January 23-25, Inuit Art Foundation (IAF) holds regional workshop in Ottawa to provide support, training, and development assistance to local and regional Inuit arts organizations from throughout the North. Founded in 1986, and controlled entirely by practicing Inuit artists, the IAF focuses on services for artists in northern communities, assistance in a high end art market for organizations working with local artists, and promoting a sustainable arts market that benefits Inuit people and communities. According to the IAF website:

This week’s meetings will focus on discussions about sources of funding for artist training and development; problems of obtaining materials to work with in northern communities; the need for procedures and guidelines to handle the increasing number of requests for Inuit artists to serve as resource people at international events; interest in and support for establishing community and regional artists’ associations; and copyright issues.

The IAF hosts a series of public events and training workshops: including an artist education program, kickstart grants, materials seminars, a cultural industries training program, symposia to assist artists in networking and promoting art, and more. Organizations attending the regional workshop include: the Akubliriit Arts Society (Baker Lake), Avataq Cultural Institute (Montreal), Makivik Corporation (Nunavik), Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association (Iqaluit); Torngasok Cultural Centre (Nain, Labrador); Uqqurmiut Centre (Pangnirtung, Nunavut); and the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative (Cape Dorset).

For more information, please contact:
Miriam Dewar, Inuit Art Foundation
Tel: (613) 224-8189 ext. 26
iaq@inuitart.org

Sources:

• Inuit Art Foundation: Press Release
• Inuit Art Quarterly (IAQ) article: “The Inuit Art Foundation”