Yukon Arts Centre

The Yukon Arts Centre is an arts centre and gallery located in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Opened in May 1992, the arts centre contains a 428-seat theatre, and a 390-square-metre-art gallery (4,200 sq ft) used to hosts arts performances and exhibitions. The arts centre permanent collection of visual art includes over 100 works from artists throughout northern Canada.

Yukon Arts Centre
Established29 May 1992 (1992-05-29)
Location300 College Drive
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Coordinates60.7500°N 135.09454°W / 60.7500; -135.09454
TypeArts centre and museum
Visitors85,011 (FY2018–2019)[1][note 1]
CEOCasey Prescott[2]
ChairpersonTina Woodland[2]
Websitewww.yukonartscentre.com

History

Prior to the completion of the Yukon Arts Centre, musical and theatre performances in Whitehorse were typically conducted in borrowed spaces and venues; including the local courthouse, and in the gymnasium of a local secondary school.[3] In 1980 the Arts Canada North Society was established to advocate to the federal, territorial and municipal governments for a arts centre in Whitehorse.[3]

After nearly a decade of lobbying, all three levels of government provided CA$9 million for the purposes of establishing a new arts venue.[3] Two locations were initially proposed for the arts centre, along the riverfront in downtown Whitehorse, or adjacent to Yukon College (later reorganized into Yukon University).[3] The site adjacent to the college was selected after the territorial government provided a guarantee it would cover the centre's maintenance and operations costs for the building if it was situated there.[3] In 1988, the territorial government passed the Arts Centre Act, which confirmed that the territorial government would own the facility the art centre operated out of, and it would pay for the building's maintenance.[3] The Yukon Arts Centre was formally opened into the public on 29 May 1992.[3]

The Old Fire Hall in downtown Whitehorse. The arts centre began to organize arts performances and exhibitions in the Old Fire Hall in 2007.

In 2007 the arts centre hosted arts performances at the Old Fire Hall in downtown Whitehorse.[4] Given the success the arts centre saw at the Old Fire Hall, in April 2008, the Yukon Arts Centre announced it formed a partnership with the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce to use the Old Fire Hall as a year-round venue to host exhibitions organized by the arts centre.[4]

Building

The Yukon Arts Centre is located southeast of Yukon University's main campus in Whitehorse. The facility houses a theatre for arts performances, and an art museum. Situated in the centre of the building, the theatre features 306 seats on its main level, 112 seats on its balcony, and 10 spaces for wheelchairs.[5] The stage itself is 14-metre-wide (47 ft) and has a depth of 11 metres (37 ft).[5] A loading dock at the back of the theatre stage provides immediate outdoor access from the stage.[5] In addition to the main theatre, other facilities used by arts performers include the green room, studio rehearsal theatre, and dressing rooms.[5] The building also contains an art museum with three galleries; encompassing 390 square metres (4,200 sq ft) of floor space.[6] Other facilities in the building includes a bar station, community gallery space, and offices.[5]

Operations

A number of arts exhibitions relating to music, the performing arts, and visual arts are organized and hosted at the Yukon Arts Centre; including several travelling exhibitions.[7] The arts centre also funds several other programs, including a artist-in-residence program at the arts centre, known as @YAC Residency.[8]

Permanent collection

In addition to exhibiting visual works from travelling exhibitions, the art centre also has a permanent collection that includes over 100 works from artists in northern Canada.[9] The permanent collection was started by the arts centre in 1995.[9] Approximately 80 per cent of the arts centre's collection is held in a climate-controlled storage facility, although the entire collection has been made available for viewing online since December 2016.[10] Artists whose works are featured in the arts centre's permanent collection include Jeneen Frei Njootli.[11]

See also

Notes
  1. During the fiscal year of 2018–2019, a total of 85,011 people visited the Yukon Arts Centre. The Yukon Arts Centre saw 51,918 visitors visit its art gallery, and 47,713 visitors attend a theatre performance that year.[1]

References
  1. "2019/20 Annual Report" (PDF). yukonartscentre.com. Yukon Arts Centre. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. "Our Story". yukonartscentre.com. Yukon Arts Centre. 24 September 2020.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. Joannou, Ashley (17 May 2017). "The Yukon Arts Centre turns 25". Yukon News. Black Press Media. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  4. Niman, Sarah (7 April 2008). "Old Fire Hall gets new life". Whitehorse Star Limited. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. "Theatre Technical Specifications" (PDF). yukonartscentre.com. Yukon Arts Centre. 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  6. "Gallery Floor Plan" (PDF). yukonartscentre.com. Yukon Arts Centre. 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  7. "Exhibitions & Events". yukonartscentre.com. Yukon Arts Centre. 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  8. "@YAC Residency". yukonartscentre.com. Yukon Arts Centre.
  9. "The Permanent Collection". yukonartscentre.com. Yukon Arts Centre. 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  10. "Yukon art brought to light in new online permanent collection". Yukon News. Black Press Media. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  11. Hong, Jackie (13 March 2020). "Originally meant for AWGs, Emerging North art exhibit now a "last little celebration"". Yukon News. Black Press Media.
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