Artists from all walks of life had the chance to weigh in on the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 new arts strategy during a meeting in Hay River over the weekend.

For the past month, the department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) has been travelling to communities across the territory to conduct roundtable discussions about the new strategy.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll ideas are basically out there on the table,SA国际影视传媒� said Johanna Tiemessen, ITI's manager or arts and crafts programming and economic diversification.

SA国际影视传媒淭he engagement sessions that we're conducting are an open space model. Which means that people that attend are given the opportunity to champion a cause in the arts. Whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 artists, or retailers or volunteers. Anything that you can think of from an arts standpoint.SA国际影视传媒�

A total of eight people showed up to give their input on the strategy on Sunday night, including Peter Magill.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted to talk about how we change or grow or maintain the artist community, particularly in Hay River but also in the Northwest Territories in general,SA国际影视传媒� Magill told The Hub.

Magill, who has been on the board of Hay Days for the past few years, said he showed up to suggest creating more spaces for artists to ply their trade.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, most people are working from their homes,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He added that he would like to see the government become more engaged with artists in helping them access funding that is already available to them.

SA国际影视传媒淢ost artists are very busy making art and this can be a very intimidating process,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The GNWT's arts strategy is a joint initiative between the department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) and ITI. It was first implemented in 2004, with a view to addressing issues and opportunities in the sector.

During the 18th Legislative Assembly, the territorial government pledged to update the strategy to better serve the artists and the industry.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur current arts strategy didn't encompass current technology, new ways of making art, new ways of applying traditional techniques to new arts and even new things like fashion,SA国际影视传媒� said Tiemessen.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was identified that it should go under review so that our artists can compete in the national and international marketplace.SA国际影视传媒�

That is one of the reasons Barb Low came to the meeting. Low grew up in Aklavik, where all her clothing was homemade by her mother and grandmother.

She has been sewing and selling traditional clothing herself for the past 25 years. However, she would like to be able expand into other markets.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's of strong interest to me because I like to feel like I'm an artisan that is carrying on my legacy,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

One of the points Low raised during the meeting was the importance of communicating how much work goes into making traditional clothing.

She said that if there was a better network connecting artists throughout the territory they would be able to justify getting better paid for their work.

SA国际影视传媒淭here's a lot of people that don't realize how many hours are put into a product when you put a price on it,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Last December, 277 people responded an online survey about the arts strategy.

In addition to Hay River, the current delegation is visiting Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Behchoko Norman Wells, Inuvik and Yellowknife to get feedback in person over the course of the summer.

People can go online until August 9 to add more general feedback and communicate with other artists about the chances they'd like to see.

Once this current round of public consultations is wrapped up, a report will be tabled and brought forward to the legislative assembly where the implementation of the new strategy will be rolled out.