Kinngait Studios is legendary in Canadian art circles.
It’s housed in the small, ramshackle couple of buildings that stand across from each other in the Arctic Canadian community of Cape Dorset. A place where renowned artists and printmakers like Kenojuak Ashevak and Pudlo Pudlat honed their craft.
But despite the historic significance, the art community has grown out of this space and is in the midst of campaign to raise money for a new cultural centre that would offer more space, exhibition areas and attract more visitors to the community.
“It would really help the artists here, the print makers and the carvers,” says Cape Dorset mayor Palaya Qiatsuq. “This has been long overdue.”
Want to see what it is actually like in the old Kinngait Studios? Printer Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq gave Eye on the Arctic a tour in 2010:
‘We’re getting close’
The new Kenojuak Cultural Centre and Print Shop will measure 10,440 square feet and will receive federal and territorial funding. The community itself hopes to generate an additional $3-million for the project, said Qiatsuq.
To date, they’ve raised $1.4 million. The centre’s grand opening is scheduled for April 2017.
“We have a lot of good people here on the fundraising committee and a lot of people are involved,” said Qiatsuq. “Cape Dorset is really interested in getting a culture centre here. We want to make it happen and we’re getting really close to it. ”
To find out more, Eye on the Arctic spoke to Cape Dorset mayor Palaya Qiatsuq for an update on the project and what it means to the community:
ListenWrite to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Spotlight – Montreal, Canada exhibit focuses on art by Inuit women, Eye on the Arctic
Russia: Karelian art on show in Russia, Yle News
Finland: London gallery offers multimedia Sámi art, Yle News
Sweden: Swedish Sámi visual artist shaping climate changes, Radio Sweden
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