Association to support Nunavut artists set to launch this spring
Nunatsiaq News| January 19, 2023
Categories: news
ARTS AND CULTURE JAN 19, 2023 – 11:38 AM EST
Association to support Nunavut artists set to launch this spring
Association first of its kind in territory: executive director
Nunavut Music, an upcoming music association to represent Nunavut artists and industry professionals, is set to launch in May, the organization announced this week. (Image courtesy of Nunavut Music)
By Nunatsiaq News
This story was updated on Friday, Jan. 20, at 2:05 p.m. ET.
A new music association that will represent Nunavut artists is getting ready to launch this spring.
Nunavut Music is a new non-profit organization that aims to help artists and industry workers in the territory create sustainable careers in music, the organization announced Tuesday in a news release.
Executive director Thor Simonsen said the association is the first of its kind in the territory.
Nunavut Music will provide professional development, administrative assistance, fundraising, performance opportunities, travel support and networking opportunities.
Qaggiavuut Society, the Alianait Arts Festival, and record label Hitmakerz helped found the organization.
There will be no cost for artists and industry workers to become members and organizers hope to begin offering programming in May.
“We hope to put out a call for artist and industry worker members in May, once we’ve had a chance to hold organizational stakeholder consultations and everything is a bit more up and running,” Sorensen said in an email to Nunatsiaq News.
Other objectives Nunavut Music lists include advocacy and representation at industry events, promotion to global markets and strengthening of Inuit languages and culture through music, he said.
The organization will be run by a volunteer staff and steering committee made up of music industry professionals and representatives from Nunavut-based arts, cultural, and economic development organizations.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the list of organizations that helped found Nunavut Music after it came to Nunatsiaq News’s attention that Nunavut Music’s list of founding members is inaccurate.
