Inuvik (Apr 22/05) - The Town of Inuvik has come to the rescue of one of the North's premier arts festivals, allowing it to thrive unhampered until at least 2008.

Council voted unanimously in March to offer the Great Northern Arts Festival (GNAF) three years of free office space at the town hall, and use of the town's resources.

"This makes sure we have an office and it provides a stable place we can work out of," said Tom Lie, festival chair.

Lie began talks with the town last fall after the GNAF board decided it could no longer afford its previous office space at the Mack Travel Building.

Since that time, the board has been organizing the 10-day summer festival out of an employee's home.

"This year we are trying to keep our budget in check, so this will help keep the society in good health," said Lie.Along with new digs, GNAF has hired an artistic director and an assistant to replace the former co-ordinator, who left at the end of February.

They thought it best to hire two people because of the restricted time, said new artistic director Christina Wilsdon.

She and assistant Anick Deschenes are now focused on assessing the applications received and sending out invitations to artists across the country.

It's important that there be representation from different regions, as well as diverse styles of work, said Deschenes.

"But the main criteria is quality."

To date, 90 artists have applied, she noted, and 60 to 80 will be invited to come to the event. Major changes are not planned for the festival, but both Wilsdon and Deschenes said they hope to showcase some local musical talent with a coffeehouse and offer a bigger and better fashion show.

"I'm just hoping to improve on it and make it more beautiful and quality-oriented than ever," said Wilsdon.

The 17th annual festival, themed Things of Stone and Bone, runs from July 15-24 this year.

For more information call 867-777-8638.