Nunavut offers tourism development funds to communities

German tourists enjoy a throat singing performance at Arviat’s visitor centre during a 2013 visit to the Kivalliq community. (FILE PHOTO)

Nunavut organizations and businesses are now eligible for money from a new territorial tourism program, the Government of Nunavut announced last week.

The newly-launched Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program aims to support local infrastructure and tourism readiness, by helping communities’ creative sectors, like music, digital media or the performing arts.

“The Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program is a great example of how the Government of Nunavut is helping to strengthen economic growth across the territory,” said Monica Ell, minister of Economic Development and Transportation, in a July 24 release.

“We support the economic development initiatives in [our mandate] Sivumut Abluqta by investing in Nunavut’s exciting arts and tourism sectors.”

Outfitters, tourist establishments, businesses, artist organizations, hunters and trappers organizations, artists, studios or artist co-operatives and municipalities can apply for funding, the GN said, although priority will be given to applicants who do not currently receive any funding through its Economic Development and Transportation department.

Applicants can apply under three different streams.

Community tourism projects are eligible for grants between $5,000 and $150,000, for projects that involve tourism planning at the community level; marketing, improvements to the local visitor centre, general beautification projects and preparation for cruise ship visits.

Cultural tourism projects could include developing new or upgrading existing arts and culture infrastructure that would be used by visitors and the marketing of local artists and their products. This fund also offers grants of between $5,000 and $150,000.

And finally, cultural industries projects could be eligible for between $5,000 and $35,000 in funding for technical and professional production; increasing artists’ knowledge of the tourist market; youth engagement and residencies.

You can download an application form here.