ON THE BOARDS serves artists in theatre, music and dance in Saskatoon.

The Company

ON THE BOARDS Staging Company is a non-profit organization operating on a unique, alternative model for producing independent performing art in Saskatoon. We support artists through collaborative production services so they may focus on being an artist first and a producer second.

Our Mandate: We support independent performing artists and producers by:

• facilitating space for creation and presentation;
• simplifying access to in-house technical and administrative skill and infrastructure to enable the creation and presentation of their work;
• providing guidance and creating practical mentorship opportunities in service of professional growth;
• building relationships with local communities to foster audience and community engagement;
• investing in sustainable operations that ensure the long term health of the organization.

We envision a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable Saskatoon independent performing arts community where artists and producers have the guidance and infrastructure needed to build the skills and capacity to take risks to create and present work.

Our mission is to connect audiences to independent performing arts by facilitating space, practical production, and administrative support for artists, enabling them to create and present their work in a professional and supportive environment.

Our Values:

• Culture: We believe that the arts are a crucial part of a thriving society and aim to nurture an innovative and creative community
• Inclusivity: We believe in safer spaces where everyone feels welcome to enjoy live performance in a low-barrier and accessible way
• Professionalism: We believe independent artists and producers deserve a consistent, safe, and reliable environment to produce their work
• Relationships: We value the diverse perspectives, expertise, and insights of our collaborative and broader community, and value opportunities for enthusiastic artistic discourse
• Guidance: We believe expertise and problem-solving support helps artists execute their creative vision
• Creative Risk: We believe that taking risks is an important part of creative practice and artists deserve a space to learn, make mistakes, and grow

Who We Are

On the Boards Staging Company is a non-profit organization operating on a unique, alternative model for producing independent performing art in Saskatoon.  On The Boards takes care of the administration for live performance so that artists can focus on the art.

In 2001, our founding leadership Cynthia Dyck and Jim Arthur helped create a space for independent theatre to grow in Saskatoon.  As they worked to meet community demand, On the Boards Staging Company, incorporated in 2006. On The Boards was purpose built to fill the gap between what rental facilities provide and what producing artists actually need. In addition to creating artist-friendly spaces, independent performing artists need access to resources and mentorship in the technical and administrative aspects of production. On The Boards staff help fill this need by assisting independent artists and local producers to overcome the many barriers, duties, and details required to stage their art for public performance.

Our technical services, box office management, front-of-house coordination, and supplementary promotion enable artists to delegate their non-artistic responsibilities. This ensures a positive, professional experience for the artist, and ultimately, for the patron.