Proposed Cuts to Saskatoon’s Arts and Cultural Funding
According to a document from the City of Saskatoon’s 2026–2027 Budget Reduction Scenarios (Appendix 1), Council is being asked to choose from a menu of optional cuts and revenue measures. Several of the options directly affect arts, culture, heritage, and the festival/event ecosystem.
What You Need to Know
The City of Saskatoon is facing significant budget pressure in the 2026–2027 cycle. Administration has put forward a list of optional reductions that Council can choose to adopt.
Several of the proposed reductions fall in areas that support arts, culture, heritage, and major community events. These municipal dollars are foundational—many organizations rely on them to run programming and to unlock other funding.
Council has not yet locked in which options to adopt, but deliberations have already begun. This is the moment for community voices to shape what happens next.
Why This Is Important
Saskatoon’s cultural life depends on municipal investment. City support:
- keeps arts and culture programming accessible and affordable
- sustains the local non-profit and creative economy
- helps events and festivals stay viable
- leverages provincial/federal grants, sponsorship, and philanthropy
Cuts in these areas don’t just remove City dollars. They can also trigger larger funding losses because other funders often require municipal participation or matching contributions.
Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Event Cuts Being Considered
Reduce or eliminate the Cultural Grant Program (operating grants)
The City is considering reductions to or the elimination of the Cultural Grant Program, which provides operating support to arts and culture organizations.
They provide three options of a 10%, 20%, or 50% reduction
The City notes that cuts reduce non-profit capacity during inflationary and demand pressures, and notes that City funding is utilised by these groups to provide programming and services to the City, and that reducing this funding would therefore reduce their capacity to do so.
This does not appear to be under consideration for 2026, but for 2027.
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.
The City notes that the current reserve fund balance plus the new funding level will support an average of 6 years of applications.
It appears that this option is not being considered for 2026, but for 2027.
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
The City notes that cuts reduce non-profit capacity during inflationary and demand pressures, and notes that City funding is utilised by these groups to provide programming and services to the City, and that reducing this funding would therefore reduce their capacity to do so.
This also does not appear to be under consideration for 2026, but for 2027.
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
- 50% reduction
- 100% reduction / elimination
The City notes that the impact of this would be significant, as these costs would shift to organizers, likely leading to higher ticket prices, cancellations, and fewer events.
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.
The potential risk here is to Remai’s operating balance and potential pressure for increased operational subsidy later.
Who Is Affected
If these cuts move forward, impacts will be felt across:
- arts and culture non-profits and collectives
- major festivals and community events
- residents who rely on affordable, accessible cultural life
In short, these decisions touch nearly every part of Saskatoon’s cultural ecosystem.
What Are the Possible Impacts
Based on the City’s own risk notes, Saskatoon could see:
- fewer festivals and major events, or higher ticket prices
- reduced access to free/low-cost programming and public art
- weakened non-profit capacity and community services
- loss of matching provincial/federal dollars tied to municipal support
- long-term damage to Saskatoon’s profile as a cultural/event destination
- erosion of heritage protection and community identity.
What You Can Do
Residents and organizations can help protect Saskatoon’s cultural funding by:
- Contacting the Mayor and City Councillors before final budget decisions.
- Sharing one concrete example of what City arts/culture funding makes possible (a program, festival, class, space, or community benefit).
- Emphasizing that municipal support is a multiplier: it brings in outside dollars and keeps programming affordable.
- Asking Council to reject cuts to cultural grants, heritage supports, and major event infrastructure.
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