Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment as the lead on the arts.
The NWT, as we know, is blessed with amazing artistic talents. Every jurisdiction in Canada has an arts centre with their artisans, and public can enjoy art from the perspective of both the artist and the citizens. The NWT does not. Artists in the Northwest Territories have extremely limited options for the display of their finished work and very few options for collaboration and learning.
Has the Minister been hearing what I have been hearing? Is the Minister aware of this groundswell of need and support for an arts centre in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Those are just some of the areas of discussion that have been addressed through our department and through various venues, as well, even working with the NWT Arts Council, because we provide annual funding to them.
We, as a department, recognize that there are no dedicated public arts spaces or display in the Northwest Territories; however, there are many opportunities for art expression display in our schools and also in our communities. My department will continue to support the community-based arts and cultural organizations through partnership. Member Bromley addressed this on several occasions on partnerships. It is very key; it is very important to have partnerships in the Northwest Territories, so I am working very closely with Industry, Tourism and Investment on this particular matter as well.
Also, we are working with other agencies to improve the accessibility of art activities and facilities in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.
Thanks to the Minister. I know in our communities we have a lot of facilities that are very supportive of their artists, but of course, their facilities are overworked and overused. What we are talking about is an NWT arts centre. I appreciate the Minister looking into this. The arts contribute to the economies, social debate, culture and identity, as we have said. In fact, in Nunavut the production of art is often the major local economic engine. Every jurisdiction in Canada seems to realize this and support their artists with a fine arts school or equivalent program. The NWT does not. Again, with the amazing talent we have, where is the fine arts school that helps people realize their gifts?
Will the Minister commit to exploring the feasibility of establishing a post-secondary fine arts school, possibly in conjunction with an NWT arts centre?
Mahsi. Just to touch base even further, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre also provides a public exhibition venue for NWT artists and also for temporary displays outside the NWT as well.
In the last five years, the Heritage Centre has hosted over 40 arts exhibits, with 34 of these presenting NWT artists from all regions. These are just some of the collections that we continue to promote in our schools and also with the general public.
The program that the Member is referring to is an area where I need to meet with Aurora College to see if that is part of their vision for the Northwest Territories either short term or long term. We will be addressing that with the college in the immediate future. Mahsi.
I appreciate the Minister’s response there. The artist community and the public, indeed, hugely appreciate the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre’s display of art, both from within and outside the NWT, but of course, it’s woefully inadequate for the need. That’s well recognized by Prince of Wales as well as the arts community and the public. The arts community, which is a diverse one, with dozens of genres representing the various forms across the NWT, their focus varies and their voices are diverse.
The conversation acknowledging the need for an arts hub, a centre that can provide both display and education, engagement and entertainment, has gone on far too long without government acknowledgement.
Will this Minister commit to promoting and leading this conversation towards the realization of an NWT arts centre that can serve these needs, something every other jurisdiction does? I recognize partnerships could be key. Mahsi.
Mahsi. That is exactly what we’re doing; we’re promoting arts in the Northwest Territories, again, in partnership with Industry, Tourism and Investment. We are, as a department, collaboratively working diligently to implement the NWT Arts Strategy and Action Plan. Not only that but we’re also working with the NWT Arts Council for the whole Northwest Territories. They are our key partners in delivering those areas of interest for the Northwest Territories when it comes to arts delivery.
So, we’ll continue to play those partnerships and have ongoing dialogue with the departments of ITI and Public Works and Services and with my department and work very closely with the NWT Arts Council as well. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate, again, the Minister’s response and commitment there. As we know, interest and potential for partnerships to develop a strategy to build an arts hub is high, and with a clear vision, a business plan and government support, this immense opportunity indeed could be realized. It can play a huge role in our territorial economy, and it’s been proven in many jurisdictions.
Will the Minister put out a call indicating exactly how partners, the latent partners out there, the many talented NWT artists and arts organizations, the private sponsors in the NWT and the educators and fine arts professionals, can contribute to the process? How can they participate in the Minister’s exercise here? Will he make that clear? Mahsi.
Mahsi. I did already commit that we will be reaching out to potential partners, along with ITI and Public Works and the NWT Arts Council. So those are key partners that we currently have. Through the connections with the NWT Arts Council, we have all these different agencies, as well, that are working very closely with us. We provide funding to them on an annual basis. So those are the key partners and we will be reaching out to them. I will be getting back to the standing committee on the result of our findings as well. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
