YELLOWKNIFE - The Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts will open its new doors to the public on Saturday.

In June 2006, things looked bleak when the guild lost its space at St. Patrick high school when the school needed the space for classes.

Carla Gilday takes part in a pottery class at the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Craft's new location on Kam Lake Road. - Laura Power/NNSL photo

Then an option opened up which would allow the organization to hold all its classes under the same roof.

"We were looking for any place to rent or go into partnership again, and Yk Dairies approached us to say that they were building a new place in Kam Lake and asked if we would like to rent that space from them," said Wendy Stephenson, past president of the board.

"Everybody's really relieved and pretty excited about the new space," she added.

The organization moved into the new two-storey building at 113 Kam Lake Road in April and has since begun classes in pottery, basketry, silver jewelry making and more.

"Right now it's a five-year agreement so we'll just see what happens... it's a beautiful space and so far it's working out really well," said Stephenson.

To celebrate, the guild is holding a grand opening this Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Along with art demonstrations, there will be displays and kids activities.

Stephenson said it may be a good opportunity for those who have never been involved with the guild's classes to get a closer look at how they work.

Michelle Guile, a member of the guild for seven years, said the grand opening will also celebrate the guild's 61st anniversary. The guild was started in 1946 by Ruth Stanton. At the time it focused mainly on weaving but today, crafts such as pottery are also popular.

"We're sort of in the computer age and people are wanting to get back to basics," Guile said.