New director of Indigenous Arts named for Banff Centre

Actor, playwright, poet, director, and producer Reneltta Arluk has been appointed the new director of Indigenous Arts for Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Originally from the Northwest Territories, Arluk, who is of Inuvialuit, Dene, and Cree descent, is the first Indigenous woman to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alberta.

She’s also the first Indigenous person to direct at Stratford with the world premiere of The Breathing Hole by Governor General Award-winning playwright, Colleen Murphy.

“I look forward to creating the spaces needed to engage our Indigenous artists locally, nationally, and internationally. Together we will enrich and celebrate our living culture,” said Arluk, who has performed in, and initiated the creation of, Indigenous theatre nationally and internationally for omore than a decade.

Arluk is committed to stories inspired by Indigenous language and has worked in-depth with Indigenous and minority youth through her theatre advocacy.

Arluk’s appointment meets a key pillar of Banff Centre’s strategic plan by ensuring relevant and contemporary Indigenous Arts programming year-round.

Arluk’s company Akpik Theatre will be collaborating with Theatre Prospero to premiere a Plains Cree adaptation of Macbeth called Pawakân Macbeth, written by Arluk, in Edmonton this fall.