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INUVIK
For Sasha Webb, being executive director of the Great Northern Arts Festival is the best job in the world.

Sasha Webb, executive director of the Great Northern Arts Festival, stands with Sleepover, a gourd bowl created by Elizabeth Gordon, an artist originally from Nunavut. Her necklace, which she purchased at last year's Great Northern Arts Festival, was made by Salis Qalaut, also of Nunavut. - Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison/NNSL photo

"I get to feast my eyes on Northern art," she said. "It is the greatest job in the world. It's my dream job times 20."

Webb, who originally hails from Vancouver, B.C., moved to Inuvik last January to take over the helm of the festival.

Since then, she says her appreciation for the North's artists and their art has only grown.

"There's no festival like this, there's none, that brings artists from that vast of a place for 10 full days of hang time. They get 10 days to make art, learn from each other and there's nothing else like that," she said.

Webb decided to make the move North of 60 after she completed a two-year textile program at Capilano College in Vancouver. At the suggestion of her former classmate Marja van Nieuwenhuyzen, who lives in Inuvik, she applied for the position.

"I never wanted a job so badly in my life," she said. "I've always really been drawn to Northern art and I've always really been drawn to the North."

With her first festival now under her belt, preparations are well underway for this summer's Great Northern Arts Festival, which is scheduled to run from July 13 to 22.

"It's smokin' busy all year," she said.

In addition to recruiting artists, Webb is in charge of securing sponsors, organizing the venues and scheduling workshops so that visitors can have a hands-on experience and mingle with artists.

In addition, she organized the Christmas Craft and Gift Fair in November, and is planning an art gala for the spring.

Webb said she now calls Inuvik home, and has no plans of handing over the reins of the festival to anyone else.

"I love that you can walk the whole town in 10 minutes. I love that my commute takes 45 seconds, literally 45 seconds, and I love that there's so many engaged people here. You know, if you want to affect change you can. If you want to teach a class you can," she said.

"It's just an awesome community. There's lots of opportunities."

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