Laakkuluk performed as a featured artist in Berlin thanks to small travel grant

In 2017, Laakkuluk, an Iqaluit-based performance artist, travelled to perform at the Berlin Nordwind Festival. While there, she was also the featured artist at a Canadian embassy reception.

Challenging stereotypes and sharing truths

Trained by her mother and other Inuit elders, Laakkuluk has been a Greenlandic mask dancing performer since her teens. Her Berlin performance explored the nature of the relationship between Europeans and Inuit, and pushed audiences to rethink their assumptions about Inuit. The festival was also a chance to create new understanding about Inuit and racism and perform for a community that may have lacked a thorough understanding of Inuit realities.

Forging links with an international art community

This was Laakkuluk’s Berlin debut, and an opportunity to advance her practice and develop relationships with a new international audience. Being at the festival also enabled her to view other performances and have informal discussions about the importance of art in cross-cultural communications. She valued the chance to network with Greenlandic Inuit artists attending the festival.