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Federal cleanup funds support Artists on Site

Alix McNaught
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 30, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - There may soon be artists touring old mine sites across the Northwest Territories.

As part of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's (INAC) pilot program Artists on Site, NWT artists will be creating one-dimensional works of art based on their observations and impressions of sites under remediation.

"The purpose of it is just trying to help people understand our sites, and one of the things people are reacting to is we do remove infrastructure," said Kate Hearn, director of Contaminates and Remediation with INAC. "And some people are quite happy to see it gone, some have a real sense of nostalgia - like with Discovery Mine, people lived in that site, so it's like their home disappearing.

Artists are selected for the program based on their credibility in the artistic community and ability to capture the history of contaminated sites for the average viewer.

"It's a pilot project; it's certainly not a core part of our work or our mandate, but it seemed a different approach to communicating the story of those sites," said Hearn.

According to Hearn, Contaminates and Remediation is currently responsible for managing more than 20 contaminated sites in the Northwest Territories.

The artists selected will have to be ready to leave on short notice.

"If we have a seat on a plane or a tour guide that can take the person, then we can fit them in," Hearn said.

INAC's contribution to the artists would be in-kind, providing them with the transportation into the site, accommodation and meals.

As most of the sites are under construction or remediation, the artists would require a health and safety briefing and an on-site escort.

"We are asking that they would leave one piece with us ... that would turn into a collection that, at some point, we could give to an organization that can actually hold and display a collection," Hearn said. Those works could be displayed in the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre or federal buildings around Yellowknife.

To date, 10 artists' applications have been submitted. June 25 was the deadline, but that was extended to July 11.

"So far, people have reacted positively to it, so I'm hoping it's going to work out, and if it does, we'll keep it going."