Every year, SK Arts invites almost a hundred arts professionals from Saskatchewan and across the country to serve as peer reviewers. In this way, the arts community is directly involved in making recommendations on grants and advising us on the process.
Reviewers represent a broad range of people with expertise in the arts. When selecting a review panel, SK Arts consultants keep in mind the scope of submissions to be considered and try to reflect the diversity of both arts practice and the people of Saskatchewan.
The below guide provides important information about the role and responsibilities of our peer reviewers.
Peer Reviewer Guide
Review Process
After grant applications have been reviewed by the program consultant to determine their eligibility and completeness, the consultant then proposes a peer review panel from the arts community who would be qualified to assess those submissions. When selecting a panel, consultants keep in mind the scope of submissions to be considered and try to reflect the diversity of both the arts practice and the people of Saskatchewan. The composition of the panel is approved by SK Arts' Chief Executive Officer.
For applications that require specialized expertise beyond that available on the panel, SK Arts may use additional independent assessors. These individuals review and score the specific applications in question, but they do not attend the review panel meeting. Their comments and scores are provided at the meeting by SK Arts staff.
Peer reviewers consider applications against each program's criteria. They discuss the applications and provide scores, which are compiled into an overall score for each applicant. These scores are then used to form a ranked list of all applicants.
For most of our programs, reviewers then make recommendations regarding the grant amounts awarded to each applicant. Typically, they consider the amount of funds that they would recommend for each application, and then work from the top of the ranked list to assign available funds to recommended applications. Unfortunately, there are seldom sufficient funds to support all applicants that are considered supportable by the peer review panel.
Anyone who is interested in being a reviewer is encouraged to complete the Peer Reviewer Submission Form.
Attributes of Peer Reviewers
Peer reviewers are professional artists and other arts professionals who:
- Represent a diversity of artistic and cultural practices and expertise;
- Represent the diversity of the province (e.g., region, age, race, as well as Indigenous perspectives);
- Bring vision, open-mindedness, and generosity of spirit to their deliberations;
- Provide fair and objective analysis based on assessment criteria;
- Are able to work collaboratively and to reach consensus;
- Are willing to express their views while respecting and listening to the views of others; and
- Treat applications equitably, without prejudice, in accordance with the principles of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.
Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers
Before the review panel meeting, all participating reviewers must:
- Discuss any conflicts of interest with the program consultant;
- Review the Peer Review Manual and the Program Criteria;
- Review and assess each application (this may take 15 to 30 minutes per application) and the provided support material based solely on the assessment criteria; and
- Enter preliminary scores and notes for each application.
During the review panel meeting, reviewers are expected to participate in the group discussion, contributing while remaining open to the opinions of others. It is anticipated that some of a reviewer's preliminary scores may change as a result of the discussion at these meetings.
Discussions in a review panel meeting are to be kept strictly confidential.
Responsibilities of SK Arts Staff
Reviewers are chosen after considerable thought and research by program consultants. Consultants gather information about potential peer reviewers through ongoing, regular contact with their fields. Arts professionals from all cultural communities and regions of the province are encouraged to submit names of potential jurors, including their own, using the Peer Reviewer Submission Form. Recommended peer reviewers need not be former grant applicants or recipients.
Consultants compose review panels that represent the range of applications, including professional artists and arts professionals representing a diversity of perspectives and expertise. Materials are made available well in advance of the meeting to enable a thorough review by peer reviewers.
The program consultant responsible for the program chairs the review panel meeting, and official notes are taken by the administrative coordinator. Staff are available prior to the meeting to assist reviewers with any difficulties they may encounter during the review period.
Payment of Peer Reviewers
Following the review panel process, reviewers are paid a reading fee for the work done in advance of the meeting and a stipend for their participation in the meeting. These fees are based on rates recommended by CARFAC Saskatchewan and are reviewed regularly by SK Arts. Please note that these fees are taxable income; at the end of the calendar year, SK Arts issues T4A forms to any reviewer who earned more than $500 in that year. SK Arts also reimburses reviewers for any expenses, including travel, accommodation, and per diems.
Confidentiality
The personal and confidential information that applicants provide is collected, used and disclosed by SK Arts in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
The issue of confidentiality is a matter of integrity. Application information is to be kept confidential at all times, as are discussions relating to applications. Peer reviewers' names are not released with granting results but are published in our Annual Report.
Conflict of Interest
SK Arts has exacting standards in managing conflict of interest by all its stakeholders: board, staff, and peer reviewers. We pay close attention to this issue to ensure a transparent peer review process, which is clearly understood by our applicants and that lets them know that their application was considered fairly, even if it was not successful. To maintain public confidence in our peer review process, we must be fair and impartial.
In considering conflict of interest, we identify direct, indirect, and perceived conflicts, and we manage them differently.
Policies on Peer Reviewer Withdrawal
A reviewer will be withdrawn from their responsibilities if the individual:
- Has a direct conflict of interest that precludes their participation;
- Is unable to attend all the required days of the review panel;
- Has not reviewed the application materials, including all support materials, prior to the review panel meeting and is therefore unable to participate in the review process;
- Obstructs or disrupts the review process and/or is disrespectful of SK Arts staff, other reviewers, or applicants; and/or
- Discriminates against applicants, other reviewers or SK Arts staff.
Human Rights
SK Arts observes and upholds the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. All staff, board members, peer reviewers, consultants, and volunteers, when working on behalf of SK Arts, are expected to respect and follow the letter and spirit of the Human Rights Code.
SK Arts supports and protects the dignity and worth of everyone.
Our policies, programs, and processes are designed to address, prevent, and eliminate discrimination in all aspects of employment and our provision of services. We do not tolerate harassment or unwelcome comments and actions.
We require equal treatment in areas such as employment, contracts, goods, services, and facilities. We respect and protect the rights of all people regardless of ability, age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, creed, culture, family status, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, place of origin, race, receipt of public assistance, sex, or sexual orientation.
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
We are aware of cultural appropriation of Indigenous arts. SK Arts affirms and supports the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically Article 11(1):
Article 11
- Indigenous Peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.
SK Arts will continue to encourage and support the creative freedom of all artists, but we insist that it is done respectfully and truly honours the fundamental and inalienable right of Indigenous Peoples to cultural sovereignty. We ask the artists and organizations applying for grants for projects that address, deal with, incorporate, comment on, interpret or depict unique aspects of Indigenous cultures to show that they have respect and true regard for Indigenous art and culture in their endeavours. We require evidence that authentic and respectful efforts have been made to engage with artists or other members of the Indigenous communities whose culture or protocols are addressed in a grant application.