Saskatchewan artists push back against CTF’s call to eliminate $7M in arts grants, defending the impact of public funding on health, culture, and economy.
Artists Clash with Taxpayer Group Over Grant Cuts
Saskatchewan’s art community is pushing back after the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) called for the elimination of provincial grant funding for the arts. The CTF argues that Saskatchewan’s $7 million annual public arts grants are wasteful during a period of increasing provincial debt.
CTF Calls Projects ‘Passion Hobbies,’ Not Public Good
In a recent news release, the CTF urged the Saskatchewan government to cut all arts funding administered by SK Arts. Gage Haubrich, Prairie Director of the CTF, said taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize what he called “artist passion projects.” He criticized grants such as $5,000 awarded to a musician for creative leave and $1,000 supporting a Regina music video with limited online views.
“The government doesn’t have extra money lying around to fund hobbies,” said Haubrich. “Just because art is something people like doesn’t justify wasting public dollars.”
Artists Say CTF Ignores Art’s Deeper Value
Artists named in the release swiftly rejected the CTF’s narrative. Regina-based musician Amy Swallow, who received the grant for her video Baby Back Bitch, said the project helped her recover during a personal mental health crisis and reconnect with her community.
“Art gave me purpose when I was struggling,” Swallow said in a public statement. “Reducing its value to YouTube views ignores how art lives and resonates.”
Director Marz Gebhardt, who worked on the project, added that the funding supported professional development and collaboration. “Grants like these build long-term creative momentum,” she said. “Meaningful art doesn’t need to go viral to matter.”
Local and National Voices Defend Public Arts Support
The Saskatchewan-based band Cupid’s Heart, also cited in the CTF release, emphasized the community role of independent art in the province. “Art creates connection, healing, and homegrown storytelling,” they wrote. “Cutting this support erodes our ability to share those stories.”
Outside the province, support came from Joel Zola, founder of Street Voices, a Toronto nonprofit offering free media workshops. He credited arts grants with helping turn his life around as a youth. “If you cut that outlet, you cut the soil of a society,” Zola said. “Art is often the last chance for vulnerable youth before the streets.”
SK Arts Declines Interview, Government Silent
SK Arts CEO Lisa Bird-Wilson initially agreed to speak on the matter but later withdrew. As of publication, neither SK Arts nor the provincial government has issued a formal response to the CTF’s demand or the artists’ statements.
Ongoing Debate Over Value of Public Art
The funding controversy reveals a deeper national conversation about the role of art in public life. While critics question the financial return of taxpayer-funded projects, artists and advocates insist that the value of art lies not only in metrics but in its ability to inspire, heal, and unite communities — especially in a province where commercial platforms remain limited.
As the debate continues, Saskatchewan artists are making one thing clear: cutting arts funding means cutting away essential pieces of the province’s cultural and social fabric.
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