Province announces new agency for creative arts industries

The province is offering help for the arts community with a new initiative called Creative Saskatchewan.

It's a fund to help people working in the creative fields including dance, music and film.

A $1 million dollar transition fund will support different projects in the province until the Creative Saskatchewan agency is launched later in 2013.

"It is essential that we position all creative industries to be part of the province's plan for growth and increase the economic potential of the culture sector, positioning our province's talent to tell our stories to the world," said Kevin Doherty, Minister of Parks, in a press release.

In its March 2012 budget, the Saskatchewan government announced anend to the 15-year-old film tax credit, effective June 30, 2012, to save $8 million a year.

Many people working in the film industry have since left the province or found other work.

Shawn McGrath,with theSaskatchewan Media Production Industry Association, said the new fund does not go far enough.

"From a production standpoint it doesn't, it's not a viable replacement for sure for the tax credit that was cancelled," he said. "There's nothing, there's been no indication so far that there's anything else in the works."

People can start applying to the new program Feb. 8.