Alianait ! Arts Festival in Iqaluit, Nunavut
From 21st June to 1st July, 2008, Iqaluit will host the Alianait ! Arts Festival. This annual event organised in Nunavut’s capital city is devoted to Inuit arts and consists in ten days and nights of art, music, film, storytelling, circus arts, dance, theatre and much more.
Alianait is the expression of joy and celebration in Inuktitut (inuit language); it means « be delighted ! ». This event indeed celebrates the return of summer and midnight sun (24 hour daylight)… The theme of Alianait 2008 is String Games, an Inuit traditional practice – ajarait in Inuktitut.
Alianait Arts Festival will showcase traditional arts and artists from across the Canadian Arctic and the circumpolar world, including famous carvers. Workshops will be organized during the artists will demonstrate their artistic practices such as granite, caribou antler or ivory carving, printmaking, drawing, painting… They could also exhibit and sale their artworks.
«The objective is to expose both local audience and local professional performers and emerging artists to a diversity of professionals that they can learn from and grow professionally. Festival organizers also plan to assist Nunavut in presenting itself as a tourist destination and to also help the professional development of Iqaluit and Nunavut artists and performers.» is mentioned on the Alianait’s website.
The Festival will be presented by the Nunavut Arts & Crafts Association, L’Association Francophones des Nunavut, Qaggiq Theatre Company, the Iqaluit Music Society, Ajjiit Nunavut Media Association, Part-Time Players, the Office of the Language Commissioner and the City of Iqaluit. Alianait 2008 marks its fourth year hosted in Iqaluit.
The Alianait ! Arts Festival. This Festival increases each year thus, being more diverse and bigger.
