We hosted an Open House on November 25, 2025, to share about the activities of the NWT Art Centre Initiative project over the past year and gather informally with members of the public. The event was held at the Yellowknife Visitor’s Centre, where approximately 30 interested community members attended to ask questions, meet members of our team, and share feedback.

Project Director Adrian Bell began by acknowledging that we gathered in Chief Drygeese Territory, Yellowknives Dene First Nation Territory, Treaty 8. This Land is overlapped by Tłı̨chǫ Territory, and home to the North Slave Métis Alliance. Our organization has made a public commitment to reconciliation following our Akaitcho Hall Gatherings this year, and we intend to live up to that commitment in all of our activities.

Adrian also shared some updates from the past year. In 2025 we submitted an application for charitable status, hosted two gatherings about the history and legacy of Akaitcho Hall, hired our first full time staff member, and applied for our first Canada Council for the Arts grant.

In the coming year we hope to receive charitable status, come to an agreement on the location for the new facility, and move forward with design of the new building. We also hope to start some new programming initiatives: some exciting ones we’re hoping to see funded include a Land-based artist in residence project and a speakers series called “Creative Futures” about the potential of the northern creative and artistic economy. We’re also hoping to continue to strengthen our existing relationships with individuals and organizations we’ve worked with already - many of whom joined us at the Open House.

Thank you very much to everyone who came out to the Open House. We understand not everyone who wanted to come was able to attend, so please get in touch with any questions or comments: sara.komarnisky@nwtartcentre.ca or adrian.bell@nwtartcentre.ca

We’ve also posted a link to the presentation slides that were shared at the gathering, below.