PROGRAMMING ARCHIVE

Learn more about some of the noteworthy projects from Common Weal’s recent history.

Own The Stage : The Becoming

In the summer of 2023, spoken word artists Cat Abenstein and Peace Akintade-Oluwagbeye presented workshops to newcomer and refugee youths. In its second year, Own the Stage aims to make spoken word more accessible, both as an art form and an essential means of communication for Saskatchewan youth.

Theatre in the Park: Zero Gravity

In the summer of 2023, the captivating Theatre in the Park graced Regina and Indian Head, leaving an enduring impact on communities. The proud partnership between Common Weal and SUM Theatre added depth to the experience, creating a unique blend of art and community engagement.

Respond to Racism: Art of (re)Conciliation Community Workshop

In the spring and summer of 2023, workshops developed and facilitated by Holly Rae Yuzicapi were shared with communities across southern Saskatchewan. Through the traditional art-making processes shared by Holly, a space of personal reflection was offered through the creative process and visual representation.

Respond to Racism: Bridging

In 2022 and 2023, ten artistic workshops were offered at the Nakoda Oyade Education Centre in Cega'kin and Indian Head High School. Through creative activities, traditional games, language learning, and food sharing, students built intercommunity relationships that placed identity and respect at the core.

Creative Drop-In Spaces: Prairie Harm Reduction

In December 2022, Common Weal forged new partnerships in Saskatoon with St. Paul’s Hospital, Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR), and Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming (SCYAP) to develop and launch a casual, bi-weekly art program taking place in the Prairie Harm Reduction drop-in centre in Saskatoon.

Digital Monuments: AR Workshops

In the fall of 2022, we held 3D modelling and augmented reality (AR) workshops with approximately 50 students at four high schools in southern Saskatchewan: Scott Collegiate in Regina, Nakoda Oyade Education Centre in Ceg-A-Kin First Nation, Peepeekisis Pesakastew School in Peepeekisis Cree Nation, and Indian Head High School.

Northern Languages Program 2022

Created in 2022, in consultation with Elders, basket makers, and Language Keepers, the Northern Languages Program is focused on preserving and sharing Indigenous languages through creative workshops. Young participants grow to understand that an intimate connection to the land is embedded within the language itself.

Artists in Communities Mentorship Program 2021

Throughout 2021 and 2022, Common Weal joined a remarkable partnership with the City of Prince Albert, helping develop a comprehensive Artist in Communities Mentorship Program.

Why the Caged Bird Sings—Immersive Engagements (Prince Albert)

Why the Caged Bird Sings—Immersive Engagements is a solo exhibition of immersive works by interdisciplinary artist Cheryl L’Hirondelle. These works emerged from her decades-long commitment to engaging in collaborative songwriting processes with incarcerated populations in Saskatchewan.

Bridging

As part of our Respond to Racism programming, Bridging addresses the legacy of racism and colonialism that continue to divide Saskatchewan residents by bringing together youth from rural and reserve communities to gather and build community connections.

Own The Stage : Speak and Inspire

The project being presented as part of our Respond to Racism program, Own the Stage: Speak and Inspire, was initially conceived by Southern Artistic Director Charles Umeh during the interview process for his role at Common Weal, and the first workshop series was held in the fall of 2022.

Digital Monuments : ᑲᓇᐁᐧᔨᒧᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ (kanaweyimowewin)

In the fall of 2021, we began planning and developing the Digital Monuments Project, which uses digital media to tell Indigenous stories and challenge colonial narratives embedded in our urban landscape through monuments, street names, and design.

Canoe Lake Artist Residency

In the fall of 2020, musician Eliza Mary Doyle approached Common Weal with an offer to partner on a potential project bringing four Saskatchewan musicians to Canoe Lake and the nearby village of Beauval, with the intent of reviving musical and cultural practices such as fiddling, jigging, and square dancing.

Theatre in the Park

In July 2019, we partnered with Saskatoon’s SUM Theatre to bring Theatre in the Park to Regina for the first time for one outstanding performance of The Young Ones which brought out over 100 community members. Since then, we have been pleased to support a southern Saskatchewan tour of Theatre in the Park each summer starting in 2021.

The Bunli Residency

The Bunli Residency, presented in partnership with Sans-atelier and led by visual artist Michéle Mackasey, encouraged communication between Indigenous and Francophone youth from the communities of Beauval, Île-à-la-Crosse, Patuanak, and Saskatoon.

Hello in There

For nearly a decade, the Hello in There program centered on the question: Can the lives of seniors living in care facilities be enriched through creative engagement and arts programming?

Axenet'i Tth'al

Merging the beauty of northern Saskatchewan with interactive audio and visual elements, the breathtaking Axenet’i Tth’al exhibition was a collaboration with the community of Patuanak and originally showcased at Wanuskewin Galleries in 2017 before being remounted in 2019 in Prince Albert, at which time we released a beautiful publication.

The Buffalo Banner Project

The Buffalo Banner Project aimed to generate a dialogue on how Regina’s public spaces can reflect the values and histories of all residents in support of building capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect.