News & Updates
Calfskin Qupak Making Workshop
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, Wednesday, Aug. 5 & Friday, Aug. 7 (3 sessions) Seed Lab Join Britt’Nee Brower for a hands-on three-day workshop dedicated to the art of calfskin qupak making. Perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, this evening class is three sessions and offers an immersive experience in traditional skin sewing. About your instructor: Britt’Nee Kivliqtaruq Brower is a strong proponent of Iñupiat values and their relevance in our modern age. She advocates the revitalization of the language, art, story telling, and tattoo traditions of her Iñupiat people and brings this passion to her artwork. Her work incorporates traditional Qupak motifs and adds a
Mid-Year Report: Nadia Jackinsky-Sethi, Program Manager
Scene from the streets of Umeå, Sweden during the 2026 Arctic Art Summit
Community Care Through Art
by Mikayla Mitchell (Deisheetaan Tlingit), Intern Many Alaska Native people use art to connect with traditions and also make ends meet financially. In this way, we care for ourselves and immediate family members. But Alaska Native art is obviously part of something much bigger, and it has the capacity for community care when we look a little closer. There are several ways to approach community care through art. Maybe this short blog will give you some inspiration for your next project! Collaboration One way to build a system of care is through collaboration with other artists. By doing this you
Qillaniq Exhibition Opening June 12th in Ottawa
The Alaska Native Arts Foundation is proud of artists and curators involved in the exhibition Qillaniq opening this week at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Qillaniq, an Inuktitut word describing how light from the sun or the moon shimmers brightly when reflecting on water, is co-curated by an all-Indigenous team from the circumpolar world, including Jocelyn Piirainen (Canada), Taqralik Partridge (Canada), Laakkuluk Williamson (Greenland), Nadia Jackinsky-Sethi (Alaska), Liisa-Ravna Finbog (Sami) and Ooleepeeka Eegeesiak (Canada). Artwork in this exhibition reflect issues around Indigenous sovereignty, subsistence, and connections to land while expressing Indigenous identity and joy. The exhibition also celebrates the rich resources in the
2026 Mid-Year Report: Continued Momentum for Alaska Native Arts
Dear Friend, Thank you for being part of ANAF’s work. We’re sharing our 2026 Mid-Year Report, which highlights some of what we’ve been building so far this year to uphold our mission to support Alaska Native artists across the state. This year, we’ve focused on practical work that helps artists strengthen visibility and access to opportunity, from portrait photography and workshops to fundraising and continued development of the Alaska Native Arts Directory. We’ve also been building partnerships and tools that support longer-term growth for Alaska Native arts. Looking ahead, we are excited about the momentum that is building. With additional support, ANAF will be
Collaboration with Leadership Anchorage Advances Economic Impact Framework for Alaska Native Arts
Alaska Native arts have long played a key role in communities across the state, supporting cultural continuity, artistic innovation, and local economics. Yet despite that evident impact, Alaska Native art has often been overlooked as an economic sector and has rarely been measured in ways that is reflective of its full contribution to Alaska’s economy. Compared with industries such as tourism, fisheries, or oil and gas, the economic contribution of Alaska Native arts has often been underdocumented and difficult to quantify. This deficiency can make it more difficult to advocate for investment, expand market access, and demonstrate the broader value of Alaska Native creative work statewide and beyond. To