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Inuit art is recognized worldwide for its power, beauty, and cultural significance. The arts sector contributes over $64 million to Canada's GDP and provides income for thousands of Nunavummiut while preserving and sharing Inuit culture with the world.
Sananguaq
Sculptures carved from serpentine, marble, and soapstone depicting wildlife, spirits, transformation figures, and daily life. Each community has developed distinctive styles recognized by collectors worldwide.
Titirausiq
Kinngait (Cape Dorset) is world-famous for stonecut, stencil, and lithograph prints. Since 1959, the annual print collection has featured bold designs and Arctic imagery that command significant prices internationally.
Minguit
Wall hangings, parkas (amauti), and accessories featuring traditional designs in sealskin, caribou hide, wool duffle, and stroud cloth. These functional and decorative items showcase exceptional craftsmanship.
Piruqsimajuit
Intricate pieces carved from bone, antler, ivory, and whale bone, as well as metalwork incorporating traditional and contemporary designs. These accessible pieces bring Inuit art to broader audiences.
The West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative (now Kinngait Co-operative) pioneered community-owned art production, keeping economic benefits within communities and creating a model replicated across the North.
Co-operatives buy art directly from artists, often paying advances. Marketing and sales are handled through divisions like Dorset Fine Arts. Artists share in profits as co-op members.
The longest continuously running print studio in Canada. Since 1959, its annual print collection has been eagerly anticipated by collectors worldwide, showcasing generations of artistic excellence.
Beyond economics, art serves as a vital means of cultural expression and transmission. Through their work, artists share stories, preserve traditional knowledge, and maintain connections to the land and ancestors.
The arts sector is the largest private employer in many Nunavut communities, providing flexible income that complements traditional subsistence activities.