The Canada Council for the Arts has launched a new program that will assist Aboriginal artists preserve and promote traditional Aboriginal visual art forms. The Council will provide $600,000 over the next two years to finance the pilot Assistance to Aboriginal Traditional Visual Art Forms program, which will fund the creation and production of traditional Aboriginal visual art forms. The program will also support research and preservation for the work. Canadian Aboriginal visual art forms include, but are not exclusive to, basketry, appliqué, beadwork, weaving, traditional Aboriginal pottery/clay techniques and wood, stone and bone carving. The crafts are steeped in historic practice and are still evolving today. Jim Logan, Aboriginal Visual Arts Officer for the Canada Council, said the agency created the program to protect traditional visual art forms no longer being passed down from generation to generation. ‘The old masters are passing away and taking their legacies and knowledge with them’ he said. ‘This program will assist Aboriginal artists and organisations to advance their work into new and unique forms.’ Traditional Aboriginal visual artists have previously been eligible to apply for other Canada Council grant and support programs, but regularly faced disadvantage. The dedicated program, which will be reviewed in two years, is seen as an extra boost for a sector in dire need of support. For further information, CLICK HERE.