The Inuit Art Quarterly, published by a revitalized Inuit Art Foundation, is returning after a near two-year absence with the release of a Winter 2014 issue.

The issue reflects on the influence and legacy of artist Kenojuak Ashevak, who passed away in January 2013. It coincides with the foundation's launch of a memorial fund and award in Ashevak's honour that will grant $15,000 every two years to an artist of Inuit heritage for a residency of the artist's choosing.


Christine Lalonde, a former regular contributor, leads the magazine's resurgence as chair of the editorial board. While the board's roster has not been finalized, Lalonde said it will be comprised of both new voices and returning members.

Inuit Art Quarterly launched in 1986. It ceased publishing when the foundation closed its doors in 2012 following an evaluation of its role. "It was really becoming quite challenged in terms of the expectations people had in terms of the changing dynamics of the art form," said Lalonde.

However, an outpouring of support from the arts community and general readership led to the foundation's return in December 2012. The new board of directors met with stakeholders across Canada and one of the issues that came up was the importance of the Inuit Art Quarterly.

"It really has a role in connecting the artists to their audience, connecting north and south in other words, and letting artists know about what's happening in the south in terms of exhibitions, shows and sales," said Lalonde. "It was a way to get the artists' work seen in a very broad way."

The magazine has a new logo that spells out the full title (the previous logo was "IAQ"), and features a design that Lalonde calls "more contemporary and polished." Editorially, Lalonde takes an inclusive approach with an eye toward broadening content and also engaging youth readership. "Besides the visual arts that are identified as Inuit arts--sculpture, prints, drawings and textiles--we'll be expanding to include more on performance art, spoken word, literary arts," she said.

The 58-page magazine costs $19.95 and the Winter 2014 issue contains 10 pages of advertising. Facebook and Twitter presences will launch shortly and the foundation aims to have the digital edition available via Zinio on digital newsstands before the end of March. An eight-page preview copy was released last year to previous and potential subscribers. "We didn't really have to do much to entice people to come back because they missed it," said Lalonde.