INUIT ART FOUNDATION AND WINNIPEG ART GALLERY-QAUMAJUQ PARTNERSHIP GROWS IN BIG WAYS

INUIT ART FOUNDATION AND WINNIPEG ART GALLERY-QAUMAJUQ PARTNERSHIP GROWS IN BIG WAYS

Exciting new initiatives supporting the future of Inuit art

Winnipeg, Manitoba January 19, 2023: The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq and the Inuit Art Foundation (IAF) are pleased to announce a major new agreement to collaborate on the promotion of Inuit art and culture. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will see WAG-Qaumajuq and IAF partner on key programming initiatives, including the Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award, the IAF’s biennial prize celebrating mid-career Inuit artists and other important projects to connect Inuit artists with global audiences and with each other.

Both WAG-Qaumajuq and IAF have a mutual interest in actively creating an environment to support a strong future for the creation, dissemination, display, interpretation, and appreciation of Inuit art in Canada and across the world. With this partnership, both organizations are committing to fostering creative talent in Inuit art through events, programming, publications, and knowledge transfer initiatives.

The Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award (KAMA) follows a two-year cycle. The 10-artist longlist is announced in February. Each receives $2,500, mentorship and promotion in a catalogue distributed worldwide with IAQ. Five artists are shortlisted in April, and their works showcased at the WAG and in public programming, with an additional $5,000 award. The winner, announced in fall, receives $20,000 and a residency the following year. The winner’s art is featured in a solo exhibition and catalogue, and acquired to the WAG collection. The exhibition aligns with the next KAMA announcement.

The 2021 winner of the Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award, multimedia artist Tarralik Duffy, will be in-residency at WAG-Qaumajuq this summer, with an exhibition planned for the fall. The 2023 winning artists will be announced alongside the opening of the exhibition.

Quick Facts:

WAG-Qaumajuq and the IAF are longstanding partners, recent examples include Qaumajuq’s INUA Online and the Visible Vault Digital Platform, two online platforms that feature the IAF’s Inuit Art Quarterly Profiles on many artists.

With this partnership, both organizations are committing to fostering creative talent in Inuit art through events, programming, publications, and knowledge transfer initiatives.

The MOU builds on this history of collaboration, including the expansion of the Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award, the IAF’s biennial prize supporting mid-career Inuit artists.

WAG-Qaumajuq will provide additional opportunities and benefits for the award winner including a solo exhibition, exhibition publication, a residency program, and the acquisition of an artwork for its permanent collection.

The 2021 winner of the Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award, multimedia artist Tarralik Duffy, will be in-residency at WAG-Qaumajuq this summer, with an exhibition planned for the fall.

Quotes:

“I am excited about our ongoing partnership with WAG-Qaumajuq, building on our shared commitments to Inuit artists and history of successful joint projects. Together, we will work to increase benefits for artists in new and exciting ways across both institutions.”

— Dr. Heather Igloliorte, IAF Board President

“We are thrilled to formally partner with the Inuit Art Foundation to cross-promote the work of Inuit artists, curators and cultural workers. This MOU confirms future collaboration that will support Inuit artists working across all media and contribute to a strong future for Inuit art.”

— Stephen Borys, WAG-Qaumajuq Director & CEO

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:  

Hanna Waswa
Public Relations Officer
WAG-Qaumajuq
204.789.1295
[email protected]

Alysa Procida
Executive Director, Inuit Art Foundation
647.498.7717 ex101
[email protected]

The Winnipeg Art Gallery (the WAG) is a cultural advocate using art to connect, inspire, and inform. Playing a dynamic role in the community, we are a place for learning, dialogue, and enjoyment through art. Opened in March 2021, Qaumajuq connects to the WAG on all levels, celebrating the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. The new WAG-Qaumajuq cultural campus is now one of the largest art museums in Canada. To learn more visit wag.ca.

Established in 1987, the Inuit Art Foundation provides support to Canada’s Inuit arts communities and is the sole national body mandated to promote Inuit artists and art within Canada and internationally. The IAF is deeply invested in the rich history and tradition of Canada’s Inuit artistic expressions while actively contributing to the growth and development of these unique and diverse contemporary art practices. The IAF undertakes advocacy on behalf of Inuit artists and realizes a number of strategies aimed at enhancing the appreciation and interpretation of Inuit art. The Inuit Art Foundation is supported by the private sector along with contributions from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and other public agencies. A volunteer, Inuit artist majority Board of Directors oversees the IAF. To learn more, visit inuitartfoundation.org.