Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am a proud supporter of the arts. I was thrilled to take the Member for Kam Lake and the Member for Frame Lake to the Bloody Valentine Burlesque last weekend. This weekend, I encourage all Members to attend the Black in History art exhibition this Saturday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Yellowknife Racquet Club. Inemesit Graham's portraits are a celebration of black leaders, thinkers, authors, activists, and poets throughout world history celebrating Black History Month. Admission is free.
Additionally, the Black Advocacy Coalition upNorth, BACupNorth, is having their Black History Month gala tomorrow night that celebrates black music and culture, and I believe tickets are still available.
Mr. Speaker, on the topic of boosting NWT arts, I was also heartened to see that the department of ECE recently restructured arts funding grants towards a visionary purpose the building up of or strengthening of existing arts organizations throughout the territory. I hope this vision helps propel artists into new markets and new venues when they want to grow and expand. It appears that ECE's vision will allow organizations to scale up and capacitybuild to get more federal dollars. A new arts officer position has been created to assist across our regions if I understand correctly.
Mr. Speaker, this is great news because, indeed, the more our arts organizations can apply, the more they will get.
Mr. Speaker, this works really well for large organizations like the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre or Western Arctic Moving Pictures; however, for small or medium organizations this is a brave new world. Mr. Speaker, I have heard concerns in the arts community that this brave new vision has not been properly communicated to them. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from Tu NedheWiilideh.
