Yellowknife (Apr 28/06) - Sometimes, an art sale is more than just a place to get some early gifts for Mother's Day.

For Wendy Stephenson, president of the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts, this year's spring sale, held in the Rock Foyer of St. Patrick high school, is the first step towards a new home.

Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts member John Argue works clay on a wheel at the art workshop of St. Patrick high school. At the end of June, the Guild will have to find a new place to work, because the school needs the space for students. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

At the end of June, the Guild, which turns 60 this year, will have to leave St. Patrick high school, where they have worked and taught for the last 12 years. While they have a few options, Stephenson said none of them are cheap.

"The initial set-up, including equipment, will cost between $20,000 and $30,000," she said, and rental fees at one of their prospective homes could exceed $3,000 a month.

"We'll have to open up and look at different options," she said.

These options include expanding their classes to take advantage of their dedicated, 24-hour space. Classes, along with commissions for art sales and member fees, are the main source of the Guild's income.

"If we can generate a little more activity in the classes, we'll be okay," she said.

She also hopes local businesses are willing to help out at first to make up for any shortfalls.

Finding a new place to work and function is nothing new for the Guild, which was founded in 1946.

"We are one of the oldest guilds in Canada," said long-time member and secretary Janet Diveky. "This won't kill us, but it's going to be pretty hard."

She said Con Mine, the Legion, the Elks Hall, old City Hall and Sir John Franklin high school have all served as headquarters for the Guild in the past. However, she said she will miss working closely with the St. Pat's art department.

"We've been very happy to be partners with the Guild," said Mike Huvenaars, assistant superintendent of the Catholic school board.

Huvenaars said the Guild shared space with St. Pat's art classes and ran workshops with students and teachers. He said the school needs the space for its expanding student population.

"We really don't want them to leave," he said.

The Guild had been looking for a new home for about two years, Huvenaars said.

This year's sale at the Rock Foyer will feature a wide variety of pottery and weaving, as well as work with baskets, silver, glass and fibre. Friday night's showing serves as a low-key preview of Saturday's sale, Diveky said.

"It's like a party where you don't have to clean up afterwards."