June 28, 2016– (IQALUIT, NU/TORONTO, ON) – June 22, 2016 (IQALUIT, NU/TORONTO, ON) – Award-winning Canadian actor Martha Burns, recent winner of ACTRA’s Leslie Yeo award announced she will donate her prize of $5,000 towards the Qaggiq Performing Arts Teacher Training Workshop.
The donation will help sponsor an Arctic performing artist to attend the workshop which is focused on developing Inuit-specific performing arts programming for children and youth. The workshop takes place in Iqaluit from July 14-19 and will train performers from across the Arctic.
“I am humbled to be able to donate this prize money to Qaggiq,” says Burns. “This is a great opportunity for me to bring attention to artists in Nunavut who are building an organization and supporting each other.”
Applications for the teacher training are now closed, and the selection process is beginning. “We are absolutely overwhelmed by the depth of talent and interest from the applicants,” reflects Qaggiavuut Executive Director, Ellen Hamilton. “This speaks volumes for the future of the arts in Nunavut and across the North.”
The Qaggiavuut Society is presenting the workshop as part of the Arctic Inspiration Prize winning Qaggiq Project, a strategy to strengthen the Arctic performing arts.
Qaggiavuut is currently seeking partners to assist with sponsorship of Arctic performing artists (musicians, actors, storytellers, dancers) to attend the workshop and deliver children and youth programming in the arts in Northern communities.
