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The Northwest Pacific Coast Native Americans shared art, Storys and culture living along the coastline from Northern California to Alaska. It seems logical to seek funding from Canada, United States of America, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon governments and their various organizations dealing in history, culture, education, environment and aboriginal people.
Assistance should be sought from the Canada Council's Explorations Program for the arts and Telefilm Canada for production support amongst many other potential sources. Frequently PBS shows are supported in part by the Natural Endowment for the Arts.
Museums, galleries, universities, libraries and other groups could also be petitioned for financial support. Some larger examples are the Museum of Natural History (New York), the Smithsonian (Washington), the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto), the Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto), the University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology (Vancouver) and the 'Ksan Historical Indian Village and Museum.
I know there are many museums in Victoria, Ottawa, Hull, and other cities and towns featuring large exhibits of Northwest Pacific Coast art and culture that may wish to contribute. Historical societies, institutions and private collectors or smaller venues such as Ontario's London or Windsor Art Galleries that have small Haida pieces or collections and may also be helpful.
The Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Airport and the beach in Windsor, Ontario feature totem poles or large sculptures and may also be interested in this project.
Some British museums, amongst other countries' museums, obtained many artifacts, legally and illegally, from the Pacific Northwest during the early half of the 1900's. This is another potential funding group of a global scale.
Naturally all educational and Haida institutions, contributors and non-contributors, should be welcome to feature the Story(s) free of cost (except duplication, distribution and shipment) in whatever manner suitable, such as display kiosks. Museums, galleries and tourism institutions that contribute financially will also have this privilege.
Tourism institutions on a city, provincial, state and national levels may wish to contribute. These same levels may apply to parks and recreation departments. Nature and environmental groups and causes may also wish to help fund this project should there be a sufficient environmental message.
Broadcasters such as Public Broadcasting System, the History Channel, Arts & Entertainment, Bravo, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Television, Television Ontario, Global Television, HBO and many more should not be overlooked. Much Music, MTV, VH1, and other music video resources may be tapped if the Story falls into a music video format. People such as Ted Turner and Moses Znaimer may have other resources alternative to their broadcasting empires as well.
It is possible to yield funding from and be featured in many numbers of film festivals and animation festivals, both here in North America and around the world.
The new concept of web casting over the Internet also raises possibility with the insatiable need for content online by growing numbers of web cast sites.
While seeking funding from institutions it is wise not to overlook video distributors and carriers. I imagine that the Haida Storys will not only do well in the arts, cultural and regional sections of video stores, but it would also provide alternative children's entertainment to the Disney-type formula. Some companies to consider would be Blockbuster, Virgin, HMV, Amazon, Chapters, The Future Shop, Wall-Mart and other retailers. Even if these companies do not provide initial funding or grants, a contract guaranteeing the distribution and shelf placement of this as a product would provide clout to any endeavor for financial assistance.
This funding idea may be far fetched but possibly the most rewarding:
Funding may be attainable to start a small school in Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands) to teach native Haida youth and adults the art of computer animation. In the 1950's Bill Reid helped move the perceived Haida culture out of museums to mainstream awareness when he began sculpting in silver. Perhaps Haida culture may have success in another foreign medium: computer design and animation.
When I was young, going to the movies was a different experience. The movie started with the Canadian National Anthem followed by an animated cartoon. Now there is no anthem and there are commercials and trailers preceding the movies. It may be a wasted effort and a long shot at funding, but it would still be interesting to know if there were any possibility of sharing the Haida culture in an alternative or addition to ads and trailers.
I don't know much specifically about funding or producing and I don't know if it would be worth the effort to seek multiple sponsors or if it would complicates things too much. I do know that this initial brainstorming my ideas out can't hurt.
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