Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to highlight the work of artisan craftspeople in the Great Slave riding and commend the government on its recent commitment to enhance funding up to $500,000 for art, as outlined by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment yesterday. This money will go to the NWT Arts Council, to cultural organizations such as the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, to heritage centres where northern artists’ crafts are showcased and to new program planning, development and evaluation throughout the NWT.
As an avid supporter of the arts and culture I am happy to see this government taking these steps. I look forward to continued and enhanced investment in these areas over the years to come and continued partnership between Education, Culture and Employment and Industry, Tourism and Investment.
The Great Slave riding is home to many artists whose creative work provides just a small section of the artistic talent in our territory. Knife maker Edward McRae, photographers Alice McLeod and Bronwyn Watters live in the riding, as well as musicians Moira Cameron and Steve Goff of Ceilidh and Friends. The Great Slave riding is also home to Bill Gilday of the Gumboots, visual artist Rae Braden and painter Brian McDonald. Bonnie Madsen’s murals can be seen on Franklin Avenue, and she also operates a gallery out of her home in the riding that showcases her excellent paintings. The many accomplishments of constituent Keira Kolson, a hip-hop artist and aboriginal youth advocate, show that homegrown artists are capable of great achievements alongside their counterparts in the South.
The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre is the only performing arts centre in the Northwest Territories located in the Great Slave riding. NACC continues to host local, territorial, national and international talent and is an integral part of the territorial arts community. Many young Northerners have discovered the love of performing arts there, and many performers have inspired audiences to pursue their creative goals.
The enhanced funding will support a proposal to administer a new northern theatre arts program, and I look forward to the opportunities that this initiative will offer Northerners.
The Northwest Territories arts community has a great potential and continues to grow. However, as artists in any discipline can tell you, success requires hard work, perseverance and support. We as a government must be sure to encourage and develop northern talent to continue to offer emerging artists as many opportunities as possible.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for his department’s commitment to the arts. Creativity is a renewable resource, and few groups of people celebrate our unique northern culture and identity as vibrantly as our artists.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
