Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 26/99) - Our Life in Stone, the millennium project that the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association has been planning, was given some very good news a week ago.

"We received $154,200 from the Canada Council of the Arts," says Beth Beattie, co-ordinator for the association, who adds that this is a significant grant though they will require more funds.

"We're just getting geared up to figure out when to get a co-ordinator, to start all the logistics behind something this big."

The "something this big" is a sculpting symposium, bringing together master carvers from Nunavut and the rest of Canada.

As Beattie explains, they will work together on monumental sculptures at various sites throughout Iqaluit, and in the process, share their wealth of knowledge with youth.

"It's a total of 60 people, 30 each summer," Beattie says.

"They will be here three weeks at a time. That's tentative anyway. Some may stay a little longer or a little shorter depending on what they're doing."

Beattie adds:

"It's going to be busy. It's a project that's going to take place over two summers, nine weeks this summer and nine weeks next summer."

It will afford local artists the opportunity to do monumental work. It will be a great attraction for tourists. Overall, an exciting and vibrant time with the sound of tool against rock and stories shared.