The territorial government says it has signed an agreement with the NWT Art Centre Initiative “to support the development of a non-commercial art gallery for the Northwest Territories.”
For years, the NWT Art Centre Initiative has been advocating for the creation of a territorial public art gallery, which presently does not exist. The GNWT says the territory is the only Canadian jurisdiction without one.
The initiative has already identified a desired location: the Yellowknife site of the former Akaitcho Hall, which operated from 1958 to 1994 as a residence for children from across the North who attended the neighbouring Sir John Franklin High School. The building has since been demolished.
Members of the initiative had said they hoped the GNWT would agree to that location.
In confirming a memorandum of understanding had been signed, the GNWT said that is now the “preferred location,” though the territory expressly avoided committing itself to transferring or selling the land.
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The YK1 school district supports the proposal, the GNWT stated, adding the Tłı̨chǫ Government, North Slave Métis Alliance and Yellowknives Dene First Nation have also been engaged with.
“The proposed art gallery would provide dedicated space to exhibit art, support NWT artists in building their careers, host community events and public programming, and preserve the territory’s artistic and cultural heritage,” a news release stated.
“The vision also includes a resource library, a permanent art collection, and space for learning about the history and impacts of residential schools in the Northwest Territories.”
According to the GNWT, the memorandum of understanding sets out subsequent steps that include:
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- completing consultations;
- finishing environmental assessments of the site and addressing any liabilities; and
- completing surveying, rezoning, subdivision and land title work.
The GNWT said the NWT Art Centre Initiative must fund “all costs associated with preparing the land for transfer.” The news release did not specify any territorial funding support for the proposal.
Culture minister Caitlin Cleveland said the agreement allowed the GNWT and NWT Art Centre Initiative to “begin exploring” whether public land can support a new art gallery.
“There is still work ahead but this is an important step,” Cleveland was quoted as saying.
Toby Kruger, who chairs the board of the group behind the initiative, said the agreement was an “exciting next step.”
