Cultural centre taking shape
$11 million project expected to open in about a year
Steady progress on the $11-million Kenojuak Cultural Centre & Print Shop could be seen in Cape Dorset in early August. The facility is due to open this time next year. - photo courtesy of Kudlik Construction |
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Monday, August 14, 2017
KINNGAIT/CAPE DORSET
The $11-million Kenojuak Cultural Centre & Print Shop is starting to look something like the design drawings.
With Kudlik Construction working on the structure over the past several months, the 10,000-square-foot building is framed-in. It's expected to be open around this time next year.
The cultural centre, named after famed Cape Dorset artist Kenojuak Ashevak, came about through a partnership between the Hamlet of Cape Dorset and West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative.
The building will feature artist's studios, printmaking and production areas and multi-purpose spaces for exhibitions and community gatherings.
"Our elders have been asking over the last 30 years for a place where our stories and history can be kept and shared between our people," Cape Dorset Mayor Palaya Qiatsuk said. "This centre will celebrate our people's creative history while encouraging more of our youth to become artists."
The bulk of the funding for the project - $7.8 million - is coming from the Government of Nunavut and the federal government.
The remainder will be raised through donations from Canadian and American philanthropists, foundations and corporations.
