Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 08/99) - There were 33 NWT Arts Grant recipients for 1998/99, 25 individuals and 8 arts groups. These from a total of 88 applicants.

The deadline for 1999/2000 is Feb. 15. This will be the first year the West and the East are granted separately. Once all applications are received, the eastern ones will be sent back to Nunavut for consideration there.

Asked how division will affect the NWT Arts Council, director of Culture, Heritage, and Language, Charles Arnold said, "basically we're not affected at all. In the past we had six administrative regions in council, now we'll have three council members."

In the past, a cross-section of the arts has been represented on the council. According to Arnold, all existing policies and procedures will be observed.

After the Feb. 15 deadline, the council will review the applications until the end of March or early April.

"It's not cut and dry, it's a fairly lengthy process," says Arnold.

"They (the recipients) will be notified soon after," explains Arnold. "The minister normally has to authorize the choices."

As for Nunavut applications, Arnold stated that the council would simply receive the applications, indicate reception to applicants, and then send them back East.

"In the West there might be a slight drop, it will be a smaller jurisdiction. It's still a complicated procedure," Arnold says.

Of the 88 applicants last year, 65 came from the West and 23 came from the East, which reflects the population ratio.