The Canada Council Art Bank has announced that it will purchase 71 works by Aboriginal artists from across the country, as part of its 30th birthday celebrations and in honour of the 45th anniversary of the Canada Council. Since the announcement last October that Art Bank would be purchasing a number of Aboriginal works, more than 400 artists have submitted entries for selection. The selected 71 works, from 61 First Nation, Metis and Inuit artists, include paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures, weaving, appliques and dolls. The purchase also includes traditional and contemporary works from Aboriginal artists in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. Arts Bank Director, Victoria Henry, said she was delighted with the response from artists across the country, and that she hoped the project would encourage the development of Aboriginal art. ‘Although only 71 works could be purchased this time, we hope that this will prompt Aboriginal artists to submit more works to the Art Bank in the future,’ she said. For more information about the Canada Council Art Bank visit the Canada Council