Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Sep 19/05) - Inuvik residents are pulling in some prominent talent with some help from the Yellowknife arts community.

The End of the Road Music Festival committee is working with the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) in Yellowknife to bring humourist Lorne Elliott and the Montreal Guitar Trio to the Inuvik stage.

Elliott performs at the Finto banquet lounge in Inuvik on Sept. 28 and the Montreal Guitar Trio visits the town from Nov. 1 to 3.

"Bringing the performing arts into other communities helps spark the artistic imagination of Northern performers, while encouraging future musicians, actors, writers and directors to pursue their own dreams," said NACC executive director Ben Nind.

"We're looking to continue more of this kind of community programming with our touring artists," Nind said.

"We're looking for organizations willing to partner with us in other communities."

Inuvik mayor Peter Clarkson, who is part of the organizing committee, said he'd like to see more touring performers stop in his town.

"I think it would be really nice to develop something where there would be six to eight performers a year," he said.

"We have lots of local musicians but it's always nice to bring in musicians from other places and professional musicians so people can see something different."

The community is making the most of the Montreal Guitar Trio's visit.

"We are planning to do some workshops with the students in both schools as well as a community workshop for local musicians," he said.

"I think it inspires some of the youth in the community to take up guitar or singing or to pursue other art forms."

The Montreal Guitar Trio plays NACC Nov. 4.

Elliott performs in Yellowknife on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.