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What the Fransaskois cultural council (Conseil culturel fransaskois, CCF) is about ?
CCF is the official Fransaskois representative in cultural matters and maintains links with its local, regional and provincial members, as well as other cultural and multicultural organizations.

CCF aims to develop programs, policies, and activities that allow the Fransaskois* community to achieve its cultural and creative potential. CCF supports the cultural and artistic development of the Fransaskois community, including cultural training, community cultural development, communications, cultural promotion and heritage development. The organization facilitates the overall cultural and artistic development of French artists and cultural workers as well as provides diversified cultural programming to Francophone and French immersion schools of the province in order to enhance the learning experience.

*A Fransaskois is someone who identifies with the francophone community, either by birth, marriage, adoption, or simply by connecting with the community in general. (http://www.fransaskois.sk.ca/gsDisplayGeneral/show/menu_id/3/id/79)

Fransaskois cultural council, history:
Fransaskois cultural council has dedicated more than four decades of service to francophone arts and culture in Saskatchewan!

Established in 1974 by several local francophone cultural committees, the Commission culturelle de la Saskatchewan was created to promote the development of Fransaskois culture: Well-known French recording artists toured most of the Fransaskois (Saskatchewan Francophones) communities, developed Fransaskois theatre by organizing workshops and helped foster the development young singer-songwriters for potential international careers.

The Commission culturelle fransaskoise became a member of SaskCulture and was recognized as the primary organization representing Fransaskois culture in the early 1980’s. This recognition and the financial stability it conferred allowed the Commission to establish a series of Artist in Residence programs throughout the province between 1981 and 1993. This period also marked the building of cultural centres in Fransaskois communities such as Gravelbourg, Ponteix, Debden and Bellevue.

During the 1980’s, the Commission organized the first Fêtes Fransaskoises and drama festivals, it also encouraged the creation of folk dancing ensembles and local choirs. Its work led to the creation of La Troupe du JourLes danseurs de la rivière La Vieille, La Ribambelle and several choirs. Since the dissolution of l’Association des artistes, which had the mandate of developing young artists, the Commission has taken on the career development of young singers, songwriters, visual artists and playwrights. Along with cultural and artistic programming CCF (Conseil culturel Fransaskois – name changed in 2000) maintains a cultural integration program in all French immersion and Fransaskois schools.

The Fransaskois Performing Arts Network (FPAN) works with its members to present francophone performing artists, all over Saskatchewan. Through its FPAN, CCF offers as many as five different touring artists per year in urban and rural communities.

CCF is also strongly involved in the educational system. Our school programs include artistic and cultural workshops; support in making French shows available to schools. In addition to organizing shows and workshops, CCF offers trainings and services to Fransaskois artists, from emerging to professional. Musicians, writers and visual artists receive adapted training for the development of their professional careers. Among others CCF supports emerging artists such as Indigo Joseph, Sylvie Walker and Mario Lepage. Sylvie, Mario and Étienne Fletcher have each won the musical competition Nouvelle scène and the Gala Chant’Ouest, respectively in 2011 and 2012 and 2015. From there they go on to represent Western Canada at the Festival international de la chanson de Granby where Sylvie won the SOCAN Prize for best new composition in 2013.

Moreover, CCF provides artists and communities with grants in order to help them to develop their projects. Musicians such as Alexis Normand, Shawn Jobin and Annette Campagne; visual artists such as Zoé Fortier; writers such as Martine Noël-Maw and Madeleine Blais-Dalhem; actors such as Marie-Claire Marcotte rely on the CCF to find financial support and advice to further their careers.

In 2014, CCF celebrated its 40th anniversary by organizing events every month. One of these project was Fransaschante. Introduced to three communities (Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Bellevue), this project gave the opportunity to amateur singers over 40 to step onto the stage to show their friends and neighbours their talents. Huge success! The final competition took place during the “Rendez-vous fransaskois”, the largest annual gathering of the Fransaskois community gathering leaders, members, cultural workers, etc.

After this event, several communities asked CCF to continue the project Fransaschante so they could host a semi-final event. Several members of the community also contacted us to share their interest in taking part in this project and encouraging their local artists to register!
Conseil culturel fransaskois mandate:

  • Being the voice of Fransaskois on all matters of cultural and artistic needs and aspirations
  • Strengthening of the capacity and leadership of artists across the province
  • Broadening the base of knowledge of cultural products
  • Training, support and promotion of Fransaskois artists
  • Developing infrastructure for sustained services for artists and artisans
  • Creating opportunities for networking for all Fransaskois artists and artisans and connecting them with the community