Cultural program promises to inspire
Youth Ambassadors will represent 33 NWT communities
Cultural highlights to look forward to:
Cultural program promises to inspire
Organizers of the first Arctic Winter Games realized that a celebration of northern cultures had to play an integral part in the Games. Over the years, the cultural component has become even more important as organizers realized the profound impact this sharing had on everyone involved.
The original demonstrations of Inuit and Arctic Sports became the highlight of the first Games and have gone on to become symbolic of the Arctic Winter Games across the circumpolar north.
The Cultural Program of the 2008 Arctic Winter Games is designed to emphasize that cultural activities, like sport, are an essential part of a healthy northern community. The Cultural Program will focus upon activities within the performing, visual, film, fashion and photographic arts. Each of these activities demands a commitment to creation, preparation and final presentation. The Cultural Program of the Games will celebrate this commitment and provide many opportunities to create and express the celebration of the Games experience through individual and group initiatives, public art participation, formal arts exhibitions and performing presentations and galas.
By infusing the celebration of northern culture with the celebration of sport, the 2008 Arctic Winter Games will truly be a northern anniversary event not to be missed.
Tickets for the Cultural Galas are on sale at Birchwood Gallery or on-line at www.yktix.com.
Youth Ambassadors will represent 33 NWT communities
Ensuring these 20th Games are a true celebration of sport and culture is at the core of all the Host Society’s planning. Expanding the Arctic Winter Games experience to include youth from all across the Northwest Territories, through the Youth Ambassadors Program, is another way the Games will embrace the International Committee’s directive to promote the spirit of friendship and fair play for everyone.
While some communities may not be sending athletes to the Games, the Youth Ambassador Program will allow all communities in the NWT to be represented, and thus become directly linked to the tradition and legacy of the Games. A Youth Ambassador from each of the 33 NWT communities will be selected to take part in hosting the Games in Yellowknife, March 9 to 15, 2008.
The program is designed to provide the selected youth with an opportunity to build leadership skills through volunteer assignments and, in doing so, serve as ambassadors for the Northwest Territories at the Games. Youth will be chosen based on their interests, experience and what they hope to achieve through this volunteer experience.
“We are looking for the young people who are leaders in their communities,” said Kathryn Youngblut, Youth Ambassador Coordinator for the Host Society.
The Youth Ambassador Program is fittingly sponsored by CKLB Radio, which transmit country and Aboriginal music, regional news and unique radio specials to 29 communities within the NWT, and the Yellowknife Community Foundation, with a mandate to support projects in the community for the enduring future, embodying the simple concept that people working together can make a difference.
Cultural highlights to look forward to:
- Two AWG 2008 Performing Arts Galas at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre featuring the music, dance and storytelling from Yamal, Saami, Greenland, Nunavik, Nunavut, northern Alberta, Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
- Daily Lunchtime Performance Events at the Tree of Peace, Baker Centre and the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre featuring NWT artists and contingent cultural performers.
- AWG 2008 Visual Arts Exhibition hosted by the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre celebrating fine and traditional arts from around the circumpolar world.
- AWG 2008 Photographic Arts Exhibition at the Greenstone Building each day featuring selected photographs from around the circumpolar world as well as photographs from four selected NWT youth photographers shooting the 2008 Games each day.
- AWG 2008 Northern Film Festival running at the Northern United Place each day featuring a wide selection of films from all of the participating countries.
- AWG 2008 Fashion Festival will run at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre for a special afternoon of fur, fashion and jewelry excitement.