Craft & Visual Arts Prodcution Grant - Assessment Criteria

The Craft and Visual Arts Production Grant supports craft persons and visual artists in the production of creative products intended for the commercial marketplace.

The Assessment Criteria was approved on April 1, 2026 for the 2026-27 Fiscal Year. Any amendments made after the fact will be posted here:

• No changes to date.

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Phase One: Application Completeness

Applications must meet all Phase One criteria to be deemed complete and move on to the assessment panel for review. These criteria are assessed internally by Creative Saskatchewan staff.

The Budget (yes/no)

A complete budget (using the Creative Saskatchewan budget template) has been uploaded to the application. Budget templates are updated annually, and applicants are encouraged to double check that they are using the most up to date template.

Project Financing (yes/no)

A completed project financing structure listing pending or confirmed funding sources for the remaining 50%+ of the project budget that Creative Saskatchewan does not support has been included in the application.

Expense Eligibility (yes/no)

The majority of project expenses are eligible according to program guidelines. If ineligible expenses exceed 50% of the total project budget, the whole application will be deemed ineligible.

The Travel Itinerary (yes, no, or not applicable)

If travel is part of the project budget, a complete travel itinerary (using the Creative Saskatchewan travel itinerary template) has been uploaded to the application.

Budget Line Support Documentation (yes/no)

Budget line support documentation should be provided for all line items $500 and over. If support documentation has not been provided for more than 50% of line items $500 or more, the application will be deemed ineligible.

Examples of budget line support documentation include:

• Estimates or invoices from vendors and service providers
• A calculated breakdown of applicant or staff labour (#of hours x $rate = total)
• An email, text message, price list, or website screenshot from the vendor or service provider confirming their rate

Product Examples (yes/no)

The applicant has submitted examples of past work created by them that demonstrate relevance to the product(s) being produced through this application.

Product examples include:

• Photos of product(s) produced by the applicant or applicant company.
• Links to similar work(s) produced by the applicant or the applicant company for sale online.

Phase Two: Application Material Assessment

The Production Plan and Marketing Strategy /30

Provide a detailed workplan describing how you and your team are going to execute the project. Make sure to include:

1. Descriptions of key tasks, including your marketing strategy, the demographic and location of your demonstrated market reach and target market, distribution channels (e.g. online sales, galleries and/or retail outlets, marketplaces, direct-to-consumer via market events and/or pop-ups), etc.
2. Which team member is responsible for which production and marketing tasks.
3. Resources (supplies, labour, studio or workspace, professional service providers, equipment rentals etc.) required to complete the project.

The marketing plan needs to be project/product-specific and needs to be more specific than a general marketing plan. Include details of how this project will allow you to grow your market and how you plan to reach them. The workplan should realistically inform the timeline and the budget.

This criterion is assessed by external reviewers based on the rubric below:

Alignment and Skillset of Project Team /5

Describe the experience and skillsets of yourself, your company, and your team members (if applicable). Please include the following:

1. Examples of relevant past projects of a similar nature completed by you, your company, or your team.
2. A brief explanation of why you’ve selected each team member for their role in this project.
3. Evidence of related professional training and industry experience for you, your company, or your team.
4. If applicable, past sales and production numbers of past production projects.

This criterion is assessed by external reviewers based on the rubric below:

Return on Investment /10

What is your realistic return on investment? This may include some or all of the following:

1. Expected revenue. Include the calculations and context that you used to come up with your expected revenue and where you have pulled these projections and historical numbers from. What revenue do you expect and why do you expect this revenue?
2. Jobs or contract positions created for Saskatchewan residents (this includes the applicant).
3. Expanded audience/customer-base.
4. Expected increase in web traffic, social media engagement, newsletter subscriptions, etc.

This criterion is assessed by external reviewers based on the rubric below:

Total – /45

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BONUS – Budget and Financing /5

Will the project be financed by an organization or individual other than the applicant? Projects with third-party investment* will automatically receive the following points. Funding agreements need to be uploaded in the Upload Files tab to receive these bonus points.

*Tip: Not sure what is considered a third party investment? See our General Program Guideline Glossary or reach out to a Creative Saskatchewan team member.

BONUS – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility /4

Four bonus points will be awarded if you or the majority of your company owners/band stakeholder members (music)/collective members identify as any of the following:

• Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis);
• Person from a racialized group;
• a Newcomer to Canada;
• Someone who lives in a northern (North of Prince Albert), rural, or small urban community (outside of Regina and Saskatoon);
• Person with a disability or disabled; and/or
• LGBTQIA2S+

For companies, collectives, and music bands, a minimum 50% of the stakeholders must meet this criteria to receive the bonus points.  By completing this table, you are declaring confidentially that you identify accurately as part of the communities and identities specified. This information is not shared with external assessors.