Nowhere else in the world will you find a larger or more comprehensive collection of Saskatchewan visual art than in the SK Arts Permanent Collection. This collection includes approximately 3,700 works of 850 artists and represents the work of our province's artists over the past eight decades.
The Goals of SK Arts' Permanent Collection
Through the development and maintenance of a provincial collection of original works of Saskatchewan art and related archives, SK Arts intends:
- To serve as custodians of the stories of Saskatchewan artists by collecting work from across the full spectrum of visual arts, including those art forms that may not be collected by other institutions, primarily for the purpose of public access;
- To make the work of Saskatchewan artists accessible to the public through loan, rental, public art installations, and the sharing of images and information;
- To provide a unique resource in support of the larger Saskatchewan arts ecology, including working with museums, public and commercial art galleries, researchers, curators, students, and collectors;
- To preserve a representative history of artmaking in the province;
- To honour and preserve the legacy of artists at all stages of their professional careers and to provide financial support to Saskatchewan artists through fees for commission, purchase, exhibition and/or reproduction; and
- To contribute to the realization of the mandate and strategic priorities of SK Arts.
You will find everything from paintings, drawings, textiles, prints, photographs, and sculptures in the collection. This wide variety of styles and media demonstrates the diversity and talent of Saskatchewan artists. Artwork from the collection is frequently included in exhibitions throughout the province and country, is loaned to organizations, and is also rented to workplaces through our Art Rental program.
FAQs
Can the public view work in the Permanent Collection?
The work in the Permanent Collection is available to individuals conducting research upon request, and by appointment. The collection is accessible to the public through loan, rental, special partnerships and installation in public buildings.
What are the procedures for donating or selling artwork to SK Arts?
Learn more about submitting work to the Permanent Collection for purchase or donation here. Contact the Permanent Collection staff for more information at (306) 519-7831, 800-667-7526, or
Are all artworks donated or bequeathed accepted into the Permanent Collection?
Not all works offered as gifts are accepted. Works bequeathed or offered as donations are reviewed by the Curatorial Working Group, which recommends whether the gift should be accepted.
What is the annual budget for Permanent Collection acquisitions?
The budget is one per cent (1%) of the legislated appropriation to SK Arts. For example, if the General Revenue Fund allocation to SK Arts for a given year were $6 million, then the acquisition budget would be $60,000. In addition to that 1%, a special purchase may be made using funds from the SK Arts Endowment Fund.
Does an artist have to be living in Saskatchewan to be considered for acquisition?
Most artists who are considered for acquisition are current residents of Saskatchewan; however, consideration may also be given to artists who have done significant work in the province at some point during their practice.
What are the criteria for inclusion in the Permanent Collection?
Learn more about submitting work to the Permanent Collection for purchase or donation here. Contact the Permanent Collection staff for more information at (306) 519-7831, 800-667-7526 or
Photo credit: Laura St. Pierre, Vivaria (crop), 2018, inkjet print. Photo courtesy of the artist.