Pride of Saskatchewan. a Policy Where Culture, Community And

pride of saskatchewan: A POLICY WHERE CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND COMMERCE MEET heartprincipleheart foundationblueprintfoundationprinciple spirit spiritlifelife bloodspiritlifelife blood As the Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, I am proud to bring forth Saskatchewan’s first cultural policy in more than 25 years. message from Our culture, in all its diverse forms, is an important asset for maintaining our high the minister quality of life, sustaining economic growth and building pride in our communities. It encompasses our collective heritage as well as a diverse range of contemporary cultural expressions. Conserving and growing our culture is a shared responsibility that depends on continued artistic excellence and creative expression, the support of strong communities and organizations, and ensuring people of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to learn about and experience culture. Pride of Saskatchewan: A Policy Where Culture, Community and Commerce Meet is a plan to guide the development of a vibrant cultural sector. Based on extensive dialogue with the sector, this plan recognizes that aligning culture, community and commercial activities results in synergies that enhance the social and economic benefit of culture to the province. Implementing the plan will require the commitment, creativity and collaboration of those involved in the sector to achieve our goals of fostering artistic excellence, creativity, stewardship, public access, community capacity and economic growth. Pride of Saskatchewan is a significant milestone in the province’s history. I would like to thank those who participated in past reports and processes, including the Reflections on Cultural Policy Survey and the Community Dialogue. As we move ahead together, I look forward to our vision and our potential becoming a reality. Sincerely, Pride of Saskatchewan: A Policy Where Culture, Community and Commerce Meet Prepared by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Dustin Duncan Culture and Sport Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Published March 2010 Introduction 2 The Value of Culture 5 Why a Policy? 6 Our Approach 9 Defining Culture 10 in Saskatchewan Our Vision 13 Our Principles 13 Our Goals 17 A Call to Action 26 Swift Current Creek Petroglyph Boulder Government of Saskatchewan/Calvin Fehr Music, dance, art and Pride of Saskatchewan acknowledges craftsmanship; literature the importance of culture as and language; historic buildings defining the identity and diversity and sacred places, landscapes and of Saskatchewan. It recognizes that intro objects; traditional knowledge, culture is an important contributor introduction storytelling and religion; to our enviable quality of life and compassion and hard work – all economic growth. ductionof these help define who we are. Pride of Saskatchewan provides Pride of Saskatchewan: A Policy Where a made-in-Saskatchewan definition Culture, Community and Commerce of culture. It focuses on promoting Meet is based on research, identified artistic excellence and creative needs and input from organizations, expression, increasing public access communities, individuals, other to cultural experiences, building ministries, different levels of community and organizational government, First Nations and capacity, and strengthening the Métis people and the private sector. commercial viability of the sector. It also promotes the importance of Pride of Saskatchewan is a shared life-long learning, community-based vision that provides leadership decision making and sustainability. and helps unite our efforts to make Saskatchewan a great place to Pride of Saskatchewan also highlights live, work and play. It sets out the importance of honouring First a framework to further strengthen Nations and Métis perspectives and Saskatchewan’s already vibrant respecting the diversity of others. culture and responds to more It fosters fairness and accountability than 25 years of cultural and it highlights the importance of policy discussions. communication, coordination and collaboration in all that we do. 2 “ It’s the people of the heartland that make this place our home. Saskatchewan is growing, our future is our own.” Jack Semple (musician) Métis fiddler at Batoche Tourism Saskatchewan/Greg Huszar Photography On the relationship between artist and audience: “ It is quite possibly the most intimate relationship between two humans, barring none.” W.O. Mitchell (author) culture memex ovum, by Robin Poitras Don Hall Culture improves our quality of life, communities. Those who engage in builds pride in our communities cultural activities have a stronger and supports economic growth. sense of belonging and pride in this Culture enriches our lives and gives great place we call Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan its distinct look, Culture can also help communities feel and voice. Culture shapes our enhance their distinctive character, identity, creates a great place to live making them attractive places to live and conveys our image to the world. and visit. Quality of life is generally defined In healthy communities, people as a sense of well-being achieved feel connected to each other and when people are physically share in activities. Saskatchewan and emotionally healthy, are is comprised of people of diverse economically secure, have adequate heritage, including First Nations valuethe value of shelter, are safe and secure, have a and Métis people, the Fransaskois, sense of belonging and share social early settlers and new immigrants. culture and cultural connections. The value Cultural activities help bridge cultureof culture in relation to quality differences, keep us connected of life may be viewed from the to our past and make us more perspectives of the individual (e.g. accepting of our different lifestyles identity, contentment, confidence, and cultural backgrounds. self-esteem and enjoyment) and of society (e.g. economic prosperity, Participation in cultural activities vibrancy, social inclusion and civic also stimulates community engagement) as outlined below. involvement and the development of positive values. Those who engage Culture helps us articulate our in cultural activities are more likely dreams; it stimulates our minds to be volunteers, financial donors and provides us with a sense of and helpful to their neighbours. enjoyment. Involvement in cultural Culture builds community. activities expands our world views, supports the development of new Culture is a growth market. skills and stimulates creativity – Consumer spending on culture the basis for innovative and in Saskatchewan grew by 44 per confident citizens. Youth involved cent between 1997 and 2005, well in the arts do better in school and above the 28 percent increase in their personal lives. They gain overall consumer spending. In confidence and self-esteem while 2008, the culture sector contributed learning a variety of skills. approximately $1.3 billion to the provincial GDP. There were Our cultural backgrounds are about 708,000 visits to and within sources of pride for individuals and Saskatchewan in 2007 by visitors 5 which included at least one cultural A vibrant culture attracts talented activity. These visitors spent and creative people, promotes $231.7 million in the province. business development, spurs valuethe value of According to the Rotman School population growth and revitalizes culture of Management, for every $1.00 our communities, making them invested directly or indirectly in destination points for citizens and culturecultural activities, $3.20 is generated tourists and magnets for business. in economic activity. Culture is an engine for the economy. Saskatchewan has an abundance of the parts.” This idea holds true in of creative and talented people, the culture sector. An uncoordinated many of whom have gone on approach to supporting culture is to international acclaim. Artists not effective nor does it ensure and cultural workers celebrate everyone is able to benefit from the diversity and depth of a strong, vibrant culture sector. Like Saskatchewan’s culture and help every good process, a plan is needed. showcase prairie talent to Canada Pride of Saskatchewan provides the and the world. framework for this planning process; a framework that respects, and builds Saskatchewan also has a rich history; on, the existing activity. whywhy a policy? a a story of an evolving relationship with the land, and with each other, Pride of Saskatchewan provides a policythat is embodied in places and framework to help make the cultural objects. The stewardship of these sector an important part of the treasured elements is a life-long government’s priority of improving calling for many and a responsibility quality of life, building pride in our that is shared by all. province, and sustaining economic growth. It provides a clear direction Our province is home to thousands that will guide development and of groups, organizations and investments. This policy helps unite individuals who work tirelessly to the combined efforts of government, provide opportunities for people the culture sector, communities, to engage in cultural experiences. individuals, other ministries and Their work is inspiring and so levels of government, First Nations effective it often appears as though and Métis people and the private these activities just “happen.” sector. By working together we can make our collective vision for this 6 There is an old adage that says sector a reality. “the whole is greater than the sum The Fleming Grain Elevator that stood in the community

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