cracker crumbs studios
About
Public spaces thrive when they invite people to stay, explore, and connect
We are committed to Indigenous reconciliation, racial equity, disability justice, and gender and sexual diversity."We acknowledge that our community is located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Traditional Homeland of the Métis. Indigenous people of primarily Cree, Dakota and Saulteaux descent have called Saskatoon home for thousands of years.”
Mission
Our mission is to transform public spaces into vibrant hubs of community interaction and artistic expression. Through engaging and temporary art installations, we aim to foster a sense of belonging and pride within neighbourhoods, cityscapes, and shared spaces, inspire creativity, and spark meaningful connections among residents and visitors alike.
Open Art Collective is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, with one paid administration position. Funding is secured by writing grants , sponsorship and partnerships to bring projects to fruition. The majority of funding goes towards the artists, promotion and logistics to ensure succesful outcomes for each initiative.
Placemaking isn’t just about public amenity, events or landscaping. It’s about meaning. At its heart, placemaking is storytelling—the stories that connect people to place, shaping how we live, interact, and thrive. The most successful places don’t just exist; they resonate.
Vision
Call for Artists & Artist Collective
Each call will include an information session to help provide support and guidance . We will develop a roster of both emerging and established artists . 80% of the artist calls will be open to Saskatoon based artist and artist collectives only. 20% of the artist calls will be open Saskatchewan based artist and artist collectives . We want to strive to provide the opportunity to further amplify a more diverse set of voices ,therefore creating a more inclusive landscape .
* Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), Black, newcomer, LGBTQQIP2SAA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, allies, along with additional sexual orientations and gender identities), racialized, disabled, and equity-deserving artists and communities.
To ensure racial equity in the panel process, we will actively investigate who has access to opportunities and who doesn’t. We will implement systems and protocols that increase access and decrease barriers for historically under-resourced groups. https://www.jeromefdn.org/announcing-re-tool-racial-equity-panel-process
Identify Locations: Identify public and non-traditional spaces that may benefit from unique animations. This could include parks, streets, storefront windows, storefronts in transition, construction hoarding to unconventional spaces like underpasses, abandoned lots and alleys.
Engage First: Engage with local communities and stakeholders ie. BIDS, City of Saskatoon, Business and Property owners to understand their preferences and needs regarding animations in these spaces.
We would work to understand how at present the space is being used as well as how would programming impact public’s activity and
use of the space.
Collaborate: The true power of placemaking is in the process of how it brings community spaces to life and reflecting the community that are users of that space . We will create opportunities by offering small and medium vibrancy grants to Artists and Art Collectives to create temporary projects that animate public spaces in an unique, transformative and engaging way.
Ensure Accessibility: Ensure that the animations are diverse equitable and inclusive. Promote Engagement: Design projects that encourage interaction and engagement from the public through interactive elements and storytelling.
Evaluate Impact: We accept that not all projects will be successful, which is why we will continuously evaluate the impact of the animations on the community and gather feedback to inform future projects.
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