Nunavut pledges new money to help Nunavut artists travel

The Gjoa Band performs July 1 in Iqaluit during Canada Day celebrations. The GN’s heritage department said July 5 that they’ll spend an extra $100,000 a year to help musicians produce music in the Inuit language. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)

Attention all Nunavut artists and musicians: the Nunavut government’s economic development and heritage departments, with help from the Canada Council for the Arts, are offering a set of revamped funding programs to help Nunavut artists travel and promote their work.

At the same time, the Department of Heritage will spend $100,000 a year to help musicians produce music in the Inuit language.

“Music has always played an important role in Inuit society,” James Arreak, the languages minister, said in a news release.

Under the new system, called the “Arts Development Program Policy,” the GN will spend more money to help artists travel to promote their work and gain access to professional development.

That money flows from the Canada Council, with whom the GN says it has formed a “stronger relationship.”

This fiscal year, 2013-14, the GN will make $50,000 available for artists’ travel.

That fund will rise to $75,000 in 2014-15 and to $100,000 in 2015-16, the GN said in a news release.

“We’ve heard from performing artists and authors, among others, that they need support and we’re taking action,” said Peter Taptuna, the economic development minister.

The new arts development policy will spend the following amounts between now and March 31, 2016:

• $545,000 in 2013-14

• $570,000 in 2014-15;

• $645,000 in 2015-16.

Artists and arts organizations may apply for money under nine designated activities:

• travel assistance

• recording and production of Inuit language music;

• marketing and promotion;

• artistic innovation;

• purchase of materials, equipment;

• safe and affordable workplaces;

• arts training;

• marketing support;

• arts education for young people.

The GN said you can find more information at this web page.

Artists and arts organizations may also contact the economic development department at 1-888-975-5999 or through their website at: www.edt.gov.nu.ca.