A new non-commercial, visual art focused art gallery is in the planning stages for Yellowknife.

The board of directors of Friends of the NWT Art Gallery voted on Oct. 27 to proceed with their plans to create the gallery after receiving the results of a feasibility study from Lord Cultural Resources, an arts sector consultancy headquartered in Toronto.

The plan is for a 29,000-square-foot facility to be constructed, large enough to house a world-class art collection.

The vision for the new facility SA国际影视传媒� currently being referred to as the NWT Arts Centre SA国际影视传媒� is to provide opportunities to create and learn about Northern art, and to meet the needs of visual artists in the NWT.

Adrian Bell, the founding president of Friends of the NWT Art Gallery, stepped down as president to assume the role of director of business development.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l be moving forward with next steps right away,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e fortunate to have the support of a private foundation, which has allowed us to get this far. Now weSA国际影视传媒檒l begin discussions with other potential funding partners, engaging with the local and territorial governments, identifying and evaluating potential building sites and programming opportunities, and continue our outreach with the arts community and other key parties to chart a path forward.SA国际影视传媒�

As for the overall cost of the project, Bell said, SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a budget at this time, but I suspect it will be somewhere between $30 million and $60 million.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒榁ery excitedSA国际影视传媒�

Toby Kruger, the newly-elected board president, shared his enthusiasm for the new project.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e very excited about the studySA国际影视传媒檚 conclusions. We feel the NWT would clearly benefit from a visual arts centre,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淟ast Thursday night (Oct. 27), our board agreed that conditions are right for us to proceed with planning, fundraising, and we hope in the not-too-distant future, construction.SA国际影视传媒�

Yellowknifer asked Bell where the building might be located in the future.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to depend on what is in the building. If itSA国际影视传媒檚 just the non-commercial art gallery and the visual arts focused community centre, then probably the most important consideration is proximity to hotels. If there are other spaces, such as common spaces available for event rentals, those would potentially (be near) a dining area. These are the types of things that would lead to lake view being a bigger consideration, or view period. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 just going to depend ultimately, what is under this roof. In many other cities, theySA国际影视传媒檙e paired with things like libraries, or visitor centres or other complementary services. Those things would impact location as well. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 far too early to know what would be the perfect location.SA国际影视传媒�

On Oct. 6, Yellowknifer interviewed Sarah Swan, the director for the Yellowknife Artist Run Community Centre. She shared a concern about the infrastructure desperately needed to make arts careers viable in Yellowknife.

SA国际影视传媒淭he problem, as many artists in Yellowknife see it, is that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lack of professional opportunities and spaces for artists. Therefore, because thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no professional gallery, artists canSA国际影视传媒檛 get a professional fee. They cannot then apply for professional shows anywhere else because they donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a CV (curriculum vitae, which is a comprehensive description of oneSA国际影视传媒檚 publications and accomplishments).SA国际影视传媒�

Asked whether artists featured in the NWT Art Gallery would be paid a professional fee, Bell replied, SA国际影视传媒淎ccording to our feasibility study, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 whatSA国际影视传媒檚 recommended by the consultants. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a requirement for Canada Council funding. You have to SA国际影视传媒� and itSA国际影视传媒檚 also just the appropriate thing to do.SA国际影视传媒�