Cape Dorset artist’s work among 72 purchased for Art Bank

NEWS  JAN 30, 2023 – 11:55 AM EST

Cape Dorset artist’s work among 72 purchased for Art Bank

Carver, sculptor Ning Ashoona’s art was among 1,748 total pieces submitted for consideration

By Nunatsiaq News

Cape Dorset artist Ning Ashoona’s work is among the 72 pieces purchased recently by the Canada Council for the Arts.

The works were acquired as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of its Art Bank, which offers public access to Canadian art through rentals, loans to museums and outreach projects.

The council announced the acquisitions Jan. 18 in a news release.

Ashoona’s carving, titled Computer Desk, was among those selected from the 1,748 submissions the Art Bank received in response to its call for purchases, according to the release.

The works include paintings, fine crafts, sculptures, photography, drawings and mixed media pieces.

Ashoona’s piece was acquired alongside pieces from several other Inuit artists and northern artists, including Siku Allooloo, Eldred Allen, Maureen Gruben, Kablusiak, Levi MacDonald, Annie Pillaktuaq, Jessica Winters and Krystle Silverfox.

The total cost to purchase the collection was $600,000.

Priority was given to artists who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, deaf or having a disability, from official language minority communities, youth, LGBTQ, gender-diverse and women, according to the news release.

“A purchase of this scale means a greater number of artists are given a unique opportunity to build connections and spark meaningful conversations in new settings,” said Amy Jenkins, head of the Art Bank, in the release.

This was the first open call for Art Bank purchases since 2011 when it purchased 52 new works by Canadian artists, according to an August 2022 announcement from the council.