Jennifer Geens
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 05/04) - Artists in the NWT have a new way to market their work and communicate with each other.

The Great Northern Arts Society is behind the project, which is being funded by the NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

"It's a long overdue need," said Lynn Feasey, artistic director of the Great Northern Arts Festival (GNAF).

"The aim is to build a stronger arts community and a stronger voice," she said.

"It's a resource for the public, for galleries and for anyone looking for information on NWT artists," said Feasey.

She invites artists to submit a short biography, a photo of themselves and photos of their work to the site, along with contact information. The information will be compiled into an artist page which can be visited by anyone, anywhere.

"Say somebody in Germany is looking for home-tanned beaded moccasins. This way they can look up and find someone who makes them, contact the artist and order a pair," she said.

Feasey is especially excited about the discussion forums on the site.

"That's something I really feel strongly about," she said.

One of the purposes of the Great Northern Arts Festival is to bring artists from different parts of the NWT together to talk about art, tools and marketing. The forums will enable artists to chat all year round.

In time, Feasey would like to set up a list on the site of funding agencies and the grants they offer, as well as posting news relevant to the arts community.

"That way artists can stay informed of what's happening in this industry."

The Internet address for the site is www.nwtartists.ca.