Avataq announces new department to support artists in Nunavik
By Katarina Soukup
Inukjuak, March 24, 2009 - Charlie Arngak, President of Avataq Cultural Institute, today announced the creation of a new department within the Institute to support and nurture the artists of Nunavik. Established with contributions from the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), the Kativik Local Development Centre, Makivik Corporation, and Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the goal of the Aumaaggiivik Nunavik Arts Secretariat is to improve artistic practice in Nunavik and foster sustainable economic development and employment in the arts and culture industries.
Taking its Inuktitut name from a word which means "the place where sparks are sourced" Aumaaggiivik will support artists in all domains (visual art, performance, music, film and video, literature, storytelling, etc) by "sparking" their careers through grant programs (such as the Nunavik Arts and Literature Fund announced last month), training and professional development, artist residencies, investment in local infrastructures to provide work spaces for artists, and promoting the arts both within and outside the region.
"It is an exciting project that will benefit all artists, and will contribute to developing a vibrant arts and culture industry for Nunavik," said Arngak about the endeavor. "We are thrilled that the arts will now benefit from broad regional support." For her part, KRG Chairperson Maggie Emudluk expressed in a letter to Arngak that she believed the new department would "bring tangible economic benefits to the art sector in Nunavik."
“This is a much needed boost for our artists," said Michael Gordon, Vice-President (Economic Development) of Makivik. "It will provide them with exposure and marketing opportunities which is very important for the support of our traditional economy”.
The Kativik Regional Government will contribute $160, 000 from the Regional Development Fund, and $215, 000 from the Employment and Training Program. The Kativik Local Development Centre will contribute $231, 000 from the KLDC’s Economic Diversification Fund and $115, 000 from the KLDC’s Socio-Economic Fund. The Conseil des arts et des lettres will contribute $50, 000 a year for the next three years towards the Nunavik Fund for Arts and Literature. Makivik Corporation will contribute the long-term loan of buildings in three different communities (Inukjuak, Salluit, and Kangirsuk) to be used for multi-purpose artist spaces. Makivik also created the Artist Liaison staff position. Currently occupied by Sammy J. Kudluk of Kuujjuaq, this person will work closely within Aumaaggiivik to achieve its goal of supporting Nunavik artists.
In the coming year, Aumaaggiivik will design and launch a marketing campaign to promote Nunavik arts and culture in Canada and abroad, and will continue to invest in professional development and artist work spaces. Artists will also be able to apply to two grant programs to pursue their work: Nunavik Fund for Arts and Literature (annual deadline) and Avataq Artists’ Support (ongoing deadline). Aumaaggiivik will provide the services of two Artist Liaisons to inform and guide artists about various career opportunities and help them put together grant applications.
Katarina Soukup Artist Liaison Avataq Cultural Institute 514-576-8590 katarina@avataq.qc.ca http://www.avataq.qc.ca
Dawn Forrest Communications Officer Kativik Regional Government 819-964-2961 ext. 2219 dforrest@krg.ca http://www.krg.ca
Sammy J. Kudluk Artist Liaison Makivik Corporation 819-964-2925 s_kudluk@makivik.org http://www.makivik.org
