Thank you, Mr. Speaker. NWT artisans and filmmakers make a positive economic and cultural impact on our territory and today I would like to highlight some initiatives to support and grow the arts, crafts and film sectors.
Through the office of the film commissioner, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been working closely with the NWT film industry over the past year. Last year the GNWT met with film and media arts representatives for a review of the territorial film industry. They identified the need for a fully interactive and information rich website to promote filming and film industry services here in the NWT.
ITI has now developed this website in collaboration with the newly formed NWT Professional Media Association. I am pleased to say the finishing touches are being put on the site, so to speak, and we are planning its launch in the next few weeks. This site will be a go-to resource for the film
industry, both inside and outside of the Northwest Territories.
Not only will it promote the NWT as a filming destination and provide production companies with information on filming here, it will also promote the local film and media arts industries by showcasing their credentials through a film suppliers guide. This guide also contains listings of local businesses that provide specific areas of expertise, products and services to assist film productions on location here in the NWT.
Local filmmakers can also check the site for information or other resources such as funding programs.
We know better than anyone that there are talented filmmakers at work throughout the Northwest Territories. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and congratulate Mr. Andrew Silke, who’s short film, “Amelia,” was selected to screen at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France. Everyone in the cast and crew was from the Northwest Territories and production was filmed here.
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Providing support to the arts and the film industry is a joint effort between ITI and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. ITI provides support for NWT businesses, including those involved in film production through its Support to Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Policy. I’m pleased to say that the department funded a significant portion of Mr. Silke’s travel costs to attend the Cannes Film Festival where he is today. ECE provides support to the film industry through the NWT Arts Council and northern film and media arts contributions programs and also made a funding contribution to support this project.
The last time this Assembly met in February, I committed to reviewing the idea of developing a diamond jewellery skills program for local artists. ITI is looking into options for developing a jewellery workshop or something very similar to that. The workshop would be built upon local artistic talents and provide a new skill set for NWT artists who are interested in using raw and processed materials in the NWT.
It could also help to raise the profile of locally made jewellery products. Focusing on small-scale opportunities to support the local arts sector is an important element to support this sector.
ITI invests nearly $1 million annually into the arts and crafts sector. Of this amount, approximately $600,000 is under the Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Policy. Through the policy, funds are distributed to over 150 artists and community groups hosting art festivals throughout the NWT. The remaining funds are geared towards promoting and supporting NWT artists in various ways through the NWT artists database, the Arts Branding Logo Program, community workshops and other arts promotions.
Mr. Speaker, we all want an economy that is diversified and provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices. Supporting programming for the NWT film industry and the arts and crafts sector is one way to maximize opportunities and support economic diversification of the NWT, a key goal of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
