Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 17/00) - After many long process-filled months, the Nunavut Arts Council has been formed.

"Cabinet approved the appointments to the arts council in mid-February," says Mark Thompson, a representative for the Department of Culture Language Elders and Youth (CLEY).

The council, which met for the first time at the end of March, consists of Brandy Kanayuk, Arviat; Bobby Anavilok, Kugluktuk; Elisabeth Hadlari, Cambridge Bay; Clara Ell, Coral Harbour; Lootie Pijamini, Grise Fiord; and Mathew Nuqingaq, Iqaluit.

All council members are artists, representing drama, carving, painting, printmaking, wall hangings, jewlery making and drum dancing.

All of last year's 27 applications -- first received by the NWT Arts Council in March 1999 and then sent over to Nunavut after division April 1 -- have been reviewed and processed.

Asked how the delay in forming the Nunavut Arts Council has affected artists, Thompson says the problem wasn't so much a delay, but a matter of creating a policy and going through the proper consultation phases with government, artists and the public.

"We had to make sure that we talked to as many people as we could. We couldn't form the council until we had the policy," he says.

People who submitted applications last year that were time-sensitive have been asked to resubmit.

"It was just a question that the dates of some of them had expired. We asked if they would resubmit and they were happy to do that."

Those who resubmitted have been promised a response within 30 days. As well, the call for this year's proposals went out several weeks ago.

May 19 is the deadline for all applications and proposals going into CLEY, including arts council applications.

Thompson says this year's budget, which has not been finalized, will need to be approved by cabinet. Funding for the last year's applications came out of the culture and heritage budget -- a division of CLEY -- which is responsible for the arts council.

"We're really happy with some of the progress we've made. We're learning lots and working really hard," said Thompson.

"All members are Nunavut artists that have a vision and are now in a position where they can support artists. Reviewing proposals are just part of what they're going to do."

The council members -- who will serve appointments of either one or two years -- will also have a hand in reviewing and refining the new arts council policy.

They will meet at least twice a year, according to the policy.

"It costs money (travelling to meet) and I think they're interested in keeping the money in for the artists as opposed to travelling around."