Sacred Fire Productions hold their mission to heart and act effectively to achieve their vision. Through our actions, they increase exposure for Aboriginal artists and contribute to their professional, economic, personal and social development. This is why specific projects have been set up in order to increase visibility for the public and the national and international art market.
ASHUKAN Cultural Space
Located in the heart of the tourist and historic district of Montreal, the ASHUKAN Cultural Space is a place accessible by the general public that can discover the art and beauty of Aboriginal creators. In addition to being a venue for exhibits, the ASHUKAN Cultural Space also has a 100% native boutique with products that respect the principles of fair trade!
The ASHUKAN Cultural Space is…
- An exhibition and a boutique where the public has the opportunity to view and purchase original works and other cultural products that respect the principles of fair trade;
- A place of reference and formation for artists;
- An accessible point of contact and discovery of aboriginal cultures;
- A place of integration for Aboriginal artists in urban areas.
The mixed art festival
Each year, during the National Aboriginal Day (June 21st), Sacred Fire Productions organizes an art symposium of cultural exchanges call the Mixed Art Festival (MAF). The MAF is an art-culture encounter that brings together Aboriginal artists and artists from other cultural communities for three days of creation and exchange. It also offers artists the opportunity to attend training workshops and get professional development.
The annual event Mixed Art Festival is…
- An event that allows the public to discover Aboriginal art;
- An event that allows Aboriginal artists access to the art market and a chance to meet the public;
- An event that helps breaking isolation for Aboriginal artists;
- An event that enables Aboriginal artists to perform at the forefront of the art scene with internationally renowned artists
- An event that creates opportunities for exchanges between aboriginal and non-aboriginal artists in a context of knowledge transfer and cultural exchange through artistic and professional practices.
- An event that promotes the professional development for Aboriginal artists through training workshops and professional contacts with non-native artists.
Sacred Fires Productions online store
Since 2015, Sacred Fires Productions have a virtual store that increased visibility for Aboriginal artists. Available through our web site, the shop can reach distant markets and enable new business opportunities.
The Sacred Fire Productions’ online store is…
- A virtual place that broadcast beyond the province and the country’s borders;
- An opportunity to increased visibility for aboriginal artists around the world;
- A business opportunity for the artists involved;
- A simple and convenient way to purchase aboriginal cultural items.
Event production
Sacred Fires Productions create opportunities to increase visibility of Aboriginal art and artists. Several events are produced annually.
Examples of past events:
- V.I.P event for the launch of the Royal Canada Mint $5 Collector Fine Silver Coin illustrated by Tim Whiskeychan (Ottawa, November 25th 2014)
- Evening show with Cris Derksen and Kristi Lane Sinclair as part of the Red Ride Tour at Café Aleatoire in Griffintown (May 30th 2014)
- Beatrice Deer and David Maracle on stage at Auberge Handfield, as part of the Mixed Art Festival (June 20th and 21st 2014)
- Vernissage of Inuit artist Tanya Mesher Jones at Café Aléatoire (May 2014) o Book Launch “Innu Nikamu” by Véronique Audet, at the 11 Nation Exhibit (December 2012)
The social economy project
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT OF ABORIGINAL ARTS THROUGH SOCIAL ECONOMY
Sacred Fire Productions developed this project to overcome the artistic, social, economic and personal barriers that Aboriginal Artists face when trying to integrate the major art market of Montreal, both those living in remote communities and those often isolated in an urban environment so different from their own background and values.
Our project was developed to provide Aboriginal artists with tools, at every stage of their artistic journey, to facilitate their integration in a competitive market and to create exposure opportunities to help the development, for the whole Aboriginal artistic community, of a strong and far reaching cultural economy, here and abroad.
4 AXES OF DEVELOPMENT
OBSTACLES FOR ABORIGINAL ARTISTS
Aboriginal artists have particularly low average earnings (15,900$), a difference of 39% in comparison to other Aboriginal workers in the Canadian population (25,900$).
Several obstacles contribute to this situation:
Remoteness/isolation, poor living conditions, personal difficulties and/or historical or systemic exclusion factors
Geographic isolation, poverty and a lack of resources are obstacles to these artists’ development and professional recognition. These are the barriers that Sacred Fire Productions wants to break down by opening not only our exhibition space, but also by creating a centre where Aboriginal artists can pursue professional development, share their works and make connections with other Aboriginal artists.
Artists are sometimes unfamiliar with the market’s expectations or mechanisms/programs available to develop as an artist in a competitive major urban art market
Within Aboriginal communities, as well as in urban centers, artists are not always familiar with expectations or mechanism to integrate and compete on major art markets.
Difficulty getting support as an artist
Many Aboriginal artists’ “non-recognition” makes it difficult for them to obtain funding. The support and the extent of this support remains limited and difficult to access for most of them.
Difficulty to get exposure and access distribution or fair trade networks
Aboriginal artists face the problem of overcoming difficulties relating to small audiences, geographic isolation, high transportation costs, a lack of models and and limited access to major fair trade networks.
