Common Weal Community Arts

What Common Weal Community Arts does

Common Weal Community Arts Inc. is a Saskatchewan-based non-profit arts organization founded in 1992 that operates as a bridge between professional socially-engaged artists and Saskatchewan communities, delivering community plays, workshops, residencies, and public art installations. It positions itself as the only professional arts organization in the province dedicated to socially-engaged practice, with a methodology influenced by Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Its core technology product is the Buffalo Futurism mobile application — a geo-located augmented reality experience in Regina's māmowimāwēyitamōwin Park featuring Indigenous storytelling narrated by Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway — available on iOS and Android; the remainder of its offering is in-person programming delivered through a network of 82 contracted artists, artisans, Elders, and technicians.

The business model is grant-driven. In FY2024/25 the organization operated on an annual budget of $600,307 CAD, sourced approximately 45% from the Canada Council for the Arts, 40% from SK Arts (provincial), 7% from private/corporate sponsors, 5% from the City of Regina (municipal), and 3% from earned programming revenue. Operations are governed by a 4–10 member Board of Directors and supported by a five-person staff, with key leadership including Executive Director Danielle Richardson (since 2023), Northern Artistic Director Judy McNaughton (Prince Albert, since 2002), and Southern Artistic Director Ibukun Fasunhan (since 2023). In 2024/25 the organization delivered 13 projects reaching 2,787 participants across the province. Distribution is regional and direct: programming is delivered through community collaborations rather than commercial channels, with awareness driven primarily through the commonweal.ca website, email newsletter, and earned media.

Name

Common Weal Community Arts

Legal name

Common Weal Community Arts Inc.

Website

https://commonweal.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Common Weal Community Arts is a Regina-based non-profit founded in 1992 that delivers socially-engaged arts programming — community plays, workshops, residencies, and the Buffalo Futurism AR app — to Saskatchewan communities and visiting professional artists, funded primarily by federal and provincial grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Programming

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI), Traditional & Indigenous Crafts Lessons (Heritage Skills, Folk Arts) (THAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Socially-engaged practice
• Participatory arts experiences
• Arts residency programs
• Community cultural development

Headquarters

HQ city

Regina

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Primary revenue stream comprising federal (45%), provincial (40%), and municipal (5%) government funding. Total government funding accounts for 90% of revenue.
2. Private Sector Support: Corporate and private donations and sponsorships representing 7% of revenue.
3. Earned Revenue: Earned revenue from programming activities representing approximately 3% of total revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Common Weal Community Arts designs and delivers socially-engaged arts programming that connects professional artists with Saskatchewan communities through participatory experiences such as community plays, workshops, residencies, and public art installations. Complementary to this programming, the organization produces the Buffalo Futurism augmented reality mobile application, which delivers a geo-located Indigenous storytelling experience at a Regina park. The organization is funded primarily through government grants and serves as a bridge between artists and communities pursuing an equitable and just society.

Product overview

Common Weal Community Arts offers socially-engaged arts programming as its core offering, connecting professional artists with Saskatchewan communities through participatory arts experiences. The organization's main products include the Buffalo Futurism App (an augmented reality mobile experience) and various community arts programming initiatives including community plays, workshops, and residencies. The Buffalo Futurism App represents their primary technology product, providing an immersive AR experience featuring Indigenous storytelling and culture, while their broader programming encompasses collaborative arts projects designed to foster community connection and social change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Buffalo Futurism: An augmented reality experience app featuring Indigenous futuristic park with digital Buffalo, crocuses, tipis, and zombies, narrated by Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway
• Prairie Girl Collective

Products and services

• Buffalo Futurism App A geo-located augmented reality mobile application that provides an immersive Indigenous futuristic experience in Regina's māmowimōwīyitāyimōwin Park, narrated by Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway, featuring digital Buffalo, traditional elements, and storytelling about Indigenous culture and history. Available to general public visitors on iOS and Android devices.
• Socially-Engaged Arts Programming Socially-engaged arts programming created in collaboration with professional artists and Saskatchewan communities, including community plays, workshops, residencies, and participatory arts experiences. Delivered free of charge to community participants across urban and rural Saskatchewan, including Indigenous and historically underserved populations.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Jumblies Theatre: Toronto-based community-engaged arts organization producing participatory theatre and community arts projects with marginalized communities. Comparable to Common Weal in methodology, community-led practice, and non-profit structure.
• Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre: Saskatchewan-based Indigenous performing arts company producing theatre rooted in Indigenous storytelling and community collaboration. Comparable to Common Weal's community plays, Indigenous cultural focus, and Saskatchewan footprint.
• 25th Street Theatre Centre: A Saskatoon-based community-engaged theatre organization producing socially-engaged performances. The Common Weal Executive Director previously served as its Executive Director, making it a closely comparable peer in methodology and geography.
• Debajehmujig Storytellers: An Indigenous performing arts company on Manitoulin Island producing community-engaged theatre. Directly comparable to Common Weal in combining Indigenous cultural storytelling with community-based participatory practice.

Emerging players

• ArtStarts in Schools: Vancouver-based non-profit bringing arts to schools and communities through participatory programming. Comparable as a community-engaged arts organization focused on accessible, participatory experiences and youth/community engagement.

Regional players

• Wanuskewin Heritage Park: Saskatchewan-based Indigenous cultural and heritage centre near Saskatoon offering cultural programming and interpretation. Comparable to Common Weal's Indigenous cultural work, Saskatchewan geography, and educational programming.
• MacKenzie Art Gallery: Regina-based public art gallery offering exhibitions and community programming. Comparable as another major professional arts institution in Regina delivering public programming to Saskatchewan audiences.
• Tonight It's Poetry: Saskatchewan spoken word poetry organization where the Common Weal Executive Director previously served as Executive Director. Comparable in operating model (non-profit, Saskatchewan, community arts) and spoken word/performance programming.
• Paved Art + New Media: Saskatchewan-based artist-run centre for new media and contemporary art. Comparable in operating model (non-profit, Saskatchewan, arts programming) and overlapping in the digital/AR art space given Common Weal's Buffalo Futurism app.

Others

• SK Arts (Saskatchewan Arts Board): Saskatchewan's provincial arts funding agency and Common Weal's second-largest funder (40% of revenue). Comparable as the umbrella arts ecosystem in which Common Weal operates and as a key enabler of its programming model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skcommonweal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Common Weal Community Arts