Live Performing Arts Production & Performance Grant Guidelines

The Live Performing Arts Production & Performance Grant assists eligible Saskatchewan individuals and companies in the production of a series of performances intended for paying audiences locally and abroad.

The Guidelines were approved on April 1, 2025 for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year. Any amendments made after the fact will be posted here:

No changes to date.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria defined in the General Guidelines.

Eligible Projects and Expenses

Applications must be in support of commercial productions.
Live performance art is defined as a staged, live-action expression of art that features a presentation to a paying audience.
Examples of live performances include theatre, dance, stand-up comedy, magic/illusions, spoken word/poetry, miming, puppetry, and circus acts.
- Creative Saskatchewan recognizes that there are many varieties of performance art, please contact a Program Advisor if you are uncertain if your performance constitutes Creative Saskatchewan’s definition of live performance art.
- While we recognize that music is a form of live performance art, we have dedicated programs for this sector here.
Production expenses must be directly related to the project and incurred during the project timeline (expenses incurred prior to the Application Receipt Date are ineligible).
Expenses related to rehearsals such as artist fees and rental of the actual production/performance space for rehearsals during the project timeline.
Festival application fees and fringe festival site fees.
Marketing expenses directly related to the project being applied for, no more than 25% of the total project budget.
Performances may take place in Saskatchewan, nationally, and/or internationally.
Performances must be for contracted performance fees (guaranteed fee or a percentage of the gross revenues from ticket sales).
Performance fees for performers (both in-house and non-company) at Candian Actors’ Equity Association industry standard rates and crew fees for technical professionals.
Phone expenses are capped at a maximum of $200 for expenses incurred during touring activity or other performances taking place outside of the applicant/applicant company’s home base.
Production expenses must be directly related to the project and incurred during the project timeline (expenses incurred prior to the Application Receipt Date are ineligible).
Production and streaming of live plays, radio plays/audio dramas.
For the purposes of this program, radio plays/audio dramas are defined as an audio-only theatrical production that includes typical elements of theatre such as actors, directors, stage managers, sound design, and/or a script, distributed via a broadcasting platform with commercial intent.
Project expenses related to touring and incurred during the project term.
Projects must be in support of a new work or in support of an old work in a new market.

Ineligible Projects and Expenses

Applications to host fringe festivals or theatre festivals.
Community theatre productions.
Expenses related to script development, writing and workshopping are ineligible for Creative Saskatchewan’s grant programs but may be eligible for support through other provincial funders.
Projects that do not have commercial intent as their primary purpose and focus.
Sporting events and competitions.
Please see the General Guidelines for a list of ineligible expenses.

Financial Participation

Funding will be in the form of a grant.
Applicants may apply for a maximum of $35,000 or 50% of the total eligible expenses (whichever is the lesser) per fiscal year.
Please note, applicants may be eligible to apply for additional support through Creative Saskatchewan’s multi-sector grants:
- Marketing support is available through the Marketing Grant;
- Travel expenses to specific market opportunities can be funded through our Showcase or Sell Travel Grant; and
- Support for professional development can be obtained through our Business Improvement Grant.

Assessment

An initial review of applications is conducted by Creative Saskatchewan program staff to ensure the project and applicant meet eligibility to the program.
Eligible applications will then be assessed by an external assessment process against the criteria defined here.

Submission Requirements and Deadlines

Please refer to the specific program page for application deadlines and instructions.
Applications to the Live Performing Arts Production & Peformance Grant will be assessed and supported based on the availability of funds.
Applications must be complete in order to be accepted.
Creative Saskatchewan provides templates for each grant application.
- Applications that have not uploaded the mandatory budget template and travel itinerary template (travel itinerary template only required for projects that include travel expenses) will be considered incomplete and the application status will be set to Information Required.
  - Note: This status requires the application to be re-submitted by the applicant by the program deadline. Please keep in mind that applications must be re-submitted prior to the project start date.
By submitting an application for this grant, applicants confirm they have read the General Guidelines.
If awarded a grant, they will be obligated by all criteria in the General Guidelines, as well as criteria specific to this grant as described herein.

Required Acknowledgements

Successful recipients of a Live Performing Arts Production and Performance Grant must include Creative Saskatchewan’s logo and credit on all promotional materials as outlined in the General Guidelines.
The Creative Saskatchewan logo and guidelines for acknowledgement can be found here.

Confidentiality of Information

Please refer to the General Guidelines for details of Creative Saskatchewan’s Confidentiality Policy.
If you are not awarded a grant, all information in and about your application is held in confidence.
If you are awarded a grant, your name, a description of the project and the amount of funding will be made publicly available.