Iqaluit needs performing arts centre, advocates say

Two members of Iqaluit's arts scene are teaming up to helpcreate Nunavut's first performing arts centre.

Singer-songwriter Ellen Hamilton and Heather Daley, executive director ofthe annual Alianait Arts Festival,have organized a planning committee tolobby the territorial government tobuild a performing arts facility.

They are urging others in Iqaluit to join thecommittee, which is to hold its first meeting next week.

Nunavut is the only jurisdiction in Canada that does not have a permanent venuewhere artists, musicians, theatre companies and other groupscan perform.

'Incredible' culture, history

Even other northern Canadian cities have their own performing arts venues: Yellowknife has the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre and Whitehorse has the Yukon Arts Centre.

"All of us know about the musicians and the throat singers and the drum dancers, but I think Inuit as a people and as a culture have this incredible history of telling stories," said Hamilton.

"A performing arts centre would be a really great way of bringing that back."

Hamilton, a long-time northerner originally from Yellowknife, said she has noticed big changes in the Nunavut capital in recent years, including more construction and more cars.

Yet the city, with a population of about 6,200, still has no permanent place for artists, musicians, actors and circus groups, she said.

Daley, whose festival takes place every June, said organized cultural events such as Alianait have needed a permanent facility for some time.

"We don't own any space, so I'm begging, borrowing and stealing space," she said.

"I'm trying to get sea cans [marine cargo containers] so I can store things and all this kind of stuff. And of course, every time you move good equipment, it could get damaged."

Centre could inspire

Daleyadded thatshe believes an arts centre could even help reduce crime in the Nunavut capital by bringing inspiration and creativity into people's lives.

"It's something that we could actually make happen, and it would be really great for the community, for the territory," said Daley, who until recently worked as a court services official with the Nunavut Court of Justice.

Daley added that she and Hamilton want to bring together existing groups working on establishing other institutions in Iqaluit, including a northern university.

"We're thinking, like, why don't we all talk together, and couldn't this be a joint project? Couldn't we all help each other?" she said.

Daley said she hopes a performing arts centre could open in Iqaluit within the next five years.