INUVIK - If you're looking for ways to make this summer's arts festival even more memorable, sign up for a workshop.

The Great Northern Arts Festival plays host to visiting artists every year, some of which host workshops for the public.

Great Northern Arts Festival executive director Tony Devlin looks over promotional posters for the past festival. He and his team have been preparing for the July 11 event. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

The event is scheduled to take place from July 11-20.

"We have as of this week, 37 workshops for the people to participate in," said festival executive director Tony Devlin.

"We're hoping to have at least 50 by the time the festival rolls around."

Last year, the festival offered 15 workshops.

Devlin said he expects the daily workshops will keep people at the venue.

"We've seen a lot of people come into the festival, walk around and leave afterward, this will hopefully keep them around for some time," he said.

"The workshops really are the life blood of the festival.

"It's not just a selling point to visitors to the town, but to the community itself."

Signing up for the announced workshops is as easy as logging on to your computer.

"All the registration can be found on our website," said Devlin.

Devlin said the workshops may have not been showcased enough in the past, but they deserve to be.

Even if for those who have been to every festival, Devlin said there is always something new.

"To the returning visitor to the festival, you will walk into the biggest gallery yet and be hit with a cornucopia of art and vision," he said.

"You won't just come around for an hour and walk around anymore."

One of the biggest changes to the arts festival is a difference in the main venue at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.

"We've doubled the size of the gallery by holding it in the curling rink," said Devlin.

This year's theme is "Faces of our elders."

"We also have four other special exhibitions going on for that week," he said.

The former gallery will be used as a performing artists' hall.

"It pretty much means we'll be hosting something new every night," he said.

"We want it to be something large."

Aside from the workshops and artists on hand, Devlin said there will be films to see.

"There will be screenings all day," he said.

He anticipates 15 movies and documentaries will be shown during the festival. Devlin and his team are preparing for their booth in the annual petroleum show.

"We're getting some art together to have on display there," he said.

Devlin said the team will be selling art owned by the festival at the trade show.