Jinéit Art Academy is a program to ensure younger artists are learning formline--the basis of Northwest Coast art.

The program will help artists at all levels to learn and enhance their formline, a term that describes the complex designs, such as ovoids and split Us, which are the underlying components of the distinctive Northwest Coast art. It will also increase the number of Native artists and art instructors qualified to teach Northwest Coast art in public schools.

Under the grant, SHI will hold an instructor training workshop to teach accomplished artists how to teach formline design to other artists and K-12 teachers. Selected artists who participate in the workshop will conduct formline classes in 10 communities for artists of all levels, high school students and K-12 teachers. In the last phase, SHI will hold a workshop in Juneau for selected artists and K-12 teachers to develop, field-test and evaluate Northwest Coast art kits to be used as a curriculum for future formline instruction. For more information, contact Rico Worl at rico.worl@sealaska.com or 907.586.9265.