About Us

The Inuit Art Society provides a platform for those who appreciate and support the culture, art forms and artists of the Arctic.

We are comprised largely of collectors, both new and established, who are passionate about their collections regardless of their size. We exist to come together, both physically at an annual meeting and electronically via this website, to celebrate the arts of the Arctic. Of equal importance is our commitment to educate ourselves and others about the cultures of the Arctic and the beautiful and varied art forms which these cultures and their artisans produce.

We were established in 2003. Read about our history.

Mission

To provide education about and support for the culture, art forms and artists of the Arctic.

Membership

Its current dues paying membership is growing and stands just below 100. Anyone who enjoys meeting other collectors and agrees with the objectives set forth in the mission statement is welcome to join. A small membership fee is required.

Governance

The IAS is governed by a board of 11 members and you are encouraged to get to know them. Mirroring the society’s membership, which is largely concentrated in the Midwest, the majority of our eleven board members live in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota. However, we also have board members from Virginia, Colorado, and Arizona showing that there are no geographic limits when it comes to the celebration of Inuit art.

Each is passionately committed to their collection and many of our board members have volunteered to share the story behind how they became interested in the arts of the Arctic.

President: William “Lane” Phillips
Vice President: Janet Beylin
Secretary: Ann Conway
Treasurer: Claude Weil
Members-at-Large: Susan Beck; Betty Lou Cooke; Carolyn Drake; Chuck Hudson; Carol Klein; Ellen Leavitt; Gabriel J. Rosenberg, M.D.

Activities

The membership’s efforts to date have gone into an annual meeting whose location has moved within cities in the Midwest (Chicago, Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Traverse City).

The two day programs, which typically run from Friday afternoon through the following Sunday afternoon, include native Inuit artists from Canada, knowledgeable speakers about Inuit art and culture, usually a tour of a private collection near the meeting site, a Marketplace where Inuit art can be purchased, and ample time to meet or reconnect with attendees.

The actual location of these annual meetings is typically in an educational setting where Inuit art is featured. Locations have included museums such as the Eiteljorg in Indianapolis and the Dennos in Traverse City as well as the Allen Center of Northwestern University.