NWT Arts

The Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) North Slave Regional Office has an open call for artists living in the North Slave communities of Behchokǫ̀, Dettah, Gameti, Łutselk’e, Ndılǫ Wekweètì, Whatì and Yellowknife. 

The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Spring Trade Show will be held May 9-10, 2026 in Yellowknife at the Multiplex Arena. Twelve tables have been booked and are being offered to artists in these communities at no cost. 

To apply for a table, send the following information to Brian Weadick, Business Development Officer by April 10th, 2026.

• Your full name and community
• Your current phone number
• 2 sample photos of your artwork
• A statement confirming your ability to participate both days – May 9 (10-5) and May 10 (10-4). Setup will take place Friday, May 8 between 10 am and 8 pm. 

Artists will be selected in an attempt to offer a variety of work at this sale opportunity. Selected artists will be given one of the two sale days. 

To apply for this opportunity, you must be registered in the NWT Arts Program and reside in the North Slave Region. You can register for the NWT Arts Program at www.nwtarts.com.

Travel costs may be available for support through the Support to Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) program.

If you have any questions, please email Brian Weadick at brian_weadick@gov.nt.ca or by phone at (867) 767-9212 ext. 63265. 

The NWT Arts Program, in partnership with Makers, is calling for NWT visual artists to apply to have their work sold in one of three Makers stores (Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver) for the month of July 2026, as a part of an NWT Arts Artist Showcase. Makers is committed to providing accessible retail space to local artists and are excited to be working with NWT Arts Program to feature NWT artists in these three stores. 

This call is open to NWT visual artists that are registered in the NWT Arts Program and currently reside in the NWT. This opportunity if for artists making jewellery (mainly under the $60 mark, with a few pieces up to $100-$120), paper goods (under the $10 mark), home, bath and body goods (under the $20 mark). Chosen artists will receive 100% of their retail price (minus transaction fees).

• 6 artists will be selected from this call - two artists for each location.
• Chosen artists will be placed in the location that is best suited to their style of work.
• Locations include South Centre, Calgary, The Beaches, Toronto, and Robson Street, Vancouver.
• Each artist will be given a shelf space that is 1’ wide, 1.5’ deep and 1.5’ tall, so work must fit within this shelf space and display about 10-15 items at a time (depending on the work and how it will be displayed). Chosen artists should be able to fill the shelf, plus have that same amount of inventory available for the store to restock.
• NWT Arts will work with chosen artists on the layout/display of their work on the shelf space, tagging of artwork through the Markers online platform.   
• NWT Arts will cover the cost of the shelf space, provide supports for the artwork (if required), create marketing materials for the artist to be displayed with their work, develop overall signage for the top shelf, and cover the shipping of all these items to the participating Vancouver locations. 

Artists will be juried on the completeness of their application and the work they are putting forth according to the guidelines in this call. Artists will selected in an attempt to ensure a variety of work and price points are featured from across the NWT.

The deadline for applications is Sunday, March 29.

If you have any questions, please contact the NWT Arts Program at nwtarts@gov.nt.ca