Fort Simpson (July 02/04) - It's after 7 p.m. and the sun is still high in the evening sky.

With a light breeze blowing, Jerome Thomas-Ekinla sits at a table in his backyard chiselling, sanding and buffing three sculptures for the Open Sky Festival.

"I'm going to try to get at least seven pieces done by next week anyway," says Thomas-Ekinla, who has been producing carvings for 10 years. "That's basically how I've been getting by and paying the bills."

The festival not only represents a welcome boost in income, it is a social occasion, he notes.

"You can learn from other artists, share ideas and it's a lot of promotion, too," he says.

Louisa Moreau, of Fort Simpson, demonstrates the Dene art of moose hair tufting at the festival each year. She says she appreciates the event because she gets to "meet people of all kinds."

Michael Blyth, co-ordinator of the Open Sky Festival, says the purpose of the event is to not only give artists a venue but expose them to each other's work and allow them to exchange viewpoints.

"It's kind of getting the communities to share with each other," Blyth says.

Thirty-three acts and artists -- close to 80 individuals -- are expected to take part in this year's event, which takes place through this weekend.

One difference this year is that weekend events will be held at the recreation centre instead of at the Papal site. It's more convenient for the visual artists, particularly in case of rain, Blyth says.

Musical guests will still perform outdoors, weather permitting.