| Many people collect Inuit art as investments. Inuit | | | | artwork. Many young Inuit these days prefer not |
| art is growing internationally but it has been | | | | to hunt since northern community grocers have |
| suggested that the number of actual Inuit artists | | | | reduced a need to hunt for food. As a result, the |
| are actually declining. The creation of the Nunavut | | | | accuracy of carvings by some younger, |
| government which represents Canada's third | | | | non-hunting Inuit artists may be affected since |
| official territory, has resulted in many new | | | | they may not have the familiarity of Arctic |
| employment opportunities for the Inuit, particularly | | | | animals like older master carvers do.All of these |
| the younger ones. Carving and the entire process | | | | developments may lead to the demand for good, |
| of bringing back suitable stone from distant | | | | high quality Inuit art surpassing supply. This will in |
| quarries to their own communities are hard work | | | | turn cause a future appreciation of value for good |
| for Inuit art carvers.Many young Inuit prefer to | | | | Inuit art. Of course, characteristics of each piece |
| pursue less physically demanding careers such as | | | | must be taken into consideration. However, most |
| regular nine to five, weekday only government | | | | art experts recommend against buying any type |
| office occupations. As government offices grow, | | | | of art purely for investment purposes only. Art |
| so will the local businesses to support them which | | | | should be appreciated for its esthetic value. If a |
| create even more local jobs for Inuit people. | | | | certain artwork doesn't increase in value as |
| These trends are not only | | | | hoped, then at least one would still have a lovely |
| affecting Inuit males but also females as well. As | | | | piece of art to look at. If one finds a piece of |
| more young Inuit women move towards a | | | | Inuit art that he or she really likes and can afford, |
| 'southern', i.e., more North American lifestyle, Inuit | | | | then it should be purchased since the opportunity |
| art drawing, wall tapestry and doll making will be | | | | to own that one of a kind piece will probably not |
| less attractive skills to learn compared to office or | | | | come around again.Clint Leung is owner of Free |
| retail skills.Many master Inuit art carvers are also | | | | Spirit Gallery ( an online gallery specializing in Inuit |
| expert hunters. They get to see the Arctic | | | | Eskimo and Northwest Native American art |
| animals regularly resulting in excellent | | | | including carvings, sculpture and prints. |
| representations in their Inuit carvings and other | | | | |