Inuktitut iPhone app to help Inuit artists

A new iPhone andiPadapplication is giving Inuktitut-speaking artists a leg up.

Called the CC Grant app, ithelps users write proposals for the Canada Councilfor the Arts. The Canada Councilawards hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to artists across the country.

It isthe first-ever downloadable program in the Inuktitut language.

Inuit art is well-known across the globe. Prints and knits from Cape Dorset and Pangirtung are highly valued and carvings from any given community are unique and desired.

The Canada Council recognizes that, but wondered why so few Inuit applied for grants.

"We began looking at ways to improve access for artists living in remote areas to access our grant applications and our programs," said Donna Gazale from the Canada Council.

21st Century technology meets ancient language

Myna Ishulutaq teaches Inuktitut at the Pirurvik Centre in Iqaluit. She says it could really help artists who are writing in a second language, or who only speak Inuktitut.

"This will really help Inuit, to artists who apply, not just needing a translator all the time but now they'll be able to read and understand on their own," said Ishulutaq.

Mathew Nuqingaq is an artist and he has done some consulting for the council over the past twenty years. He was one of the first to see the app.

"There are so many artists that are here in Nunavut, I think we have the most artists, and we are the least that get the funding," said Nuqingaq.

He says its a step forward to help more Inuit make a career out of their craft.

'There are so many artists that are here in Nunavut, I think we have the most artists, and we are the least that get funding.' Matthew Nuqingaq, Inuit artist

"Its great because when the artist gets the funding, it's a living allowance," he said. "They get to live without having to think about having to sell their pieces for a while and then they get a collection. That way, when they get a collection, they'll get a showing in a gallery,"

The only concern Nuqingaq takes is the Council's lack of an Inuktitut-speaking employee to further help Inuit artists to apply for funding.

But after this, he hopes that step is not far behind.

Theapp is free and available on iTunes and the Android market. Its also available in English and French.