Nancy Mullick will work as an arts advisor on Baffin Island

 

With her latest degree, Nancy Mullick is bringing two worlds together. Her journey to Pangnirtung, Nunavut, a small community on Baffin Island, started with a part-time job.

While studying for her BA in art history and philosophy from the University of Winnipeg, Nancy worked at an art gallery selling Inuit art. “I started off just wanting to pay the bills, and as I learned more about the art, it became a real passion.”

After obtaining an MA in Art History from Concordia in 1998, she went to work for the Avataq Cultural Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the indigenous language and culture of the Nunavik Inuit of Northern Quebec.

She also did some consulting work for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. Along the way she discovered she needed to branch out.

"When you work for these smaller organizations, you need a larger skill set," she explained. So she returned to Concordia for a Graduate Diploma in Administration (DIA) from the John Molson School of Business.

During her studies she took time off to co-ordinate a cultural exchange between the Inuit of Nunavik and the Saami of northern Norway at the Riddu Riddu Festival in Norwegian district of Troms.

As part of the DIA program, Nancy did a research project on ethnically specific marketing strategies for the non-profit sector, focusing on postcard campaigns for cultural organizations.

Just as she was completing her degree she was hired as the Senior Advisor, Arts and Traditional Economy, in the new Innovation Division of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation of the Government of Nunavut, based in Pangnirtung. The position allows her to combine her degrees and contribute to a culture she admires.

"In this land that is so immense, it is easy to feel small. Its beauty is captivating. I have such respect for the culture the people have developed in order to survive here, as well as for their profound connection to the land."

With one foot in the art world and the other in administration, Nancy is poised to support Nunavut artists design, produce, promote and distribute their arts and crafts. She is graduating as a member of the JMSB Dean’s List in June.

- Shelagh McNally