2026 Voting is Closed!

SK Arts thanks the community for participating in the voting phase of Arts of Celebration 2026. Recipients will be announced at the event on Monday, May 25, 2026 at the Jacqui Shumiatcher Room – Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. The event will begin at 6:30pm with an opening reception featuring refreshments and a cash bar. The program will run from 7:15pm, is expected to last 90 minutes, and will be followed by a closing reception. The event will be hosted by Chris Henderson, and will see performances from the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum, Tai Reign and Studio Collective.

The 2026 Recommendations Are In!

SK Arts is thrilled to unveil the 2026 Recognized Artists for Arts of Celebration – Connection! This year’s showcase highlights the extensive range of talent in Saskatchewan’s dance, literary, media, multidisciplinary, and visual arts disciplines that the community recommended for recognition and celebration. The artists, artistic leaders and arts organizations bring unique perspectives, skill-sets, and stories, capturing the essence of celebration, culture and artistic expression. Head to the SK Arts website to see your favourites and learn about new community members.

Get ready to celebrate creativity across Saskatchewan in 2026! SK Arts invites recommendations for Arts for Celebration – Connection. Recommend outstanding artists, arts leaders and administrators, and arts organizations that deserve to be recognized for their work in visual, media, dance, multidisciplinary and literary disciplines.

Arts professionals and organizations recommended for recognition will be showcased on the SK Arts website and celebrated at the annual gathering at the Conexus Arts Centre on Monday, May 25, 2026.

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2026 Recognition Categories

Emerging Professional Artists

New and developing Saskatchewan artists who are earning significant recognition early in their careers and who demonstrate exceptional promised.

Established Professional Artists and Arts Leaders

Saskatchewan artists recognized for their significant impact and artistic contributions, and their cumulative body of work or for a particularly significant artistic achievement; and arts administrators and educators at the helm of organizations contributing to the arts through community programming and instruction in the arts.

Aspiring Youth Artists (ages 14-22 years)

Young artists demonstrating an appetite in one of the arts disciplines through their arts education, either in the traditional school system or through a commitment to lifelong learning and mentoring activities.

Organizations, Festivals and Collectives

Establishments that demonstrate leadership, mentorship and other means of service to the arts community while promoting the continued enhancement of Saskatchewan artists and the arts landscape. These activities must demonstrate artistic effort and/or creative input.

Eligibility

Individuals eligible to be recognized must:

• Be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada
• Live and maintain a permanent physical address in the province and have lived in Saskatchewan for a minimum of one year before the date of recommendation and live in the province for at least six months a year (proof of residence may be requested).
• Meet SK Arts’ definition of professional artists (except for the Aspiring Youth Artists category) as stated below.

Emerging Artists

Artists are considered emerging if they’ve moved beyond training into professional practice and have begun to produce a body of independent work that has been recognized locally or provincially.

Saskatchewan artists, working in any art form, who demonstrates exceptional promise through notable accomplishments in the last 18 months and who:

• Is in the early stage of their career.
• Has created an independent body of work and is making a continuing and progressive contribution to the art form.
• Has received regional and perhaps national recognition and has had an impact on the arts in Saskatchewan through publication and/or public presentation of their work.

Established Artists and Arts Leaders

Established Artist

Saskatchewan artists, working in any art form, who demonstrate exceptional promise through notable accomplishments in the last 18 months and who:

• Created work, over a period of time, that has been recognized by their community.
• Presented their work (or had it presented) to or before an audience in a manner that is typical for their art tradition.
• Developed skills in a manner acceptable for their art tradition.
• Have been recognized as a peer by other professionals working in the same art tradition.
• Received compensation for their artistic work at a level consistent with those of other professionals working in the same art tradition.

Artistic Leader

Any Saskatchewan professional arts leader, mentor or educator who has demonstrated, within the last 18 months, outstanding commitment to the arts and learning by means of:

• Advancement of the arts and artists in the province through exemplary management, presentation, production, distribution, marketing, research, collection, or curatorial practice.
• Engagement of learners in the exploration of contemporary artistic ideas or creative experiences that stimulate their understanding of the arts.
• Innovative approaches to education in the arts through exemplary programs, instruction, an art practice, or partnerships with artists or arts organizations that foster the creative and intellectual development through education and experiences in the arts.

Groups and Collectives

At least 50% of the collaborators must meet the criteria for Saskatchewan residency described above under “Individuals”. Proof of residence may be requested.

Organizations

Festivals

Festivals are defined by SK Arts as those meeting the following requirements:

• Have work and a mandate that align with SaskFestivals program purpose.
• Have a core mandate to present an arts festival or series.
• Have a minimum of three years of operation (with appropriate history of public presentation).
• Engage the advice and expertise of professionals in their programming and administration.
• Have financial and decision-making processes controlled by Saskatchewan residents.
• Have operations and primary programming centered in Saskatchewan.
• Have a clearly articulated management structure.

Ineligible Recommendations

• Posthumous recommendations.
• Self-recommendations.
• Recommendations by SK Arts board and staff.
• Individuals, collectives and organizations recognized in Arts of Celebration 2025.
• Multidisciplinary artists for theatre or music disciplines.
• Recommendations received not in the prescribed format.
• Recommendations received after the deadline.
• Recommendations received without details of the person making the recommendation.

Submission Deadline

The submissions for Arts of Celebration 2026 has been extended to February 8, 2026.