Pushing for performing arts centre
Qaggiavuut argues it will be great for Inuit artists and the economy
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, April 3, 2017
IQALUIT
With momentum on its side, Qaggiavuut - Nunavut's performing arts organization - is planning to launch a fundraising campaign to build a performance arts centre in the capital.
Ellen Hamilton, executive director for Qaggiavuut, Nunavut's performing arts organization, explains to Iqaluit city council March 28 that a dedicated fundraising campaign for a territorial performance arts centre will launch on Canada Day. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo |
Executive director Ellen Hamilton told City of Iqaluit council March 28 that the launch is set for Canada Day.
Since winning a hefty
$600,000 Arctic Inspiration Prize in early 2016, Qaggiavuut has offered a variety of training for performance artists across the territory and built a database of more than 350 Inuit performers, connecting them to international
agencies and distributors.Now it's time to pursue the long-standing dream of a centre.
"We are going to promote aggressively a partnership - private sector, all levels of government, Inuit organizations, other non-profits - to come together to work with us to raise the funds for a performance arts and cultural space in Iqaluit," she said.
"We're asking for people to come along with us and believe in this idea that this this city deserves a space like that. We're the only capital city in the circumpolar world without a performance arts space."
Hamilton said the launch was planned for Canada Day precisely because of the absence of such a space.
The organization has spent eight years on consultations and feasibility studies, and there's a proposal in with the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, operated by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Deputy mayor Romeyn Stevenson wondered if the organization had communicated with the lands and development department about potential locations.
"No. We want to do that. We have spoken with QC (Qikiqtaaluk Corporation) because they are working on a convention centre that has an aspect of a sort of performing arts component," said Hamilton. "We're hoping right now that we work together. There's no point in creating two or three different places that all create the same thing."
Hamilton said the location needs to be accessible to pedestrians.
"We see this as a community place, and a social justice place. A place for youth to go and rehearse and work, for children to do programming in. And for all people in Nunavut to go and study Inuit performing arts."
She also pointed out the economic opportunity for Nunavut and the capital.
"We have seen many cities in the world see their economies expand because of their performing arts," she said, pointing to Stratford, Ont.
"When the tobacco industry was destroyed from people stopping smoking, they built a performing arts centre and completely turned around their economy as a result of people who go there just to see plays. We see that this could be a real draw for the world to come to Iqaluit to see Inuit performing arts."
Hamilton said the Inuit Circumpolar Council, as well as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, have given their support. Qaggiavuut has also asked other performing arts centres in Iceland, Greenland, Whitehorse and Yellowknife to serve "as big brothers or sisters."
"The National Arts Centre has organized all performing arts centres in Canada to be our supporters, saying that Canada deserves an Inuit performing arts centre," said Hamilton.
The 297-seat Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) located in Yellowknife opened in 1984 after a nationwide fundraising campaign spearheaded by The Globe and Mail.
A charitable foundation will be formed under Qaggiavuut specifically for the space.
"We hope that this fundraising campaign is quick and that we start to build very soon," said Hamilton.
Hamilton says the fundraising goal is $6 million for Phase 1, which would include feasibility, design and planning. Fundraising for construction, or Phase 2, which would hopefully begin in 2018, is targeted at $15 million.
"We plan Inuit mentorship at all stages, including architectural design," she said. "The world needs a place that can nurture and support the Inuit performing arts and if not in Nunavut, where else?"
