In 1972, a grassroots craft collective called Arnaqarvik ᐊᕐᓇᖃᕐᕕᒃ (a place of women) started in Spence Bay, Northwest Territories, present day Taloyoak, ᑕᓗᕐᖪᐊᖅ Nunavut. Arnaqarvik became a space for local women to hone their creative skills, telling their stories and sharing their culture through fabric and artistic production.
In just two years, Arnaqarvik women were selling their craftwork and fashion across North America. The craft collective lives on to this day through the business of Taluq Designs.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Arnaqarvik, we brought the founders and key members of the collective together to document the group’s legacy. Today, we’re excited to share our multiyear efforts, highlighting the collections, the artists, and the collective’s enduring legacy through a dedicated website and collections database.
