SaskCulture's AI Commitment

Our approach

SaskCulture recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) is already part of the tools and systems we use, and its role will continue to grow. We believe the question is not whether AI will be used, but how it is used, intentionally, responsibly, and in alignment with our values.

These commitments are intended to guide how we approach AI as an organization, while keeping our work human-centred, transparent, and accountable.

Our core commitments

1. Human creativity and judgment come first
   1. AI will be used as a tool to support people, not replace them.
   2. Human creativity, professional expertise, and judgment remain central to our work.
   3. Responsibility always rests with the person using AI, not the tool itself.
2. AI will enhance, not replace, cultural work
   1. AI will not replace artists, writers, or cultural workers.
   2. SaskCulture is committed to hiring and fairly compensating artists, writers, and cultural workers for creative work.
   3. AI will not be used to generate substitute creative outputs in place of paid artistic labour.
3. Care, consent, and respect for knowledge
   1. We will take particular care with Indigenous cultural knowledge, protocols, and relationships.
   2. AI will not be used in ways that extract, replicate, or misuse cultural knowledge or cultural expression.
   3. Cultural protocols, consent, and relational accountability always take precedence over efficiency.

What we will use AI for

We may use AI to support staff and organizational effectiveness, including:

• Drafting, editing, summarizing, or clarifying text (with human review and accountability)
• Research support and synthesis
• Evaluation and reflection on programs (not funding assessment or decision‑making)
• Improving accessibility (e.g., plain‑language rewrites, accessibility supports)
• Administrative and operational efficiency
• Building staff understanding and skills related to emerging technologies

AI may be used as a creative support or thinking partner, but not as a substitute for original thought, reflection, or relational work.

What we will not use AI for

SaskCulture will not use AI for:

• Assessing, screening, or making decisions on grant applications
• Replacing artists, writers, or cultural workers with AI‑generated images, text, or creative work
• Generating public‑facing creative content intended to stand in for paid creative labour
• Uses that compromise privacy, data protection, or trust
• Tools or platforms that train large public models on our data or applicant information

Boundaries around tools and data

• We are intentional about which types of AI tools we use.
• SaskCulture prioritizes tools that provide:
  • Encrypted, private environments
  • Clear data governance
  • No training of public or external models using our information
• We avoid tools that:
  • Use data to train external models
  • Are not transparent about data handling
  • Are known to produce unreliable or fabricated information without safeguards

Transparency about which tools are in use, and why, is an important part of accountability.

Grant applicants and the sector

• AI use decisions will remain at the discretion of organizations. Grant applicants may choose to use AI tools. We encourage organizations to approach AI thoughtfully and in alignment with their own values and strategic priorities.
• SaskCulture will not require disclosure of AI use or penalize applicants for choosing to use it or not use it.
• We recognize that access to technology and capacity vary across the sector, and AI may both reduce and create barriers.
• We are committed to supporting sector learning, dialogue, and adaptation rather than imposing requirements.

Environment responsibility

• We acknowledge that AI has environmental impacts, alongside other technologies we already use.
• We commit to thoughtfulness and care, avoiding unnecessary or excessive use.

Transparency and accountability

• AI use should be visible, intentional, and open to discussion.
• Staff remain accountable for:
  • Accuracy
  • Tone and voice
  • Ethical implications
  • Impact on relationships and trust

Keeping our work human-centred

Some parts of our work must remain deeply human, including:

• Relationship‑building with communities
• Cultural context
• Funding decisions
• Ethical reflection
• Original thought and meaning‑making

AI may help create time for this work, but it cannot replace it.

These commitments are not static. AI is developing quickly, and regulation continues to evolve. SaskCulture commits to revisiting and refining these guidelines over time, grounded in our values, our responsibilities, and the voices of the communities we serve.