Inuvik (Apr 19/04) - The Canada Council for the Arts will be launching a new grant program tailor-made to the needs of aboriginal artists.

Jim Shirley, owner of Matchbox Gallery in Rankin Inlet.

The Aboriginal Fine Arts Granting program starts May 1 with $300,000 available to Canadian aboriginal artists.

Micheline Lesage, director of the arts division for the council, said aboriginal artists often fall through the cracks when applying for general grant money.

"They were always eligible, but it was harder to get grants from their peers," said Lesage.

"Few fine art artists get money."

She said aboriginal artists also approach art differently than most Canadian artists who are usually more commercially focused.

"Their holistic approach to art is important. It's their soul -- (it says) this is me, this is my land," said Lesage.

A jury of aboriginal artists will determine who gets the grants and how much. The application process will also be specific to aboriginal art.

"We want to attract Inuit artists," said Lesage.

She said most aboriginal art applications the council receives right now are from Metis and First Nations people.

Jim Shirley of the Matchbox Gallery in Rankin Inlet was skeptical that the new grant would help Northern artists unless the government comes up with a new application process, one that addresses the needs of artists not literate in English.

"A lot of people who do arts can't read the applications," he said.

"They (Canada Council) wouldn't need a program specifically for aboriginal artists if those problems were addressed."

Applying for a Canada Council grant involves filling out long forms, writing 500 word proposals (in English or French) and submitting good quality slides or photos. The application form alone for the grant for professional artists in the Visual Arts is 13 pages long. Incomplete forms are disqualified.

Last week Lesage toured Inuvik, Holman and Tuktoyaktuk with the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Inuit Arctic Tour. During her visit, she met with local artists to discuss some of the issues they face in getting their artwork made, promoted and sold.

Holman artist Mary Okheena said art grants usually don't fund things that Holman printmakers need.

"We're always running out of paper, paints and brushes," said Okheena.

She said new money should help get Holman's print and craft-making industry back on its feet.

"There was lots of employment in arts and crafts. We want to do that again and get it looking like it did," said Okheena.

How many grants are there to give?

The Canada Council for the Arts receives more than 15,000 grant applications a year from across Canada. The jury of art peers awards 600 grants a year, which range between $500 to thousands of dollars.

The new grant has yet to be officially launched. When it is a deadline for applications will be set.

- With files from Jennifer Geens