Inuvik (Oct 01/04) - Some artists in the Northwest Territories are looking enviously to the west, saying the Yukon arts scene is funded far and above the NWT.

Each year, the Yukon government sets aside more than $2 million for arts and programs compared to $411,000 in the NWT.

Though the GNWT has increased its funding to the Northwest Territories Arts Council, chair Sonny MacDonald says it still doesn't cover half of the funding requests.

"Every year, when we put out a call to artists for proposals, we get an excess of $700,000 to $800,000 in proposals."

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Charles Dent says comparisons don't paint an accurate picture.

"It's tough to compare each of the jurisdictions because we all face different pressures," he said. "The Yukon is much more centralized (with) far fewer communities, so they don't have to support the number of health centres, the number of small schools, airports."

Dent says the government did double arts funding in different areas.

He says his department is putting an effort into funding the arts.