Nunavut opens its first media arts centre
- EFN Staff | December 02, 2015
The Nunavut Media Arts Centre (NMAC) officially opened December 2, 2015 in Iqaluit.
The Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) is proud to announce that after many years and much hard work, the facility has been designed, built and equipped. It is the first full scale, state of the art digital facility for audio/video recording, performance and post production in Nunavut available to local and territorial freelancers, performers, artists and production companies working in Nunavut. The facility includes a studio suitable for live programming and has the capacity for live studio audiences. NMAC also houses the Inuit Film and Video Archives (IFVA), established to preserve and store the priceless collection of historic film and video shot by Inuit since the 1970s.
NMAC is a 1.5 story, fully accessible building located at 1356 Federal Road on Inuit owned land leased from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. The total targeted cost for the building, equipment and associated items was $8.6 million. Through partnerships, government and private sector funding, and corporate and individual donations, a total of $7.3 million was raised. IBC will continue to seek the remaining $1.3 million, which is required for additional equipment, training and office furniture.
Throughout the process of building NMAC many new partnerships were formed which IBC will maintain. IBC will continue to seek opportunities for more collaboration as a new era of Inuit language media production begins.
An open house was held on Wednesday, December 2nd from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. The “Donor Wall” was unveiled and there were tours of the facility. On Wednesday evening, a community feast will be held at Inuksuk High School beginning at 6:00 p.m. At 8:00 p.m., young musicians from all 3 regions of Nunavut will present a collaborative performance. Everyone is invited to all activities to join in the celebration.
“We are very proud of the Nunavut Media Arts Centre – a foundational element of our cultural infrastructure, a made in Nunavut design, a landmark for Iqaluit, a showcase for Nunavut and a significant milestone in our cultural history”, said Bernadette Dean, Vice-President of IBC. “We are also extremely happy to be able to host a celebration, made possible by supporters such as QIA, QC, NTI, NCC Properties, NCC Development, Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Royal Bank of Canada, Mr. Charles S. Coffey, Atuqtuarvik Corporation, Livingstone Architect, Government of Nunavut – Culture and Heritage, Baffin Canners, I Like Cake, National Arts Centre - Music Alive Program: Nunavut, and First Air.”