KCC Completed

In early March 2018, nearly two years of construction came to an end as the Kenojuak Cultural Centre and Print Shop (KCC) was completed. The West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative, the centre’s main tenants, have already begun moving artworks into the print shop.

A powerful sense of community has been, and will continue to be, the driving force behind the KCC’s creation and operation, at all levels. Architectural firm Panaq Design and contractors Kudlik Construction, both Iqaluit-based, Inuit-led companies, worked as a team to bring the building to life, while the community of Kinngait (Cape Dorset), NU, where the centre is located, also contributed significantly to the project. Although the federal and territorial governments provided the majority of the funding, $3 million had to be provided by the private sector. As reported by the IAQ in the Spring 2018 issue,

this goal was reached in December 2017, with nearly $3.3 million raised— and the hamlet provided a large portion of that extra funding. “The community itself, through bingos and all, managed to contribute quite a lot of money as well,” Alain Fournier, Vice-President of Architecture and Project Manager at Panaq Design, said. “The community was really behind the project.”

Extensive consultations will be held with local residents in order to plan exhibitions, in advance of the KCC’s scheduled grand opening in the late summer or early fall of 2018.