Common Weal Community Arts Inc. is a charitable community arts organization founded in 1993 with Rachael Van Fossen as Artistic Director.  Its mandate is to engage artists collaboratively with communities to promote social change and cultural identity.  Common Weal works with many different communities throughout Saskatchewan and does not maintain a studio space on a regular basis.  Offices are based in Regina and Prince Albert. The participants of programs often come from marginalized communities.  Common Weal helps to give them a voice through artistic practices.

Common Weal’s language of service is primarily English.  They work with people of all ages, with an average number of participants in all programs of 800 per year.  Hours of operation are flexible, depending on the project.  Common Weal works in all disciplines including drama, visual arts, video, photography, with the art practice geared towards the best way of working with the community and the discipline of the contracted artist.

Common Weal has three full-time permanent staff. Depending on budgets, they often hire two part-time staff, and will contract with approximately 25 artists per year depending on the projects undertaken.  Approximately 20 volunteers are involved on a yearly basis.

The Artistic Directors from both offices engage with and respond to communities to develop and present artistic/creative community arts projects.  Programs are usually offered at no charge to the participants.  The projects often conclude with a public presentation that helps to create awareness of the program and the communities involved.

Common Weal impacts communities who are under-served or who do not presently access mainstream arts programming and works towards changing the lives of the people involved in a positive way.  It has developed great community partnerships throughout the province of Saskatchewan.

Common Weal will continue to fulfill its mandate by facilitating programs and projects that will make a positive impact in communities throughout Saskatchewan.

Common Weal operates with a Board of Directors using a policy form of governance, and has a budget of $350,000 a year, not including in-kind contributions of approximately $200,000.  Approximately 90% of Common Weal’s funding comes from grants from the Saskatchewan Arts Board, the Canada Council and municipal governments.  It has a budget for professional development and training.  Common Weal will be hosting a national conference on community engaged arts on May 14th, 15th and 16th, 2010 in Regina.

Common Weal is an established community arts organization, interested in partnering and doing outreach with other community arts projects/program/organizations/resources.  They would be pleased to partner with other emerging and established community arts organizations to share information, develop joint programs, and offer mentoring and advice.

Please see ArtBridges’ Google Map for contact information.