WAG Inuit Art Centre launches Visible Vault Campaign

On Giving Tuesday, community members invited to add their support in celebration of Inuit art

Winnipeg, Manitoba, December 3, 2019: The WAG Inuit Art Centre will open in fall 2020, providing a new cultural landmark where you will experience art in engaging and accessible ways. The campaign is only $8.5M away from meeting its $65 million goal. In these critical final stages of building, community members are invited to add their voice by donating to the Visible Vault Campaign.

When you enter the WAG Inuit Art Centre, you will be met by a three-storey glass vault showcasing thousands of carvings from the world’s largest public collection of Inuit art. The Visible Vault is made up of 492 shelves, which are available for $2020 each, and can be purchased as an individual, group, or organization for loved ones or to mark a special occasion.

Quick Facts:
● Visible Vault shelves are a unique opportunity to join the growing community of supporters who believe in the power of art and culture to connect people, build bridges of understanding, and create a better future for all, in the spirit of reconciliation.
● Contributors’ names will be displayed on digital signage and be issued a tax receipt for the full gift amount.
● The WAG holds in trust more than 13,000 Inuit artworks – each with its own story to tell. Sharing these stories with the world is at the core of the WAG Inuit Art Centre.
● The Visible Vault is made of glass, so you can see right inside it, even from the street.
● A Conservation Studio at the heart of the working vault will be exposed to the public. Watching conservators, curators, researchers, and other staff work with the collection will further enrich the experience.
● Opening in 2020, the WAG Inuit Art Centre is the first art museum of its kind dedicated to the art and culture of Inuit people from Canada and beyond.
● The Centre will elevate the art from object to experience, complementing and augmenting the cutting-edge art education that the WAG delivers today.
● To contribute to the Visible Vault Campaign, please visit inuit.wag.ca/addyourvoice or contact inuitartcentre@wag.ca or 204.789.1298.
● By purchasing a shelf on GivingTuesday, contributors take part in a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on December 3, 2019 and every day.

Quotes:

“We are grateful for government, corporate, and community stakeholders’ outstanding support of the WAG Inuit Art Centre. But we still need your help! As we gear up for the 2020 opening, the Visible Vault Campaign is a new way to get involved and realize this transformational project for all to enjoy.”
—Dr. Stephen Borys, Director & CEO, Winnipeg Art Gallery

“The Visible Vault will share stories and art across cultures and generations. Art is a voice that invites a response. By supporting this new fundraising initiative, contributors’ will see their names, and their donations at work every time they visit the WAG Inuit Art Centre.”
—Lila Goodspeed Everett and Pam Simmons, Co-Chairs, Community Campaign, WAG Inuit Art Centre

Associated Links
Winnipeg Art Gallery
WAG Inuit Art Centre

Stay Connected
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram #atwag #inuitartcentre #ArtIsAVoice #givingtuesday

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For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Amy Rebecca Harrison
Engagement Supervisor
Winnipeg Art Gallery
204.789.1347
aharrison@wag.ca

Amber O’Reilly
Engagement Officer
Winnipeg Art Gallery
204.789.1295
PublicRelations@wag.ca

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is a cultural advocate using art to connect, inspire, and inform. Playing a dynamic role in the community, we are a place for learning, dialogue, and enjoyment through art. The WAG holds in trust the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art on earth. To celebrate the art and to honour the Inuit, the WAG is building the Inuit Art Centre, the first of its kind in the world. Opening in 2020, the Centre will bridge Canada’s North and South through exhibitions, research, education, and art making. To learn more visit wag.ca

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