Arts community plans ambitious annual festival

JOHN THOMPSON

Whether it’s francophone folk music or heavy metal from Nunavik, squeaky accordions or Lucie Idlout’s rock’n’roll growls, square dancing or break dancing, there will be plenty to check out at this year’s Alianait! arts festival in Iqaluit.

Storytelling, theatre, arts workshops and the screening of new films about Nunavut are all on the schedule of the 10-day festival, to be held between National Aboriginal Day on June 21 and continuing until Canada Day on July 1.

Alianait! began last year, spearheaded by L’Association des Francophones du Nunavut. This year promises to be far more ambitious.

Iqaluit’s arts community has banded together to turn the festival into an annual event they hope will lure tourists to Nunavut’s capital, much like Toonik Tyme does in the spring.

Heather Daley, president of the Iqaluit Music Society, said that holding a summer arts festival only makes sense, given that Nunavut has the most artists per capita in the country, according to a Statistics Canada survey done in 2005.

She also says the time of year should be just right.

“It’s after the ice has melted, but just before you head out on the land,” Daley said.

Alianait! also corresponds with the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association’s seventh annual arts festival.

That means carving, prints, drawings, paintings, jewelry, ceramics, basketry, sewing, weaving, traditional crafts and photography will all be on display and for sale.

As well, day-long workshops will be taught by local and visiting artists for pottery, wall hanging, printmaking, jewelry, watercolour painting, felting, and the carving of granite, ivory and whale bone.

Daley said she hopes the festival will draw attention to the need in Iqaluit for an arts centre, which could be used as a venue for music and theatre performances.

As a musician, Daley is familiar with the tin-can acoustics of the Arctic Winter Games arena and curling rink that visiting performers tolerate.

“One thing for me is, please, we need an arts centre. I hope this will point this out,” she said.

The Government of Nunavut already plans to build a heritage centre for Inuit artifacts in Iqaluit. Daley suggests the building could double as an arts centre – an idea that has also been floated by Iqaluit’s mayor, Elisapee Sheutiapik.

In the meantime, this summer some events will be closer to the outdoors, inside two large tents donated by the City of Iqaluit.

The festival takes place almost 10 years to the day that an accordion festival was held in Iqaluit.

Daley said the squeaky, nasal instrument is a common bond shared by Inuit, francophones and the “grab-bag” of anglophone northern residents.

Daley pegged the cost of the festival at $250,000, but said the bulk of that is covered with donated labour. They’ve yet to settle on an airline sponsor.

For the full schedule, visit www.alianait.ca