It looks like it could be back to the drawing board for Saskatchewan's status of the artist legislation.

The NDP government wanted to pass a law giving artists — including painters, filmmakers, dancers, mimes, opera singers and clowns — the right to obtain written contracts and bargain collectively.

In the past few months, the proposed status of the artist act has been reviewed by an all-party committee. There have been public hearings and written submissions.

However, the Saskatchewan Party said there are still a lot of questions about the law and it wants more public consultation.

As a result, the bill stalled in committee Wednesday, a day before the spring legislative sitting ended.

"I think we're very disappointed this hasn't gone forward," said Patrick Close, a spokesman for CARFAC, a group representing visual artists.

"These are all tools we could've used in this sector to foster better relations between artists and engagers and to bring an orderly process to that."

Artist organizations have argued creative people are underpaid in Saskatchewan and that better legislation could result in higher incomes.

The proposed law would allow scales to be set for the payment of artists that would establish minimum pay.

The stalling of the bill led to some debate in the legislature Thursday and some finger pointing at the Saskatchewan Party.

"They want to continue to keep artists poor," NDP MLA Pat Atkinson said.

However, Sask. Party MLA June Draude said she's received letters from artists and business owners expressing concerns about the law.

"The owners are afraid that the bill will in fact have a negative effect on the lives of artists," Draude told a legislative committee.

The all-party committee plans to discuss the status of the artist legislation in the fall session of the legislature.