Inuit Futures Curatorial Institute 2022

Ilinniaqtuit visit the collection vaults of the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), Ottawa, ON, November 2022. Photo: Danielle Miles.

Leanne Inuarak-Dall looking through the collection of the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), Ottawa, ON, November 2022. Photo: Danielle Miles.

The collection vault of the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), Ottawa, ON, November 2022. Photo: Danielle Miles.

Participants and faculty of the Inuit Futures Curatorial Institute at the Canadian Museum of Nature for the exhibition, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ, ᑕᑯᒥᓇᕐᑐᓕᐊᕗᑦ / Our Land, Our Art, November 2022, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, ON. Photo: Danielle Miles.

Ilinniaqtuit with Inuit Futures Mentors and Leadership Group participate in the Curatorial Institute, Ottawa, ON, Dec 2022.

Leanne Inuarak-Dall participating in Inuit Futures’ Curatorial Institute, Ottawa, ON, Dec 2022.

Ilinniaqtuit visit the exhibition, Towards Home, at the Centre for Canadian Architecture (CCA), Montreal, QC, Dec 2022.

Ilinniaqtuit with Inuit Futures Mentors and Leadership Group visit the exhibition, Towards Home, at the Centre for Canadian Architecture (CCA), Montreal, QC, Dec 2022.

Dr. Heather Igloliorte and Ilinniaqtuit participate in the Curatorial Institute, Nov 30-Dec 3, 2022.

Inuit Futures Curatorial Institute

November 30 - December 3, 2022
Ottawa, ON & Montreal, QC

Inuit Futures in Arts Leadership: The Pilimmaksarniq / Pijariuqsarniq Project was excited to host the first Inuit Futures Curatorial Institute between November 30th and December 3rd, 2022. The Inuit Futures Curatorial Institute was a four-day intensive program for emerging Inuit arts professionals interested in curatorial, museum, and gallery work. The opportunity was open for applicants already within the Inuit Futures network as well those outside the project.

Working with our partners at the Ottawa Art Gallery, National Arts Centre, Carleton University Art Gallery, and the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Inuit Futures brought participants from across Inuit Nunangat to learn directly from Inuit Futures Mentors and other gallery and museum professionals at cultural institutions in Ottawa and Montreal. The Curatorial Institute’s faculty included Dr. Heather Igloliorte (Concordia), Taqralik Partridge (SAW), Alysa Procida (IAF), Dr. Sandra Dyck (CUAG), Dani Printup (CUAG), and Jocelyn Piirainen (WAG). We were also joined by many Inuit Futures mentors and supporters who generously hosted our group in their respective institutions such as Rafico Ruiz (CCA), Michelle Lavallee (NGC), Steve Loft (NGC) and Rebecca Basciano (OAG).

The program consisted of a variety of activities including exhibition openings, curatorial workshops, multiple museum and gallery visits and discussions with curators. Participants attended the opening reception for ᓄᓇᕗᑦ, ᑕᑯᒥᓇᕐᑐᓕᐊᕗᑦ / Our Land, Our Art, produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature in collaboration with Avataq Cultural Institute, which was presided over by Canada’s first Indigenous governor general, her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, who chatted with mentors and Ilinniaqtuit while visiting the exhibition. Participants also gained access to the vaults of the Indigenous Art Collection at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada; they attended a performance of The Breathing Hole / Aglu ᐊᒡᓗ, an NAC Indigenous Theatre / NAC English Theatre co-production directed by Inuit Futures Mentor and Leadership Group Member, Reneltta Arluk, toured the Dark Ice exhibition at the Ottawa Art Gallery with curator Rebecca Basciano, visited the National Gallery of Canada for a tour and discussion with Michelle Lavallee and Steve Loft, and and received a tour of ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒧᑦ / Ruovttu Guvlui / Towards Home at the Canadian Centre for Architecture with co-curators and Inuit Futures Mentors Taqralik Partridge, Jocelyn Piirainen and Rafico Ruiz.

Through mentorship and collaboration, the curatorial institute provided an opportunity for emerging Inuit arts professionals to connect, network and develop skills that will continue to support their careers and curatorial pursuits into the future.