Inuvik (Jul 03/06) - "Rebuilding phase" and "sustainable" are strange words to hear in association with an arts festival that’s now coming up on its 18th year.

But following years of near-cancellations due to funding shortfalls and forest fires, they make a little more sense.

“Sustainable,” is how new executive director Marnie Hilash describes this year’s lineup for the Great Northern Arts Festival. Between 50 and 60 artists are slated to appear, coming from all around the North and beyond.

These include Ireland’s Cathy Henderson and B.C.’s Margaret Fenton, as well as a wide variety of Northern artists, including Jolly Atagooyuk from Pangnirtung, Jennifer Bowen from Inuvik, and many more.

“That’s a small, do-able number,” said Hilash, a visual artist. “It’s a small but steady growth from last year,” in contrast to the more than 150 artists the festival has hosted in the past.

Of course, promoting the $350,000 festival has been a little harder this year, due to online problems - the official GNAF website (www.gnaf.ca) hasn’t been updated in some time.

“It’s in domain-transfer limbo right now and therefore can’t be accessed,” Hilash explained.

However, the problems, natural for any event in the territories, wash away when Hilash dwells on this year’s theme: “Living the Legacy of our Elders.”

“This festival is looking at how creative expression honours those that have come before,” she said.

“It’s sad, but a shocking number of our favourite artists are passing away. We need to ensure that their legacy, their creative spark lives on to the next generation.”

She said this theme was poignant for her, as her grandfather, an old-time fiddler recently passed away.

“I get a bit of nostalgia every time I book a fiddling act: ‘Oh, grandpa would have liked to know about that.’”

“There are many ways of looking at the legacy. It can be painful, but it can also be joyful,” she explained.

Janet Mildner-Lie, the festival’s artist and travel co-ordinator, said she credits GNAF’s long-serving volunteer board in aiding rebuilding the festival - as well as Hilash’s work.

“We have Marnie working year-round,” she said. “That’s something we haven’t had in a few years.”

With that in mind, she and the board are already looking toward the future, she said, and the event’s 20th anniversary.

“Starting next year, you’re going to see some big changes,” she said, focusing on workshops, family events and other “making people happy ideas.”

Hilash seems to be on board for that, as well.

“Something that I’m really trying to do is bring some of the fun back. The joy of it.”

The Great Northern Arts Festival runs from July 14-23, at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex in Inuvik.