Inuit art from Nunatsiavut was the subject of the major exhibition SakKijâjuk: Art and Craft from Nunatsiavut which opened in September 2016. Curated by Dr. Heather Igloliorte, the exhibition featured works in many varied media by over 45 artists, spanning over 50 years. Originally mounted at The Rooms in St. John’s, NL, the exhibition has since toured nation-wide at venues in five provinces.
It was announced that celebrated musician Tanya Tagaq and jeweler Mathew Nuqingaq would be appointed as Members of the Order of Canada in December 2016.
Kinngait (Cape Dorset), NU, artist Pudloo Samayualie participated at a residency at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City. Earlier in the year work by Samayualie and her sister Nicotye Samayualie were subject of an exhibition at Feheley Fine Arts.
Angry Inuk, a documentary film defending seal hunting as a vital part of the Inuit economy and culture directed by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, debuted at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in May 2016. The film challenges powerful organizations like Greenpeace head-on to change the public discourse around sealskin. Angry Inuk won awards at the Hot Docs festival, imagineNATIVE, Montreal International Documentary Festival, and TIFF.
Qaggiq, a project dedicated to supporting northern performing artists, received $600,000 from the Arctic Inspiration prize on January 27th, 2016. The project is organized by the Qaggiavuut Society.
The first ever iNuit Blanche, curated by Dr. Heather Igloliorte and Britt Gallpen took over venues across St. John’s, NL, on October 8th, 2016. The night of contemporary Inuit art included performances, installations, demonstrations and more.
The Museum of Inuit Art closed its doors on May 30th, 2016. The museum had developed a significant collection of works from across Inuit Nunangat and had mounted significant exhibitions of work by Kananginak Pootoogook, Janet Kigusiuq and artists from the Matchbox Studios of Kangiqliniq (Rankin Inlet), NU.
Maliglutit (Searchers), the third feature fiction film by Zacharias Kunuk, made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2016. The film was co-directed by Natar Ungalaaq and released by Isuma.
Kinngait graphic artist Shuvinai Ashoona was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
Aakuluk Music, Nunavut's first record label, launched in Iqaluit. The label works with The Jerry Cans, Northern Haze, and Josh Q. and the Trade-Offs.