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Qaggiavuut in China

The Qaggiavuut Society is travelling to China April 9 to 13 with Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly.

photo courtesy Qaggiavuut Society
Qaggiavuut Society board member Miali Buscemi is in China with executive director Ellen Hamilton, by invitation from federal minister of Canadian Heritage Melanie Joly, in an effort to develop opportunities for Nunavut performing artists, including collaborations, touring and investment.

Joly, who is leading the first Canada-China Creative Industries Trade Mission in Shanghai and Beijing, invited Qaggiavuut to be one of the representatives of Canada’s creative industries.

Qaggiavuut will be matched with Chinese performing arts organizations, performing arts centres, arts investors and artists in China with the hope of building cultural partnerships.

"We are an organization of artists and lifelong Nunavummiut and it is an honour to be included in

Minister Joly’s trade mission," stated executive director Ellen Hamilton, who is travelling with board member Miali Buscemi.

Buscemi was the first Inuk woman to be a member of the Stratford Festival theatre company.

"Miali Buscemi is an example of one of our artists who can soar to the highest levels when provided with a supportive space to be a performing artist," said Hamilton.

Qaggiavuut created a digital promotion package with photographs and video of 25 Nunavut performing artists who are ready to tour the world stage and will be connecting with organizations interested in collaborating with Qaggiavuut on creative projects and in investing in a Nunavut performing arts building, according to a news release.