Kita is the Alutiiq word for the phrase, “Let’s go!” and it’s also the name of our new grant–funded project from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA). KITA, or the Kodiak Island Traditional Arts Project, will focus on enhancing the Alutiiq arts economy to allow more Alutiiq artists to make meaningful income to support their families. The primary goals of KITA are Artist Development and Capacity Building, Legal Education and Public Awareness, and Tourism Integration and Economic Expansion. The KITA project will take place over the course of three years.
The KITA project will take place over the course of three years. Through the KITA project, the museum will provide Teaching Artist Trainings, Artist Enrichment Trainings, and two college courses to bolster artists’ knowledge of both arts and business. Teaching Artist Trainings, in collaboration with the Kodiak Arts Council, let artists learn from an instructor how to teach their art form to others. Artist Enrichment Trainings are workshops where an Alutiiq artist teaches fellow artists how to make art in their preferred style or medium. The two courses at Kodiak College will provide students with knowledge on Alutiiq arts and business.
Art is at the heart of Alutiiq culture. Bringing Alutiiq artists together to help them hone their craft and business skills will benefit Alutiiq culture and community for generations to come. It’s important to keep old traditions and art techniques alive, so they may be passed down to future generations, while also fostering new traditions and techniques. Through Alutiiq arts, our community learns about our history, traditions and beliefs, and younger generations of Alutiiq artists gain inspiration to hone their own craft. The KITA project will support the local Alutiiq artist economy by providing opportunities for Alutiiq artists to grow and adapt new skills, allowing them to better support their families.