Battleford visual artist Lyndon Tootoosis has been awarded a $5,500 Indigenous Pathways Initiative grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board "to sculpt four pieces depicting the traditional stories of the seasons."
The Indigenous Pathways Initiative program aims to increase access to public funding by Indigenous artists in Saskatchewan, either to develop their artistic/cultural practices or to share their art, skills and teachings.
Tootoosis is a visual artist, carver and a member of Poundmaker First Nation. He started carving in 1993 and his work is in collections across the country.
He has done extensive work for the Allan Sapp Gallery, reviewing traditional games and education for children on methods used by the Battle River Cree. He was also a cultural liaison and co-curator for Through the Eyes of the Cree, a nationally acclaimed travelling exhibition.
At the most recent grant deadlines, the Saskatchewan Arts Board awarded funding to more than 125 individuals and organizations, totalling more than $955,000. Arts Board funding supports a variety of initiatives, including organizations that provide ongoing programs in the arts, the creative work of professional artists, community art projects and the engagement of professional artists to work in schools with students and teachers.
The Saskatchewan Arts Board was established in 1948 as the first agency of its kind in North America and second in the world to the Arts Council of Great Britain. In the decades since then, it has continued as a leader in Canada and builds on this strong tradition to meet ongoing opportunities for public investment in the arts community. The arts board recognizes, encourages and supports the arts to enrich community well-being, creativity, diversity and prosperity. For more information visit www.saskartsboard.ca.
