Good evening, standing committee members and panel.
Created as a non-profit, incorporated society in October of 1998, the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association, or as we call it, NACA, works on behalf of Nunavut visual artists to promote the growth and appreciation of their creative talents and the wide variety of arts and crafts they produce. Nunavut is home to a multitude of carvers, printmakers, ceramic pottery makers, painters, photographers, jewellery and tapestry artists, and seamstresses, and I can go on and on.
Membership with NACA is free for artists. Currently we have over 800 members to our credit. NACA represents artists from across the territory. We continually seek out opportunities to promote the industry in new and existing markets and realize additional sales for Nunavut artists.
In the interests of diversifying and strengthening the arts sector, we work strategically to introduce and advance new methods of artistic expression. Through activities such as conferences, workshops, and the annual Nunavut arts festival, NACA strives to create a better business and working environment for artists. NACA is regularly called upon to help with coordination of events such as the Northern Lights trade show, where the artists enjoy the opportunity to showcase their talents and market their artwork.
At NACA, we are committed to supporting our membership by applying for funding through agencies such as the Canada Council for the Arts and Canadian Heritage to access the dollars we need to complete the projects outlined in our four-year strategic plan and action plan. These guiding documents, plus other day-to-day activities, will provide direction as NACA accesses the required funding to further the organization and continue to grow.
The following are points to consider as we focus on improving the economic outlook of the arts sector.
The arts sector in Nunavut is one of the most important parts of the economy of the territory. Inuit art, with its world-renowned reputation, is one of our major exports. Artistic production is a significant source of income in most of our communities. It is estimated that this sector employs and gives economic benefits to over 3,000 artists and directly contributes $30 million annually to the territorial economy.
To ensure the sector's viability, NACA emphasizes the importance of the transfer of skills from elders or established artists to youth. Our youth are not getting involved, as in many cases they believe that work in the arts field is an unprofitable venture and not a viable job option. We fear that this erosion of knowledge will have a significant impact on the arts economy in the coming years. Mentoring must be reinvigorated and fostered to help improve the arts sector and keep it as a sustainable source of revenue and a respectable occupation.
Our artists need access to funding. Some of our member artists are unilingual and require additional help to fill in applications in order to advance their marketing opportunities. NACA intends to assist them by facilitating more funding opportunities at the social economy level to support them in becoming full-time artists.
Programs offered by Aboriginal Business Canada and other federal programs are currently underused. Artists do not take advantage of this funding due to the difficulty in filling in the various applications and the length of time required to process funding requests.
To facilitate applications from Nunavut artists, forms should be created in straightforward formats that are more user friendly and translated into Inuktitut. Communicating in a language that is comfortable and known to the artist is an important aspect of the Inuit culture. To address these issues, NACA is working with the Canada Council for the Arts to ensure their applications are available in an easy-to-understand format and translated to Inuktitut for Nunavut artists.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation has worked hard in developing a new authentic Nunavut brand on behalf of the Government of Nunavut. This new branding program will help solidify Nunavut's identity in the art sector and move us forward in being recognized as a unique contributor to the Inuit art world and the wider arts market.
NACA is a strong supporter of the authentic Nunavut brand and the benefits of this program for our artists, because it will certify their artwork as original, handmade, and from Nunavut. It will promote genuine work over imitations and make Nunavut arts and crafts easily recognizable around the world.
In support of authentic Nunavut, NACA would like to secure the federal government's assistance in facilitating communications with the igloo tag program, which is administered through the Indian and Northern Affairs, to foster a stronger partnership between the two programs. This working partnership is one of the missing key components to ensuring the authentic Nunavut brand programs thrive.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak about the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association and Nunavut's art sector, a significant part of the overall Nunavut economy.
We are focusing on moving the sector forward, and with your assistance, improving funding relationships, allowing easier access to funding for our artists, and working together to solidify the authentic Nunavut brand.