Creative Saskatchewan has announced a change to its funding regime, increasing the per-applicant annual threshold from $250,000 to $600,000.

The increase applies to all applicants for creative industry funding, including projects or organizations. Critically for producers and filmmakers, an additional regulation amendment will see funds from private organizations such as SaskTel Max Equity Fund or Rogers Digital Development Fund, no longer count toward the cap. Previously, the $250,000 threshold included private money. As well, third party funds administered by Creative Saskatchewan have also been removed from the funding threshold.

Creative Saskatchewan was formed two years ago following the cancellation of the province’s tax credit. It is a $5 million fund distributed via four grant programs  to the film, TV, digital media, visual arts, publishing and performing arts industries

The changes as a result of negotiation between the Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association (SMPIA) and Saskatchewan provincial government. Following the announcement, SMPIA released a statement in support of the changes, calling it “a positive step towards rebuilding our screen-based media production industry.”

In a press release announcing the changes, Creative Saskatchewan CEO JP Ellson said the organization is “pleased” with the changes and praising the “increased flexibility” for funding local projects.

However, in a separate interview with Playback, SMPIA president Nova Alberts said it still doesn’t go far enough.

“Nova Scotia’s new grant program has a threshold of four million dollars and Alberta’s has a five-million-dollar threshold, so at $600,000 we still are really struggling to be competitive. We still have some work to do here in Saskatchewan until we have parity with that” Alberts told Playback Daily.

SMPIA will continue to work with the province of Saskatchewan until it is on a level playing field with its neighbouring provinces, added Alberts.