Saskatchewan Arts Board

The Saskatchewan Arts Board was established in 1948 by the Order-in-Council, created out of a larger plan from the government to enable cultural growth in the area.

Works form the collection are loaned to galleries and other venues around the province and country for exhibitions, film production, broadcast and publication opportunities.

The award honours Saskatchewan individuals whose accomplishments have had a major impact on the arts provincially, nationally and internationally.

Each artist hosted a community engaged project to encourage cultural exchange at the building and created a work of art that is displayed in one of the alcoves in the Rotunda.

Organizational staff, volunteers, community members, managers, and organization clientele had the unique opportunity to work with an artist for six to nine months.

The Arts Board was involved in celebrating Saskatchewan's Centennial in 2005 with two important projects: Source:[3] 1948-1956 – Norah McCullough 1956-1957 – Norah McCullough (on leave); Blowden Davies (acting) 1958 – Florence James (acting); Donald Harvey 1959-1960 – Donald Harvey 1961-1968 – N. George Shaw 1968-1971 – Cal D. Abrahamson 1972-1976 – Vern Bell 1977-1982/83 – Joy Cohnstaedt 1983/84-1984/85 – Kathleen Kaple 1985/86-1990/91 – Wayne Cunningham 1990/91 – Hans Boers (acting) 1991/92-1997/98 – Valerie Creighton 1998/99-2009/10 – Jeremy Morgan 2010/11-2013/14 – David Kyle 2014/15 – Jeremy Morgan (interim); Ranjan Thakre (interim) 2015/16 - 2024/25 – Michael Jones 2024/25 - present – Lisa Bird-Wilson Source:[3] 1948-49 – Steward Basterfield 1950-64 – W.A.

Gould 1972-74 – James Weir 1975-77 – Paul J. Rezansoff 1978/79-1979/80 – Raymond J. Marcotte 1980/81 – Frances Morrison 1981/82-1982/83 – Patrick Adams 1983/84-1989/90 – Barbara Pollock 1989/90 – Betty Barootes (acting) 1990/91 – Sharon Maher 1991/92 – Paul Good 1992/93-1993/94 – Wayne Schmalz 1994/95-1997/98 – Cheryl Kloppenburg 1998/99 – Frank Proto 1999/2000-2005/06 – Colleen Bailey 2006/07-2007/08 – Ken Sagal 2008/09-2012/13 – Byrna Barclay 2013/14-2016/17 – Pamella Acton 2017/18 – Pamella Acton; Meghan McCreary; Rachel Heidecker (acting) 2018/19 - 2020/21 – Jason Aebig 2021/22 - 2024/24 - Cory Furman 2024/25 - present - Ian Rea