Minister Aglukkaq Announces Support for the Nunavut Arts and Culture Sector - Governments of Canada and Nunavut invest in skills and capacity building

IQALUIT, July 31, 2015 /CNW/ - Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) and the Government of Nunavut, Department of Economic Development and Transportation

Today, CanNor Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Nunavut Minister of Economic Development and Transportation Monica Ell announced investments to foster development of Nunavut's arts and culture industries. These initiatives will strengthen business capacity and help expand job opportunities for Inuit artists across Nunavut.  

The funding allows feature film workshops to support filmmakers as they learn directly from an award-winning producer and director about acting, production assistance, and other filmmaking skills.

A second initiative will offer local artists training in business administration, finance, marketing, and career planning along with a workshop with the Canada Council for the Arts. As part of the project, a series of audio and video clips providing advice on the arts business will be developed in English, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. This project will position artists to meet the growing demand for Inuit art and culture.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is investing $95,000 in the Feature Film Workshops. The Government of Nunavut, Department of Economic Development and Transportation is contributing $18,800 with the Nunavut Film Development Corporation adding $25,000; Telefilm Canada is contributing $48,500; and North Creative Films Inc. is adding $43,700 for a total investment of $231,000.
• The Government of Canada is investing $215,384 over two years in artists' business skills. The Government of Nunavut, Department of Economic Development and Transportation is contributing $301,000. The total investment for the project is $520,384.
• The visual arts and crafts sector contributes approximately $30 million to Nunavut's gross domestic product annually, employing and supplementing the income of 3,000 local artists.

Quotes

"Arts and culture is an integral part of who we are as Nunavummiut so investments in our artists are investments in our future. This industry generates important economic activity in communities across the territory. These investments provide Nunavut artists and filmmakers with opportunities to expand their knowledge and business skills in order to advance their careers.  "

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Minister for the Arctic Council

"Film and art are an important part of Nunavut's diversified economy. This funding follows through on our mandate by supporting the development of Nunavut artists in all media to produce high quality work and to market it nationally and internationally." 

Monica Ell
Nunavut's Minister of Economic Development and Transportation

Associated Links  
Government of Canada Supports Nunavut's Cultural Sector
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=926659&tp=1
CanNor Invests in Cape Dorset Arts Community
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=862799&tp=1
Canada Invests in Nunavut's Cultural Industries
http://www.cannor.gc.ca/eng/1389626619417/1389626741337

CanNor works to help develop a diversified, sustainable and dynamic economy across Canada's three territories, and delivers on its northern mandate through funding programs, the Northern Projects Management Office and by undertaking policy and research.

For more information about CanNor, visit cannor.gc.ca

For more information on Canada's Northern Strategy, visit: northernstrategy.ca

SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

For further information: Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Ted Laking, 819-997-1441; Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Krisandra Reid, Communications Advisor, Yukon Region, 867-667-3210; Government of Nunavut, Matthew Illaszewicz, Manager, Communications, 867-975-7818