From Nuuk to Nunavut: Spotlight on Katuaq Cultural Centre

Nuuk’s cultural institutions demonstrate the impact of heritage centers in Arctic communities, offering valuable lessons for Iqaluit’s proposed Nunavut Inuit Heritage Centre

News Circumpolar Connectivity Cultural Institutions Community Engagement and Support Cultural Education and Outreach

From Nuuk to Nunavut: Celebrating Arctic Cultural Institutions explores how Greenland’s cultural spaces offer insights for Iqaluit’s proposed Nunavut Inuit Heritage Centre. This article highlights the vital role of such institutions in preserving and promoting circumpolar Inuit culture across the Arctic.

Interior of Katuaq cultural centre showing a spacious lobby with curved wooden walls, a high ceiling with spotlights, and a spiral staircase.
Katuaq, Greenland's cultural centre in Nuuk, includes galleries, a theatre and food spaces. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

Nuuk’s Cultural Landscape:
Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, boasts several cultural institutions that showcase Inuit heritage:

  • Katuaq Cultural Centre: A 51,000 square-foot facility offering galleries, country food spaces, and a multipurpose theatre.
  • Greenland National Museum and Archives: Displays artifacts, traditional clothing, and the famous Qilakitsoq mummies.
  • Nuuk Lokalmuseum: Presents the city’s historical timeline.
  • Nuuk Art Museum: Features works by Greenlandic artists past and present.

Nunavut’s Vision:

Iqaluit’s proposed Nunavut Inuit Heritage Centre aims to:

  • House 140,000 repatriated Inuit artifacts
  • Provide spaces for cultural activities, performances, and dining
  • Estimated cost: Over $100 million
  • Planned location: Near Iqaluit’s plateau areas or the Arctic Winter Games Arena

 

Impact and Collaboration:
Ivaaq Kriegel, Katuaq’s CEO, emphasizes the importance of cultural spaces in strengthening art and culture. Local artists stress their role in cultural preservation and artistic support. Kriegel sees potential for collaboration between Nunavut and Greenland in developing and operating such cultural institutions.

“We should work together, with Nunavut and Greenland, and think about how we can give some knowledge about how we drive a cultural house.”  
Ivaaq Kriegel