The groundbreaking Aboriginal arts agency started last year with the Community Arts Council (CAC) is now flexing the muscle they promised.
The Northern Indigenous Artists' Collective (NIAC) was launched in May and as the all-Indigenous arts advocacy group closes in on its first anniversary, its first major public event has been unveiled.
In what is expected to be an annual event, the public is invited to attend the Northern B.C. Indigenous Arts Symposium to be held on April 27. It is a co-production of the CAC, the veteran arts agency that consulted with the NIAC founders on how to get up and running. They are also working in partnership with Carrier Sekani Family Services, which is hosting their annual arts gala the same evening.
"Since its founding one year ago, the artists who comprise the Northern Indigenous Artists' Collective have been busy working on a number of initiatives in support of Indigenous artists throughout this part of the province," said NIAC chairperson Diane Levesque. "This day-long symposium and gala will bring together artists in a very unique way, by providing educational and networking opportunities, as well as a celebration of the incredible work our members do in support of communities throughout the region."
Local artists community leaders will be leading sessions throughout the day, including Marcel Gagnon, Darin Corbiere, Keith Kerrigan, Vince Prince, Si Transken, Crystal Kennedy and many others.
"It's to promote Indigenous artists," said Corbiere, one of the NIAC founders and an established artist himself with an exhibition on now at Studio 2880. "We have a number of different artists coming in to make presentations. What I really like is, everyone will go to the same workshops. They are set up consecutively so the delegates don't need to make sacrifices by giving up one workshop in order to take a different one. We want everyone to get all the information and not have to pick and choose what to miss."
The symposium will be partially held at the Uda Dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors) Community Centre and Omineca Arts Centre.
The events include opening ceremonies, exhibitions, panel discussions and workshops. A catered lunch featuring Indigenous cuisine will be provided, as well as dinner at the annual Ying'hentzit First Nations Art Gala (the Carrier Sekani Family Services fundraiser) in the evening.
Cost to attend is $25 and participation seats are limited. Book your spot at the Eventbrite.com website (search Northern Indigenous Artists).
