Sharing these stories with the world is at the core of Qaumajuq (formerly the Inuit art centre), a home for Inuit art in Winnipeg that bridges Canada’s North and South. Qaumajuq is a new building and a new way of presenting Inuit art, and has taken shape with the guidance of the WAG Indigenous Advisory Circle.
Qaumajuq is the first of its kind in the world – a unique sharing space where Inuit voices are front and centre in sharing their creativity. Artists, Inuit, various partners and community leaders have collaborated to envision and create a vibrant gathering place where all are welcome and where everyone’s stories are told and heard in a true spirit of reconciliation. This is an engaging, accessible space to experience art and artists in new ways, where art and technology offer direct connections to the land, people, and culture of the North.
We look forward to hearing your stories when Qaumajuq opens in February 2021. Learn about the building’s historic naming.
Inspired by the beautiful Northern landscapes, the architecture of Qaumajuq will be a legacy to inspire and engage generations to come.
40,000-square feet on four levels with bridges connecting to the WAG on each level
This world-class cultural landmark is designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture, one of North America’s leading firms. Selected through an international architectural competition, Maltzan’s design is shaped by his experiences meeting people in the North. His design is inspired by the landscapes, light, and peoples of the North, and reflects the forms and spirits of Inuit art.
Maltzan is working with associate architect, Manitoba’s Cibinel Architecture Ltd.
Re-live the building journey
You are invited to join the visionary group of supporters whose commitment to the power of art and culture to connect people is building Qaumajuq.
Contribute by purchasing a shelf in the Visible Vault! Purchase for $2,020, only 492 spots available, be recognized on signage as an individual, group, or organization.
Inuit have guided the creation of Qaumajuq and lead the development of exhibitions and programming that will connect you with others.
The WAG partners with Inuit birthright organizations, governments, associations, arts organizations and individuals across Inuit Nunangat and in urban and Southern communities to ensure Qaumajuq is a place where all Inuit feel welcome, engaged and inspired to share their culture with the world. Together, we are shaping a meaningful celebration of Inuit voices, art and stories.
Creating spaces for Inuit elders to share their stories with the broader community is critical to building bridges of understanding – between cultures, between North and South, and between generations. Inuit partners are developing programs that engage elders in ways that enrich the Qaumajuq experience for everyone.
In the lead-up to the opening of this new cultural landmark, it is essential to the WAG that we acknowledge the colonial history of our permanent collection.
We recognize that art galleries have historically been part of the colonial structure of perpetuating racism and oppression, and we are committed to dismantling these systems.
See the FAQs here to learn how.
The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) has long been present in Winnipeg and was instrumental to the early development of the global Inuit art market. In the 1950s, carvings were purchased at fur trading posts in Inukjuak, Puvirnituq, Kinngait, and several other Inuit communities. Since the 1950s, Inuit have owned and operated artist co-operatives. Carving stone was locally quarried and distinctive to each community. The carvings came South by boat in the late summer or fall and were sold at the Handicrafts Guilds in Montreal (est. 1949) and Winnipeg (est. 1952), and in HBC stores across the country. Large private collections were formed in Winnipeg because of access to the bulk of the carvings that came to the HBC headquarters in the city. For more information on HBC’s history of collecting Inuit art, click here.
These private collections were formed, most notably, by Jerry Twomey, George Swinton, Bessie Bulman (head of the Guild), her sister Eileen Abbott, and HBC employees. Today, the WAG collection of Inuit art includes donations from these private collections. Our curators also maintain strong relationships with artists by visiting their homes, workspaces, and communities, and spending time with them on the land. We purchase works directly from the artists in their communities, from their cooperatives, or through the global art market. In addition, we collaborate with other museums, galleries, and arctic co-ops to exhibit artworks on loan.
Today, more than 2,000 Inuit artists from many of the communities of Inuit Nunangat are represented in our permanent collection, totalling close to 12,000 pieces. While several thousand of the artworks are sculptural, we recognize and celebrate the fact that Inuit art extends to an evolving array of media including prints, textiles, clothing, and digital media, all present in our collection. Inuit art encompasses any work created by an Inuk. While it is often studied and regarded in an ethnically-oriented context, Inuit art is very much part of the cannon of art history and the future of contemporary art.
The WAG recognizes that the history of our Inuit art collection is tied to the ongoing history of colonialism in North America. Fur trading posts disrupted the traditional and sustainable nomadic lifestyle of Inuit communities, contributing to the permanent settlement of many Inuit. We hope to shed light on this history, and bring Inuit voices to the forefront through more storytelling.
As a non-profit art museum, we are taking part in national conversations around reconciliation, and have developed an artwork provenance policy to further collaborate with Indigenous artists and their families. If an artwork is found to be acquired in an unethical manner by the WAG or by the individual or institution who collected the work prior to it entering the Gallery’s collection, we would move forward with the necessary steps towards repatriation. Public access to provenance information on all artworks in our collection is available. More information can be found here.
We care for the artworks so that their stories and the stories of the artists can continue to be shared for generations to come. We recognize that each artwork has a Spirit. An Indigenous Elder has been asked to care for the artwork the WAG holds. Since Treaty 1 territory is not the original homeland of Inuit art, it is important that the Spirit of the art is honoured and cared for. Ceremony and prayer take place regularly in all of our vaults for all of the art.
Our Guide to the Collections provides an overview of the WAG’s defining collection areas through 400 artwork highlights. Copies are available at ShopWAG.
Qaumajuq builds on the WAG’s long history of collecting and exhibiting Inuit art and working with the leadership of Inuit partners and stakeholders. By amplifying the voices of the artists and promoting cultural understanding, we aim to support reconciliation, bringing us all closer together. Qaumajuq will be a cornerstone for building capacity among emerging Inuit arts and heritage professionals, a place for mentorship, learning, and intercultural dialogue.
Qaumajuq is not only a building, it is a cultural venue for Inuit in Canada, and a beacon of Inuit agency. Inuit partners have been integral to Qaumajuq’s conception, and are leading the development of design, exhibitions, and educational programming. We strive to provide a platform for Inuit voices and ensure all Inuit are welcomed.
Qaumajuq will bring the North to the South to deepen the world’s understanding of Canada. The North covers over one third of Canada’s landmass, yet fewer than two per cent of Canadians will ever set foot in the North. Qaumajuq will be a place to build and understand our relationships.
Inuit stakeholders look forward to having a ‘capital’ in Canada in which their art, histories, and stories can be shared with each other and with the world. We are working closely with Northern partners, and our relationship with the Government of Nunavut is fundamental.
Due to space and resources, in 2015 the Government of Nunavut (GN) entrusted the WAG with its Fine Arts Collection, which includes over 7,385 objects. This long-term loan involves care, storage, exhibition, mentorship, and development of public educational programming. Qaumajuq will provide a temporary new home for the GN collection.
Over the past five years, we have collaborated with the GN to host artist and Elder residencies and mentorship training, tour exhibitions in northern communities, digitize the collection, and open WAG@The Forks, a shop providing increased market access to Inuit artists.
We are honoured to continue to support the GN’s efforts in creating increased awareness and exposure to the rich collection until its return to Nunavut. We are dedicated to caring for the Spirit of the art with Ceremony, while Treaty 1 is its home. We are committed to supporting the development of a cultural heritage centre in Inuit Nunangat by offering resources and expertise, and creating space for a sister relationship between these institutions and Qaumajuq.
Opening in the coming months, Qaumajuq will bridge Canada’s North and South through exhibitions, research, education, and art making with Inuit voices at the forefront. We will continue to honour the legacies of Inuit artists through exhibitions curated by Inuit, programs, and events at the WAG via Qaumajuq.
The WAG’s Indigenous Advisory Circle is at the heart of all of our decolonization and Indigenization work. The Circle provides leadership and counsel in the development and planning of related WAG exhibitions, education, community outreach, partnerships, and programming
The Circle is made up of representatives from the four regions of Inuit Nunangat: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut. Urban Inuit and circumpolar Inuit communities such as Alaska and Greenland are also represented, along with First Nations and Metis members from Manitoba and across the country.
Local community consultations have been essential in developing our mandate and purpose for Qaumajuq. Indigenous leaders in Winnipeg have been very generous with their time and sharing their knowledge. Leadership and Elders from all of the communities located on Treaty 1 have been engaged with our Indigenization journey. The Dakota Nation, who’s unceded land the Gallery sits on, has also been involved in conversations. The Metis Nation and the local Inuit community have been essential to Qaumajuq planning, from the project’s inception to the upcoming opening celebrations.
We acknowledge that without the input from the Anishinaabe, Ininawak, Dakota, Metis Nations, and the Manitoba Inuit community, the dream of Qaumajuq would not be a reality.
Capital Campaign Executive
Arthur Mauro, Honorary Chair • Barry Rempel, Chair • Doneta A. Brotchie • Dr. Ernest Cholakis, Chair, WAG Board of Directors • Emeric J. Duha • Lila Goodspeed Everett • Nick Logan • John C. MacAulay • Lewis Rosenberg • Kim Ulmer • Richard L. Yaffe, Q.C.
Stories
Thursday, Nov 26 '20
A conversation with Jocelyn Piirainen on Carved in Stone: Sanannguaqtit ᓴᓇᓐᖑᐊᖅᑎᑦ
by Laura Friesen Carved in Stone: Sanannguaqtit ᓴᓇᓐᖑᐊᖅᑎᑦ, a new film profiling several Inuit artists whose works are part of the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s collection,…
Tuesday, Nov 24 '20
Free Membership for Youth and Indigenous Peoples in Light of Qaumajuq’s Opening
Let there be light: Qaumajuq, Inuktitut for “it is bright; it is lit” illuminates the rich terrain of creativity in Canada’s North. With its opening…
Wednesday, Oct 28 '20
Forwarding Reconciliation and Promoting Indigenous Languages
Over the summer, a circle of language keepers from Indigenous nations across Inuit Nunangat (the homeland of Inuit in Canada) and Treaty 1 Territory in…
Thursday, Oct 1 '20
Keep up with Inuit Art Centre Interactive Content
In the lead-up to the opening of the Inuit Art Centre in a few short months, we are continuing to share content celebrating this new…
Thursday, Sep 3 '20
Caring for the Spirit of the art
Today was an important day at the WAG. With the leadership of Elders Clarence and Barbara Nepinak and their daughter Rebecca, Ceremony was held in…
Tuesday, Sep 1 '20
Sharing art with the world in a bigger, bolder way
Philanthropist Bob Williams will match up to $500,000 in donations to the Inuit Art Centre When Susan Thompson, Executive Consultant to the WAG Inuit Art…
Tuesday, Aug 25 '20
Canada Goose Project Atigi shared with all in the lead-up to Inuit Art Centre opening
Project Atigi, Canada Goose’s social entrepreneurship project in Canada’s North, has brought Inuit craftmanship to the world stage. It expanded Canada Goose’s northern roots and…
Monday, Jun 29 '20
Visible Vault Digital Stories Call for Aspiring Inuit Filmmakers and Videographers
Calling all Inuit filmmakers, videographers, and photographers! The WAG Inuit Art Centre is accepting topic submissions for 3-5 min. videos that: • Feature stories about…
Wednesday, Jun 3 '20
Art’s Learning Possibilities at the WAG and Online
Learning & Programs Coordinator Colleen Leduc is an Art Educator and Certified Art Therapist with a passion for connecting with people, whether in person or…
Saturday, May 9 '20
Kablusiak, Artist and Curator
Meet Kablusiak, a Sobey Art Award-shortlisted multidisciplinary Inuvialuk artist born in Somba K’e (Yellowknife). They bring perspectives from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region to the curatorial…
Monday, May 4 '20
It’s not generosity, it’s a requirement of life
Giving back comes naturally for Raymond and Charlene Curry. This inspiring couple provides loyal support to the WAG and contributes to the community in many…
Sunday, May 3 '20
My Daily Art
Winnipeg is a city of many nations and cultures. When it comes to architecture, this diversity is mirrored through a mix of regional, national, and…
Tuesday, Apr 14 '20
ICYMI: Inuit Art Education Through Technology
On every floor of the WAG, you can experience a wide range of Inuit art. Carvings, drawings, wall hangings, and multimedia projects created recently, and…
Thursday, Mar 19 '20
Tour the Inuit Art Centre with Heather Igloliorte
“There is going to be space here to look at Inuit art from the Inuvialuit region to the Nunatsiavut region, from Alaska straight through to…
Wednesday, Mar 18 '20
A message to Inuit Art Centre supporters
My heartfelt thoughts go out to each one of you, along with your families and friends. I hope you are doing well, and finding strength…
Saturday, Mar 14 '20
Art is a Voice
Art is a voice. The WAG Inuit Art Centre will invite the world inside to listen–and respond. This video shows how art can inspire and…
Monday, Mar 9 '20
Construction Update
Thank you for creating Canada’s Inuit Art Centre! Welcoming spaces for you are being created right now. We expect construction of the building to be…
Monday, Mar 9 '20
Re-connecting Families Through Art
In January, the WAG became a sharing and training centre for Nunavut-based arts workers. Trainings and knowledge exchanges like this will soon become a regular…
Monday, Mar 9 '20
Asinnajaq’s Powerful Voice
Inuit Art Centre becoming real “The tangibility of the Inuit Art Centre is increasing as the months go by,” says Asinnajaq, an Inuit artist and…
Thursday, Feb 20 '20
10 Striking Projects That Will Shape Architecture in 2020
New York. Hong Kong. Paris. Winnipeg. From South America to northern Norway, a modest cancer care centre to spectacular museums, the noteworthy architecture slated for…
Thursday, Jan 9 '20
Working through the winter
“The finish line is in sight,” reports Rick Chopp, Inuit Art Centre Construction Project Manager. Rick is in charge of ensuring the stunning Inuit Art…
Thursday, Jan 9 '20
If you can have one Inuk, why not have four?
Heather Igloliorte, lead curator for INUA, recalls when she was invited by the Winnipeg Art Gallery to be a curator for the Inuit Art Centre’s…
Thursday, Dec 5 '19
See the Stories, Add Your Support
Join the growing community, including Sam Lyons, who are championing Inuit art. Add your support by purchasing a shelf in the WAG Inuit Art Centre’s…
Tuesday, Nov 26 '19
What Do Inuit Artists Think of the WAG Inuit Art Centre?
Inuit artists Alina Tungilik, Goota Ashoona, Helen Kaloon and Melissa Attagutsiak, were in Winnipeg earlier this month to take part in the Crafted at the…
Monday, Nov 25 '19
Inuit Art Centre Construction Update
Construction continues at an energetic pace to insulate and close in the walls and roof of the WAG Inuit Art Centre before the arrival of…
Monday, Nov 25 '19
Empowering All Inuit
“I am one of the four curators representing all the different regions from across the Arctic,” Krista Ulujuk Zawadski says. “I see this opportunity, as…
Monday, Nov 25 '19
Conversation Through Architecture
Please read this Winnipeg Free Press story, if you haven’t already. The WAG Inuit Art Centre architect Michael Maltzan describes how the art, curatorial, second-floor…
Thursday, Oct 24 '19
WAG Inuit Art Centre Construction Tour
In the fall of 2019 we toured the WAG Inuit Art Centre with architect, Michael Maltzan, check out the behind the scenes footage! Video by…
Friday, Oct 18 '19
ICYMI: A Conversation with Dr. Heather Igloliorte
Working with Asinnajaq, Kablusiak, and Krista Ulujuk Zawadski, Dr. Heather Igloliorte leads the guest curatorial team developing the WAG Inuit Art Centre’s inaugural exhibitions. She was…
Tuesday, Oct 8 '19
Construction Time-lapse Video
Watch this time-lapse video of the WAG Inuit Art Centre – you’ll see the construction progress so far. The Centre is set to open in…
Tuesday, Oct 8 '19
Doors Set to Open in One Year
“Everything has to be perfect,” Rick Chopp, the Inuit Art Centre project manager is describing the upcoming glass installation for the visible vault. The vault…
Tuesday, Oct 8 '19
The North IS the future of Canada…
“The North IS the future of Canada in countless ways” is the key takeaway from the Report of the Special Senate Committee on the Arctic,…
Tuesday, Oct 8 '19
Face to Face with Inuit Art
“Cool!” This is the response of a student on an Inuit art tour when they see the Kakivak, a fishing spear made from Caribou antler…
Thursday, Aug 8 '19
Jocelyn Piirainen and Small Worlds: Inuit Miniature Carving
It’s been just a few short months since Jocelyn Piirainen moved to Winnipeg to take on the new role of Assistant Curator of Inuit Art…
Thursday, Aug 8 '19
Construction on track
The “bones” of the new WAG Inuit Art Centre are being put in place right now. Installation of close to 600 tons of structural steel…
Thursday, Aug 8 '19
The North West Company generous gift
In an announcement made June 12, 2019, The North West Company and its leadership confirmed their support of the WAG Inuit Art Centre with a…
Tuesday, Jun 18 '19
ICYMI: Inuit Futures In Arts Leadership
THE PILIMMAKSARNIQ/PIJARIUQSARNIQ PROJECT The WAG is very excited to have partnered in Inuit Futures in Arts Leadership: The Pilimmaksarniq/Pijariuqsarniq Project Social Sciences and Humanities Research…
Thursday, Jun 13 '19
WAG Announces a Major Gift to the Inuit Art Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 12, 2019: The Winnipeg Art Gallery is pleased to announce a generous gift in support of the Inuit Art Centre from The North West…
Thursday, Apr 18 '19
ICYMI: Nunavut Collection
In addition to the WAG Inuit art collection, we are honoured to be entrusted with the Government of Nunavut’s Fine Art Collection on a long-term…
Tuesday, Mar 5 '19
Exciting Vision Emerging for Inaugural Show
In last fall’s edition of myWAG, Dr. Heather Igloliorte, leader of the Inuit Art Centre’s inaugural exhibition guest curatorial team, revealed that the exhibition will…
Tuesday, Mar 5 '19
Manitoba Film Premiere
Thursday, April 18, 7pm screening, followed by reception The WAG and the Gimli Film Festival are pleased to co-present the Manitoba premiere of the award-winning…
Tuesday, Mar 5 '19
Young Philanthropists Visit
Participants from The Winnipeg Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy program held a meeting at the WAG on January 15. Mayor Brian Bowman welcomed the Grade 11…
Tuesday, Mar 5 '19
‘Mind Exploding’ trip North Inspired Architect
Michael Maltzan’s feelings about architecture haven’t changed much since he first dreamed of becoming an architect at age 12. Now internationally renowned, Maltzan says, “What…
Tuesday, Mar 5 '19
Design presents challenges and opportunities for PCL Constructors
“Building the Inuit Art Centre means being a part of something that will impact the culture of Winnipeg and the whole country,” says Tom Schmalz,…
Wednesday, Jan 16 '19
ICYMI: Unlike Anything Else in the World
We are thrilled to have received a significant gift of $25,000 in support of the WAG Inuit Art Centre from Winnipeg couple Elizabeth (Liz) Marr…
Thursday, Dec 6 '18
Designed as an invitation to all
Your generous support is creating a place for people to gather together to learn, tell stories, celebrate art, and build bridges of understanding. Delivering engaging…
Thursday, Dec 6 '18
Connecting with the voices of art – a great time to visit the WAG!
Your support is helping the WAG introduce more people to the power of Inuit art, even before the Inuit Art Centre opens. We recently sent…
Thursday, Dec 6 '18
Inuit Art Centre designer creates warming huts for Winnipeg skaters
Each year, Winnipeg’s Warming Huts design competition receives entries from around the world for shelters that “push the envelope of design, craft and art.” To…
Thursday, Dec 6 '18
2020: a watershed year for Indigenous art
When the WAG Inuit Art Centre opens in 2020, it will increase Canadians’ understanding and appreciation of Inuit art, perspectives and history, and build bridges…
Wednesday, Nov 21 '18
Video: Art is a Voice
Art is a voice. The WAG Inuit Art Centre will invite the world inside to listen–and respond. This video shows how art can inspire and…
Thursday, Oct 25 '18
Connecting and learning in WAG Inuit Art Centre Education Suite
Education through the voices of art is a cornerstone of the WAG’s mission, and there is a new space dedicated to it in the WAG…
Thursday, Oct 25 '18
Desire to raise awareness of Inuit art leads to $1 million gift
On October 5, 2018, in Winnipeg, Louise Leatherdale announced a $1 million contribution to the WAG Inuit Art Centre on behalf of herself and her…
Thursday, Oct 25 '18
Talent, timing, and collaboration create a beautiful outdoor mural
As a young artist of Inuit heritage, Kailey Sheppard was surprised and moved by last spring’s WAG exhibition, INSURGENCE/RESURGENCE, and its representation of current Inuit…
Thursday, Aug 30 '18
Inuit Art Centre Construction update
The site of the WAG Inuit Art Centre was already prepared for construction when the official groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 25, 2018. The…
Thursday, Aug 30 '18
A Look Inside the Inuit Art Centre
With our supporters and partners, the WAG is establishing the Inuit Art Centre as a world-class art museum filled with transformative objects, images, and experiences…
Thursday, Aug 30 '18
Sisler Students Help Develop the Inuit Art Centre’s Digital Media Studio
A dynamic collaboration was born last year when the WAG’s Education Department attended a presentation by Sisler High School’s Interactive Digital Media program. The timing…
Friday, May 25 '18
WAG Celebrates Groundbreaking for Inuit Art Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 25, 2018: After years of planning, the Winnipeg Art Gallery was thrilled to break ground this morning for the Inuit Art Centre,…
Monday, Apr 16 '18
Rooftop Media Lab
Alongside the new WAG Inuit Art Centre, you’ll enjoy new art-making studios on the entire Penthouse floor of the existing WAG building. One of those…
Thursday, Feb 15 '18
WAG Announces All-Inuit Curatorial Team for Inuit Art Centre Inaugural Exhibits
Winnipeg, Manitoba, February 8, 2018: The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) is pleased to announce the all-Inuit, all-female team of guest curators to create the inaugural…
Tuesday, Dec 19 '17
Inuit Art Centre Receives $10 Million From Province of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, December 19, 2017: Today, Honourable Cathy Cox, Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, announced the government of Manitoba’s contribution of $10 million for…
Tuesday, May 16 '17
Indigenous Advisory Circle Announced
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is pleased to announce Dr. Julie Nagam and Dr. Heather Igloliorte as co-chairs of the newly formed Idigenous Advisory Circle. The…
Wednesday, Dec 21 '16
Inuit Heart
In a two part series, the Winnipeg Free Press explores the North and the WAG’s Inuit Art Centre. As the WAG’s ambitious Inuit Art Centre…
Wednesday, Nov 30 '16
Qingailisaq’s Coat
Qingailisaq’s Coat is a replica of the most unique garments created in the Canadian Arctic. The original coat was owned by Qingailisaq, a powerful Igloolik…
Friday, Sep 30 '16
Canadian Premiere of Our Land Showcases Rarely Seen Inuit Art
The WAG is honoured to present a powerful exhibition of treasures from the Government of Nunavut’s Fine Art Collections. Our Land: Contemporary Art from the…
Tuesday, Aug 2 '16
Government of Canada Contributes $15M to Inuit Art Centre
The Government of Canada announced $15 million in funding for construction for the Inuit Art Centre, through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. “The Government of…
Friday, May 6 '16
City of Winnipeg Gives $5M Boost to Inuit Art Centre
Winnipeg is one step closer to becoming an international leader in Indigenous arts and culture with a City of Winnipeg investment into the Winnipeg Art…
Saturday, Mar 26 '16
Inuit Art Vault Tour
Global Winnipeg takes you into the WAG’s Inuit art vault where 7,500 carvings are stored. Home to the largest public collection of Inuit art in…
Saturday, Feb 14 '15
Elisapee Ishulutaq’s Yesterday & Today
In her vibrant mural Yesterday and Today, Elisapee Ishulutaq captures the intimate details of everyday life in the community of Pangnirtung. Her use of multiple…
Philanthropist Bob Williams is matching all donations right now – up to $500,000!
