The City of Saskatoon will keep the policy that directs up to one per cent of large capital project budgets toward public art after councillors defeated a motion intended to end the funding stream.
Council votes against ending capital projects art allocation
At a meeting of the governance and priorities committee on Wednesday, councillors voted 8-3 to reject a motion to eliminate the capital projects public art requirement. Ward 5 Councillor Randy Donauer had proposed ending the stream, which requires capital projects costing the city $5 million or more to integrate a public art or artistic design element, at a value of up to 1 per cent of the project's budget and capped at $500,000.
The motion followed an outcry over a recent public-art installation by Calgary-based artists Sans façon. Their work, titled Modern Erratics, consists of three sculpted rocks placed at Diefenbaker Park, the Forestry Farm and the city landfill; the installation has been reported to have a price tag of $300,000 and drew significant criticism on social media.
“There is a cost, yes. What’s been made is unique. It’s not off the shelf. It takes craftspeople and expertise to make a work that can be enjoyed for many years,”
The quote was delivered to council by Tristan Surtees, one of the artists responsible for the sculptures, who defended the piece and noted that most of the materials used—he said 95 per cent—came from Saskatchewan.
Arguments from both sides
Councillor Donauer told colleagues he believed the policy, adopted in 2014, needed revisiting. He said setting aside a percentage of large capital budgets for art can lead to results that provoke public concern.
Supporters of the policy argue that integrating art into major public works provides cultural value, supports artists and craftspeople, and can enrich public spaces in ways that standard infrastructure does not. The committee vote indicates a majority of councillors were not prepared to remove the funding mechanism that has governed public-art contributions for nearly a decade.
Practical details
The policy applies when the city commits at least $5 million to a capital project. For qualifying projects, the city may allocate up to 1 per cent of the project’s budget for public art, subject to a maximum of $500,000 per project.
| Policy element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum project threshold | $5 million |
| Percentage for public art | 1 per cent |
| Maximum per project | $500,000 |
| Recent installation cost | $300,000 |
Local reaction and next steps
The city has faced criticism from residents and some taxpayer groups following the installation’s unveiling. The debate at city hall reflects broader tensions between public spending priorities and investment in cultural projects.
During the meeting, one of the artists sought to address that criticism directly, stressing the bespoke nature of the work and its local material sourcing. The committee did not move to change or suspend the existing policy, so future eligible capital projects will continue to include an art allocation under the current rules.
- Councillors voted 8-3 to defeat the motion to end the capital projects public art stream.
- The policy requires public art integration for city capital projects of at least $5 million, at up to 1% of the project budget, capped at $500,000.
- The recent installation at three city sites cost approximately $300,000 and prompted significant public debate.
The outcome leaves the policy intact but does not close the door on future review. Councillors can bring forward further motions or amendments should they wish to adjust thresholds, caps or approval processes. For now, the mechanism that channels a portion of major capital dollars into public art remains part of how Saskatoon funds cultural elements tied to city infrastructure.
This report will be followed as the city council considers any additional motions or policy refinements in coming meetings.
