Timeline
2025
Our beloved training space Blackbox burned down. Passing of our dear elder Simon Qamaniq. Shifting focus to southern training opportunities and out on the land projects in Igloolik. Tech training and performances in Iqaluit and Quebec. 5th year of Inuqatigiiniq Project (drum dancing and throat singing out on the land camp).
2024
Performance at Archura Karpa, Colombia Circus Festival in collaboration with NAC. Young Artcirq members Sheldon and Anthony perform for Prime Minister Trudeau. Gjoa haven workshops and premiere of Nattiup Pisinga in Igloolik and Iqaluit. Jane Tapatsiak joins the Artcirq team. The passing of our dear elder Susan Avingaq.
2023
Unikkaaqtuat documentary is released after many years of editing. Preparation of Uiksaringitara film shooting with Kinguliit Productions. Jan dutler and Mona Elicery visit in Igloolik. Development of Nattiup Pisinga show and visit from Gina Burgess and the Anuri Drum Dancers. Shayne Maliki joins the Artcirq team.
2022
Performance at Dubai World Expo. First in person performance since Covid-Nunavut Quest Show with guest artists Jessica Arpin, Gisle and his kids. Performed at the first Iqaluit Circus Festival at the Franco Centre and GNAF in Inuvik. Shooting of elements of the film Tautuktavut at Black box with Lucy Uyarak. Toe the line video.
2021
Outdoor performance of Tauvigjuaq with National Arts Centre (NAC). Canada Day show at NAC with Terry Uyarak recognizing mass Indigenous grave sites at residential schools.
2020
Canada West coast tour of Unikkaaqtuat. Artcirq’s 20th anniversary! Edith Auksaq, Ashley Akittirq, Tylie Arnatsiaq, and Kemberely Ford join the Artcirq team along with Maya Cook who moves to Igloolik. Covid hits!
2019
Unikkaaqtuat creation with residencies in Igloolik, Montreal, and. Ottawa). Performed at the Venice Bienalle and St.John International Circus Festival. First screening of the Unikkaaqtuat documentary in progress at Alianait Arts Festival.
2018
Sweden show (Stockholm) and Igloogeek Collaborative show with Gisle and Jérémie Robert.
2017
Focus on developing our Blackbox Program (circus school programming) and Vanessa Kneale come’s to Igloolik. Workshops and film screenings at the Highlight Arctic Festival in Scotland. Release of the Igloolik cookbook Niqiliurniq. Levy joins the Artcirq team.
2016
Kalabante visited Igloolik and premiere of the film Circus Without Borders. Continuation of Blackbox, on the land, and video programs.
2015
Gisle Henriet’s first collaboration with Artcirq. Beginning of Unikkaaqtuat collaboration with Taqqut and 7 fingers.
2014
Guillaume moving down south. Our dear friend and member Joey passed away. Making of the Kikukkia documentary. We began yearly funding for a circus school through the BlackBox Program. The 5th year of Nunaqpaa, summer caribou hunting program. Cirqiniq exchange in Igloolik.
2013
Making of Kikkukia’s first album. Performing for Northern Scene Festival and live on APTN for Aboriginal day. Vanessa Kneale joins the team. Creation of Asiu (Lost), inspired by the traditional Inuit legend Amaqup Nunaat (The Land of Wolves) about two brothers who find themselves lost in the mysterious world of the Shadow People.
2012
Official opening of Black Box, our training and performing space in Igloolik. France tour with performances in Paris and Annecy Inuit festival (where we performed for the cows). Cirque Alfonse came to Nunavut to perform in Igloolik and at Alianait. Performed at the Queen of England’s Diamond Jubilee at Windsor Castle, London. Filming of the movie Uvanga with Arnait Productions.
2011
NAIP exchanges and Nuuk, Greenland artists in Igloolik. Raven video . Our dear friend and member Solomon passed away and a documentary was created to honour him.
2010
Performed for the Vancouver Olympics as part of the Nunavut Delegation and travelled to Konakry, Guinée, Toulouse, France, and Nuuk, Greenland for performances. Filming of circus without borders began. Out on the land projects. Recorded the Made in Igloolik CD. World Focus video: Artcirq: Canada's Inuit Circus. Pitaqangittuq (Nunavut), the climate is warming at an alarming rate, but it’s inhabitants are determined to adapt to their changing world by utilizing their ancestral survival skills and creativity. Watch video.
2009
We built the Blackbox, our first real training space in the old curling rink of the local arena and opened the Kipsigak Cafe. Clyde and Pond Inlet Artcirq expedition by skidoo. Performing in Cambridge Bay, Inuvik for GNAF festival, the Kilkis Puppet Festival in Greece, and Paris.
2008
Fibonacci project with 7 fingers and Cirkodemente in Igloolik, Montreal, and Mexico. Performances in France and Timbuktu, and the recording of the Artcirq Jam CD . Damien Tulugarjuk joins the team. All the way to Timbuktu: A documentary of the journey from the Arctic to Timbuktu, for the Festival au Desert. Artcirq and Arnait performance in Talea de Castro, Oaxaca.
2007
Artcirq team travelled to Montreal to train with Cirque Eloize. Nunavik tour and shows in Monterrey, Mexico. Lots of video making projects! Issaittuq (Waterproof) a story about a young Inuk who lost his love. Using alcohol, he is trying to put the reality and the past behind, but the past keeps hunting him. Maana (Now), a young Inuk, acknowledging the global warming and its impacts on his community, intends to reduce drastically the energy consumption of his village.Cara Di Staulo joins the team.
2006
A year of many firsts! We performed our first show in Igloolik and our first performance at Alianait Arts Festival where we have performed almost every year since. We also had our first international performance and residency in Dublin, Ireland with Derek, Leah, Haiden, and Guillaume and used our Nanuq costume for the first time. We took over the old swimming pool as our training and performance space. ARTCIRQ: Paniaq advising young artists documentary. We began hosting yearly out on the land projects and our ongoing partnership making films with Isuma Productions. Terry Uyarak joins the team. A short documentary by Solomon Uyarasuk about youth who are training to put on a show in Igloolik.
2005
Guillaume moved to Igloolik on halloween and hosted the first spaghetti night with the team. Artcirq travelled to Peru for the Amazonia project.
Nikita Ungalaq, Jacky Qrunnut, Daisy Qamukaq, Reena Qulitalik and Jenny Attagutsiak join the team.
2004
Creating the Inuit rock band “The Eskiez”. Inuusivut – The Eskiez video.
A film about the making of Kaugjaguk was released and screened in Igloolik. Jimmy Qamukaq joins the Artcirq team.
2003
Kaugjagjuk show development and performance (by Lucy, Leah, Genevieve, Laoratie, and Guillaume).
2002
Naturalik project
2001
Naarjuq film development. First group of young Inuit came down south for training. Derek Aqqiaruq joins the team.
2000
The same team of 6 artists returned to Igloolik creating an out on the land performance in collaboration with Isuma Productions.
1999
Artcirq Circus documentary (first 6 circus students from National Circus School visited Igloolik, out on the land creation and presentation of shows in town)
1998
Inuusiq inception and video making project.