In an effort to expand the artistic scene of Yellowknife, several public discussion sessions are being held by the NWT Art Centre Initiative, the purpose of which is to find a suitable location within the city for the establishment of a new dedicated art centre.
There will be two sessions to discuss the matter, with one set for Tuesday, June 17th at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre from 5pm to 8pm. The other meeting will be held online on Wednesday, June 25th from 7pm to 8:30.
Sarah Komarnisky serves as the Art Centre Development Specialist for this project, and shared some more information on what they are looking for.
“Over the past year or so, we’ve been engaged un a process to find the best location for a future Art Centre based on what’s available in the City, like empty or undeveloped spaced, and based on what we know about who we hope to attend. The top location that’s come out of that is the old Akaitcho Hall site, which is right next to Sir John (high school).”
She explained that the Akaitcho Hall site was formerly used as a hostel for students who were attending the nearby school. The Hall initially opened in 1958, and was operated by the federal government without church involvement. Control of the Hall was eventually given to the Territorial government in 1969, until it was eventually shut down and demolished in 1994.
Students inside a dorm room at Akaitcho Hall in Yellowknife (NWT Archives/Native Press)
Komarnisky explained that the history of both the site itself and the NWT as a whole will be taken into account for the Art Centre, should Akaitcho Hall be fully selected.
“We are in the Northwest Territories, and the history of art here is also a history of the Indigenous people: Dene, Métis, Inuvialuit people, and the things that they create, as well as those of us who have come here more recently. It’s intended to have a focus on Indigenous art, both here in the NWT, and hopefully throughout the circumpolar region.
“I know there’s a commitment on our team to really be sure to include some reckoning and reference to reconciliation in our community. I think all organizations need to reckon with that and so we’re hoping to build that in from the very beginning.”
The overall goal of the new Art Centre is to provide a space that is solely dedicated to art. Komarnisky explained that while the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre does have some room for art, it’s main focus is that of a culture and history museum. Meanwhile, existing galleries like that of the Midnight Sun are commercial galleries, where the pieces are available for purchase.
“It’s a bit of a different dynamic than having a non-commercial art gallery where the primary focus isn’t selling the art. It’s perhaps exploring ideas, exploring texture, exploring shapes, exploring a concept through creative work. We know that there is now the Visitor Centre gallery, which is more aligned with the kind of space that we envision for the Arts Centre, but it’s very new, and it’s quite small, and so we hope to complement that with a dedicated facility and more gallery space.”
Komarnisky added that while the completion of the Art Centre is still a long ways away, their hope is that the space will be used for special workshops and classes to help teach people new artistic practices.
