Aumaaggiivik Nunavik Arts Secretariat of Avataq Cultural Institute

Aumaaggiivik Nunavik Arts Secretariat of Avataq Cultural Institute Aumaaggiivik Nunavik Arts Secretariat is a department at the Avataq Cultural Institute

n the spring of 2009, Avataq Cultural Institute set up a new department called Aumaaggiivik, the Nunavik Arts Secretariat. Established with the aid of funding from the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), the Kativik Local Development Centre (KLDC), Makivik Corporation and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ), Aumaaggiivik was created with the goal of promoting the development of the

arts in Nunavik, as well as encouraging economic development and the creation of long-term employment opportunities in the region’s arts and culture sector. Aumaaggiivik – which takes its name from the Inuktitut work that means "the place where sparks are sourced” – provides support to artists in every artistic discipline (the visual arts, music, media arts, literature, story-telling, etc.) by boosting their careers through a programme of arts grants and specialized training. Aumaaggiivik also provides artistic residencies, and supports the establishment of local infrastructure to provide work space for artists and to promote the arts both within and outside the region.

06/19/2026

Come listen to Nunavut & Nunavik rock stars at Aaqsarniit Lounge on Friday from 10.30 PM and bring your best dancing shoes!
Entrance by donation

Have to be at least 19 years old

06/14/2026

UN DIMANCHE • UNE ŒUVRE | 🫎🏍️ Cette sculpture a été créée en 2016 par l’artiste nunavimmiuq Mattiusi Iyaituk, originaire d’Ivujivik, en collaboration avec le forgeron d’art port-jolien Étienne Guay.

Accroché à une simple moto bleu et noir de 1985, le «side-car» [nacelle latérale] capte l’attention, tant par sa taille imposante de près de 3 m de longueur que par sa nature hybride et ses teintes vives.

Tout dans cette sculpture incite au mouvement. Mobile à l’origine, l’œuvre circulait au milieu du public lors de la Biennale de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli de 2016, son créateur aux commandes d’une moto.

Aujourd’hui, la nacelle repose sur une base autour de laquelle il est possible de se déplacer. Mais, avec sa silhouette sinueuse et ses couleurs vibrantes, cette sirène terrestre continue de nous amener à l’imaginer dansant autour de nous.

👀 Aviez-vous remarqué le panneau d’interdiction de stationner qui couvre partiellement la roue gauche de la nacelle? Un petit masque en bois aux traits discrets, fendu au centre, cache une portion de la lettre «P» du panneau.

📍 Venez admirer cette œuvre dans l’exposition «ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik: essence de la vie»: mbam.qc.ca/fr/uummaqutik/

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SUNDAY • ART DAY | 🫎🏍️ This sculpture was created in 2016 by Nunavummiut artist Mattiusi Iyaituk, originally from Ivujivik, in collaboration with metalwork artist Étienne Guay, from Port-Joli.

Attached to a simple 1985 blue and black motorcycle, the sidecar grabs the eye with its imposing size—almost 3 m long—as well as its hybrid nature and bold colours.

Everything in this sculpture points to motion. Originally mobile, the work moved through the visitors gathered at the 2016 Biennale de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, its creator at the controls of a motorcycle.

Today, the sidecar sits on a base that visitors can walk around. But, with her sinuous silhouette and vibrant colours, this terrestrial mermaid continues to evoke in the viewer an image of her dancing around us.

👀 Did you notice the no-parking sign that partially covers the sidecar’s left wheel? A small wooden mask with subtle traits, split in the middle, hides part of the P on the sign.

📍 Come admire this work in the exhibition “ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik: essence of life”: mbam.qc.ca/en/uummaqutik/

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Mattiusi Iyaituk (1950-), Étienne Guay, Iqualuullamiluuq (première sirène) pouvant manœuvrer sur terre (side-car), 2016. ᐊᕙᑕᖅ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᓕᕆᕕᒃ, collection de l’Institut culturel Avataq. Photo MBAM, Jean-François Brière.

06/14/2026
06/14/2026

👏⁠Congratulations to Taqralik Partridge for being newly appointed as the Executive Director of the Aaqsiiq Theatre! ⁠👏⁠
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Interested in reading more about this story and more Inuit news? Check out the full News Roundup here: https://tinyurl.com/3baspfee
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📸: Rehearsals for Aukkauti (2026) Courtesy Aaqsiiq Theatre⁠
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06/14/2026
06/14/2026

🚨Big news 🚨I’m performing at the Canada Day National Evening Show in Ottawa! Sooooo stoked for this!!
tourneur

06/09/2026

Address

320-4150 Ste-Catherine O
Westmount, QC
H3Z2Y5

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15149899031

Website

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