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INUVIK
Marnie Hilash managed Northern Images for more than two years. On Jan. 9, it was the last day the store – owned by Arctic Co-operatives Limited based out of Winnipeg, Man., would open its doors.

Northern Images closed its doors for good on Jan. 9. - Katherine Hudson/NNSL photo

"It's very sad because it was the only professional exhibition venue for artists, except for the arts festival," said Hilash.

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation hosts a room for artists to sell their wares as well, but the community has lost a major art venue.

Debbie Moszynski, vice-president of art marketing with Arctic Co-operatives, said art marketing is very closely tied to the economy in the North and throughout the country.

"Art marketing in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, has suffered in the last number of years," she said.

"We've tried diligently to turn things around and we came to the unfortunate decision that the location simply needed to close. We're very responsible to the members of the co-operative system and we have to maintain viability in order to maintain operations."

She said the store, which employed a manager and three part-time staff, displayed and sold Inuit and Dene carvings and other products, as well as local artwork.

The log cabin that housed the store is owned by Arctic Co-operatives, but Moszynski said there are no plans in place for the building at this time.

Bottom line

Hilash, who has a master's degree in visual arts from the University of Victoria and has worked at Winnipeg art galleries as an instructor, said the void that will be felt in the town and region is something that needs to be looked at. The bottom line, she said, is that the town needs a cultural centre.

"It's not just a display venue, but an affordable, safe workspace. The problem is that as artists in this community, we often hole up a little bit and don't get out and talk to each other and spend time with someone else who's doing something creative," she said.

She said an arts centre is extremely useful in allowing artists to thrive, and that helps develop a healthy community.

"I've worked in various galleries and schools. It's easy to say and hard to make happen," she said of a centre.

Sasha Webb, executive director of the Great Northern Arts Festival, said arts centres have been developed in most of the smaller communities and that festival staff have brainstormed about moving in that direction, but have never had the resources to pull it off.

"Northern Images really was a high-end retail store. We have lots of good retail in Inuvik but that was a really different and special niche," she said. "This is one less venue for (artists') yearly sales."

She said during the year, the community hosts a large craft sale in the winter and the arts festival in the summer.

Webb said while an art centre is not currently a project on the community's horizon, there are ways the community's artists can find new outlets to get their work out there.

"I think a direction all of us as art administrators and helpers need to look into is online sales ... There is a real market for this incredible art but it's just hard to access when you're this remote," said Webb.

As for Hilash, although this chapter of her life has come to an abrupt halt, she is still a part of the artist community.

"Certainly I enjoyed my time there and I'll particularly miss working with all the customers and artists," she said. "But I'm not going anywhere, don't be a stranger."

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