Group seeking location for NWT arts centre

A non-profit organization planning to develop a Northwest Territories arts centre is looking for the ideal location in Yellowknife.

The NWT Art Centre Initiative aims to establish a non-commercial gallery and community centre with its own art collection. The initiative, which is a project of MakeWay, announced in January that it had received operational funding for three years.

Now the organization is looking at different locations in the NWT capital where a future centre could be built. It has launched a survey for residents to share their thoughts on seven potential sites.

“The focus would be on the multidisciplinary visual arts and Northern and Indigenous art and culture,” project director Adrian Bell said of the proposed centre.

“It’s really been well-documented across the North, and in particular in Yellowknife, by some really passionate people in the arts sector that this is a huge missing piece and it would entirely change the outlook for northern artists if we had a non-commercial art gallery in the North.”

Bell said the organization has two staff members, himself and centre development specialist Sara Komarnisky, alongside a steering committee of five people.

He said they are currently in the process of engaging an architectural firm to take a technical look at the potential sites for the centre to consider geotechnical factors, cultural history, accessibility and structural engineering. The group also plans to engage with Indigenous communities and leaders, the arts community and other arts organizations on their needs and views over the next several months.

Bell said if they are able to secure a location within the next year, construction could begin on the centre by late 2027.

“We’re very excited,” he said. “A lot of enthusiastic support so far from everybody we’ve spoken with and we look forward to engaging with not only the Yellowknife broader community but artists across the North in the coming months and years.”

Related Articles