Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - In recent weeks, three MLAs have made their voices heard on the subject of arts funding.

Glen Abernethy of Great Slave, Bob Bromley of Weledeh and Robert Hawkins of Yellowknife Centre have all expressed a desire for the government to be more supportive of the arts within the territory.

"I think it's an important thing for us to support, and really it's an investment," said Bromley. "I think it can pay off in the long term."

Bromley said that while the NWT doesn't appear to be doing badly in terms of arts funding when compared to other parts of Canada, other jurisdictions have been practically doubling their funding and the territory should follow suit.

He said supporting the arts is in turn supporting community development and the economy.

"It would be a contribution to our identity and our voice," he said. "I think communities that have a strong arts presence are those that really retain professionals and make people want to live there."

He said along with retaining professionals, a strong arts community can help bring new people to the territory.

"The arts can really draw people into areas they've never been in before," he said.

Hawkins agreed with Bromley and Abernethy that financial support of the arts could eventually pay off in such a way.

"I think arts celebrates the diversity of who we are and this would really enhance not only the arts industry... but it would help draw a tourism industry as well," he said.

But Hawkins also brought another idea to the table. He said he would like an annual territorial arts award to be introduced.

"If we had an arts achievement award ceremony... it would give people a pinnacle to aspire to," he said.

"It's something I'm going to start hammering away on now that we have our vision. This is just a spark of hopefully more to come."

The arts community that could be recognized at such an event, he said, are just not getting what they need at present. He said contributing to the arts community is "the next open door opportunity for us."

"This will contribute to the social fabric of who we are as a territory," he said. "This could be how we identify ourselves within the Canadian fabric."