Imperial Oil, ConocoPhillips stop funding Inuvik arts festival – CBC

Jul 02, 2015

Festival organizers say programming will be reduced compared to previous years

Oil and gas companies that have halted their N.W.T. exploration plans have stopped funding Inuvik’s Great Northern Arts Festival.

Maia Lepage, the festival’s executive director, says ConocoPhillips and Imperial Oil are no longer giving money to the 27-year-old event.

“Inuvik has been going through a decline, like the oil and gas industry and the money that’s available in town. So our corporate sponsorship is not where it used to be,” she said.

This year the festival won’t be able to provide any free programming for youth, and only 47 artists will head to the festival, compared to the 100 artists from all over Northern Canada who attended the festival’s 25th anniversary two years ago, says Lepage.

Read More: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/imperial-oil-conocophillips-stop-funding-inuvik-arts-festival-1.3135387