Iqaluit (Jan 15/07) - With nearly half a year to go, Iqaluit's biggest cultural festival is already being organized.

"Things are definitely rolling along," said Alianait! Arts Festival Society president Heather Daley.

Heather Daley performs during the closing Canada Day ceremonies of Alianait! last year. Plans are already underway to make the festival's third year its biggest yet. - NNSL file photo

This week, the festival is holding a fundraiser at the french centre in Iqaluit, one of the many pieces organizers are arranging in the puzzle of Alianait! - and much earlier than usual.

"Last year we didn't start that until April so we're ahead of the game," she said.

This is already the second major fundraiser the group has held, one of a handful that are meant to raise funds as well as awareness for the Iqaluit festival.

"(We want) to keep Alianait! in the public's mind," she said.

The event is set to include a number of local artists, many of whom have not been confirmed yet. One name that has come up is Lucie Idlout, the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award-winning singer/songwriter who has been making an impact down south over the last several years.

Her latest album is the upcoming release "Swagger."

Last year, Alianait! brought out hundreds of Iqalummiut to dozens of events, such as performances from Rankin Inlet's Charlie Panigoniak, Iqaluit break-dancing troupe the Nunavut Floor Masters, storytelling events and a series of workshops in disciplines from traditional art to throat singing.

Now in its third year, Daley and other organizers have already chosen a theme for this year's event.

"It's 'polar rhythms', to link with the fact that it's international polar year," she said.

The theme also ties into the festival's larger aim, to represent Inuit and Northern culture on an international level. This involves putting together a short list of artists from "around the circumpolar world," whom organizers hope to make a part of this year's festival.

This summer, Alianait! organizers also plan to change the format of the festival's closing ceremonies. Instead of a single ticketed outdoor event, which met with a slightly chilly reception last year, there will be a pair of free concerts on Saturday and Sunday, leading up to Canada Day.

To make up the cost, Daley said the festival will hold an indoor, ticketed closing ceremony.