincial, and national —are essential in supporting artists and creative entrepreneurs across the country. By supporting Saskatoon’s arts and cultural sector, we allow homegrown talent to flourish in provincial, national, and eventually, international markets.”
Our friends at the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance (SAA) note that municipal funding is foundational—many organizations rely on them to run programming and to unlock other funding.
As Council deliberates, some of the budget scenarios include reductions such as:
- Reduce or eliminate the Cultural Grant & Art Capital Reserve. This reserve supports one time cultural capital projects and public art, not operational funding. The option would reduce or stop annual contributions. They list both the option of a 50% reduction or a 100% reduction/elimination.
- Reduce Community Grants and Investments for the Cultural & Social Tax Abatement. The City is also considering a reduction in the Cultural and Social Tax Abatement program. Again, they provide three possible options of either a 10%, 20%, or 50% reduction.
- Cut or eliminate in-kind civic services for outdoor special events. These are non-cash supports that festivals rely on—garbage collection, street cleaning, barricades, pylons, signage, etc. Budgeted at $278,000 in 2026, serving events attended by 500,000+ residents annually. Proposed cuts for 2027 include 25% reduction, through to elimination of the program,
- Eliminate the Atrium Payment to Remai Modern. The City is considering removing their annual support payment to Remai Modern related to atrium access and shared services. They estimate this would generate savings of $220,000/year.
Though some of these possible cuts don’t appear to be under consideration for 2026, most of these, if found in the final budget, would take affect by 2027 at the latest.
“If these cuts move forward, impacts will be felt across arts and culture non-profits and collectives, major festivals and community events, [and] residents who rely on affordable, accessible cultural life,” notes the SAA on their website.
“In short, these decisions touch nearly every part of Saskatoon’s cultural ecosystem.”
As city budget deliberations continue, we’re asking Saskatoon residents to utilize the SAA’s letter-writing tool to contact the Mayor and your City Councillor and reaffirm your support for Saskatoon’s arts and cultural sector.
Sign TODAY: https://www.saskartsalliance.ca/advocacy/reconsider-proposed-cuts-to-saskatoons-arts-and-cultural-funding/
For more information, or further reading on the economic impact of the arts and cultural sector, and the importance of music in the lives of Canadians, visit the links below:
- SAA Full Article: https://www.saskartsalliance.ca/advocacy/proposed-cuts-to-saskatoons-arts-and-community-funding/
- Canadian Live Music Associations Economic Impact Study: https://www.canadianlivemusic.ca/news/hearandnowpr
