Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 14, 2008

INUVIK - The Great Northern Arts Society celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and a number of changes are being made in order to keep the festival growing.

One major change is the hiring of Tony Devlin, the new executive director of the group.

Karen Kotchea of Fort Liard worked on some birchbark at the Great Northern Arts Festival last summer. She is one of the many artists featured on a new website. - NNSL file photo

Though new to Inuvik, he is no stranger to the North, the arts and in particular, the art of organizing festivals.

During his time as a television producer, he spent much time in the North working for Inuit Broadcasting and CBC, when he did work on big arts events such as the Geminis. Eventually, after moving back South Ottawa, he began working with festivals such as the Ottawa Jazz Festival.

"I've overseen a number of expansions in recent years in these events," he said.

Now, he'll be working on expanding the Great Northern Arts Festival from his new Inuvik desk. He said this year, the festival will work with the town, as the festival's 20th anniversary celebrations will coincide with the town's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Devlin also plans to work on marketing with Northern artists in Inuvik during the festival and also part-time with Aurora College's arts students.

"I'm a strong believer in the promotion, marketing and skills and abilities of Northern artists. I think they're a sort of under-recognized group at times," he said. "There is a true talent in the North that you don't see in the south."

In recent months, the Great Northern Arts Society has acquired a new, comprehensive website that Devlin said will be valuable to the festival.

"I know that when I'm planning anything, my first place is the Internet, and learning about where I'm going to go, what's available there," he said.

"If the North is a destination, that might play into it a bit."

Along with being a good tool for publicity, the website will also make it easier for artists to apply to the festival.

"We've gone from snail mail to faxes to being able to fill out an online form in the last few years," said Devlin.

Another website by the same company has recently appeared online. ArtRoads is a website that features short biographies, photos and contacts for many artists who have appeared at the Great Northern Arts Festival in the past.

The expansion of the festival this year is only the beginning, according to Devlin. He said in the next few years, the festival will continue to grow.