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CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 vibrant palette of artists and storytellers will provide the landscape for InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 upcoming Great Northern Arts Festival.

In its 36th year, Adi Scott, the executive director, said every province and territory will be represented at this year's event under the theme 'Tales of the Taiga.'

SA国际影视传媒淭he taiga plain is the region where the boreal forest meets the tundra, which is where Inuvik is,SA国际影视传媒� Scott said.

Thousands of people are expected to converge on the town of 3,000 during the event, which runs from July 9-14.

SA国际影视传媒淪o we wanted to choose that theme this year because we wanted to focus the theme on storytelling... of the boreal forest and the tundra, and how that (it) affects people's lives here, and how that affects the art that we create too SA国际影视传媒� like the materials that you can get in and around the Delta,SA国际影视传媒� Scott explained.

And art in its many forms will be on display.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e got lots of wonderful people applying. We've had people who are specifically just verbal storytellers, and we have a lot of poets and spoken word artists,SA国际影视传媒� Scott said, adding that a new event this year is the spoken word circle.

SA国际影视传媒淪o we're going to be having that on the weekend of the festival, which is really awesome.SA国际影视传媒�

She said the talents of traditional artists and beaders will be on display in the form of earrings, knitted goods, moccasins and many other handmade crafts.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd then also we have photographers, painters, and illustrators,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e got quite a lot more emerging artists this year too. I'm really excited to support them as well, and we have a couple of new carvers who'll be doing soapstone carving and antler carving.

SA国际影视传媒淪o that'll be really great, too. And I'm trying to really push the local and youth involvement right now.SA国际影视传媒�

For the love of art

Scott said the reason a person is drawn to art and artistic expression varies widely, as she discovered when interviewing youth for festival assistant positions.

"They're like, SA国际影视传媒楳y grandparents brought me when I was younger,SA国际影视传媒� and they have great memories from it, or, SA国际影视传媒楳y parents make art, and I have grown up watching them, and now I make art myself,SA国际影视传媒� or, SA国际影视传媒業 have friends that are really into it, and I really like that,SA国际影视传媒� or, SA国际影视传媒業 just really like being outside and in nature, and that inspires me to make art,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� Scott said of the variety of answers she heard from each person she asked.

SA国际影视传媒淪o, I think everybody's story is so different as to why they're attracted to the arts, but to me, it's the ultimate form of self-expression because art can be in any form that resonates with you, and it tells your story, or it tells a story of things that you're interested in.

SA国际影视传媒淪o I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why I really like the theme this year, as well. Art is just a way to share your story and tell your story.SA国际影视传媒�

While carving is still a prevalent artform in the Beaufort Delta region, Scott said she has noticed the trend of young entrepreneurial women appearing on the art scene with SA国际影视传媒渋ncredibleSA国际影视传媒� beading work.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of people who are beading and working with hides and furs,SA国际影视传媒� she noted.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is one youth artist from Sachs Harbour who is starting to get into printmaking, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 finished art school, so there is kind of a big mixture of things. And Ulukhaktok is very famous for its printmaking studio up there.

In addition, a plethora of talent from across Canada will converge on Inuvik, and Scott said Alaska will also be represented at the festival.

Due to funding issues, she said this year they are unable to support other international artists but hopes that in the future funding from the Canada Council for the Arts will assist them in reaching out globally, as they have done in the past.

Nevertheless, Scott said the festival would not be possible without the many volunteers and partnerships.

SA国际影视传媒淭here's been a big decline in government funding, so right now, we have around 15 to 20 partners who help make it happen, each giving what they can, in whatever capacity that is. So, a lot of that is volunteering and then donations as well, to make certain events happen.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey also help to discount our youth workshops so everything is affordable to the community, and everyone works together to make sure that this event is accessible to as many people as possible, and they are trying to remove the barriers surrounding participation in any way.SA国际影视传媒�

Fashion fiesta

One of the highlights of the festival that draws a large audience is the fashion show.

SA国际影视传媒淲e will have live improvised music accompaniments to it this year, which I am really excited about, with PIQSIQ.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淎pril Allen is going to be running the fashion show this year. I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 one of the ways everyone can relate to art SA国际影视传媒� like things you can wear,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

During the opening ceremony, Scott said the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers will welcome everyone, along with NWT commissioner Gerry Kisoun, and several others.

Scott said they are moving to a digital platform for ticket sales and booking workshop spots on the festival website.