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Montreal, September 1, 2009 – Kativik Regional Government and Avataq Cultural Institute (Aumaaggiivik: The Nunavik Arts Secretariat) have just unveiled the list of recipients of the very first Nunavik Fund for Arts and Literature. The new grants programme, which has a budget of $80,000 for the 2008-2009 fiscal period, will allow nine artists and one artists’ collective to complete projects in music (four) visual arts (four) and literature (two).

The Nunavik Fund for Arts and Literature was established in January 2009. It has a budget of $335,000 for its first three years, made possible through a partnership with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) and Kativik Regional Government (KRG), which contributed $150,000 and $110,000 respectively. Because Avataq Cultural Institute holds a historic role as interlocutor for the arts and literature in Nunavik, it administers the Fund in collaboration with CALQ and KRG. Grant recipients are chosen by a selection committee composed of peer-recognized artists and writers.

Component I: This fund is for artists and writers or collectives of artists and writers from the Nunavik region who work in any of the following fields: circus arts, media arts, multidisciplinary arts, visual arts, singing, dance, literature, story-telling, arts and crafts, music, theatre, and architectural research. Its goal is to support artistic projects and initiatives undertaken in partnership with the broader community, as well as work programmes and sponsor or mentoring programmes.

Recipients of the Nunavik Fund for Arts and Letters, Component 1:

· Beatrice Deer (Quaqtaq/Dorval): Music

· Emily Novalinga (Puvirnituq/Dorval): Literature (story-telling and poetry)

· Gilbert George Inukpuk (Umiujaq): Visual arts (sculpture)

· Tanya J. Mesher (Kuujjuaq): Visual arts (painting)

· Charles Keelan (Kangiqsualujjuaq/Dorval): Music

· Peter J. Annanack (Kangiqsualujjuaq): Visual arts (painting)

· Matthew Ningiurivik (Quaqtaq): Music

· Salluit Education Committee (Salluit): Literature

Component II: This programme provides for a Nunavik artist to undertake a 2-month research and creative residency in Montreal, and a Montreal artist to do a residency in Inukjuak.

Recipients of Nunavik Fund for Arts and Literature, Component II:

· Jessie Koneak Jones (Kuujjuaq): Visual arts (painting and drawing)

· Nimalan Yoganathan (Montreal): Music

Next Application period:
The application deadline for the 2nd edition of the Nunavik Fund for Arts and Letters is Friday, November 13, 2009.

Kativik Regional Government (KRG) is a non-ethnic organization created in 1978 following the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. KRG handles the following domains in nearly all the territory of Quebec north of the 55th parallel: municipal affairs, transportation, environment, police, employment, training and labour, income security, childcare, renewable resources, regional planning, emergency preparedness and economic development.

Avataq Cultural Institute is a non-profit charity created in 1980 by the Elders of Nunavik to protect and preserve the language and culture of the Inuit of Northern Quebec. Since then, Avataq has spearheaded a number of initiatives related to the Inuktitut language as well as Inuit heritage, art, archaeology and genealogy. Avataq is also the custodian of the Nunavik Inuit Arts Collection.

Contacts:
Martine Dufour
Coordinator
Nunavik Arts Secretariat (Aumaaggiivik)
Avataq Cultural Institute
(514) 989-9031 local 243
mdufour@avataq.qc.ca
www.avataq.qc.ca

Julie Grenier
Communications coordinator
Kativik Regional Government
819 964-2661, local 2317
jgrenier@krg.ca
www.krg.ca