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North Slave Region
This centrally located region encompasses both boreal and tundra terrain, stretching between the Territory’s’ two biggest lakes. This is home to the Tłı̨chǫ, Akaitcho and Yellowknives Dene, along with a diverse group of residents from across the country and the globe, that together weave a rich cultural tapestry in the territory’s capital city.
This land is a bountiful resource for local harvesters and artists who use raw materials from the land. Traditional arts and fine crafts preserve the region’s unique style and pass traditional knowledge onto future generations. Clothing and accessories are made from locally tanned moose or caribou hides and adorned with intricate designs of beadwork or quillwork. The centuries-old tradition of drum making is a vital part of this area’s history and is being preserved through workshops and documentary films.
The capital city of Yellowknife is an eclectic, multi-cultural mix of artists and art forms. Storytellers, authors and musicians preserve oral history from the region in literary and performance arts. Contemporary artists draw inspiration from the land to create inspiring works of art. Filmmakers and photographers capture and share the spirit of living in the NWT with the world. Yellowknife’s vibrant arts scene continues to grow in diversity and frequency, with arts events happening weekly, if not nightly.
Use our online tool to learn Where to Buy NWT Art in the North Slave Region.
Or download printable, translated documents (PDFs):
Where to Buy NWT Art in Yellowknife: English, French (français), German (Deutsch), Japanese (日本語)
Events
Yellowknife
November
Date: November 4th, 2019 to December 16th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: YK Guild of Arts and Crafts
Learn the ABC’s of Hand Building: Pinch, Coil and Slab. Improve your techniques and exercise your creativity through a series of step-wise projects.
Mondays
November 4 to December 16 (6 weeks)
(no class November 11)
7:00 to 9:30 pm
Instructor: Jenny Tucker
$180 + $35 clay
Date: November 5th, 2019 to December 10th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: YK Guild of Arts and Crafts
Learn the basics of wheel thrown pottery; wedging, centering, throwing simple shapes, trimming, firing and glazing.
Tuesdays
November 5 to December 10 (6 weeks)
7:00 to 9:30 pm
Instructor: Garry Singer
$180 + $35 clay
Date: November 6th, 2019 to November 10th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: TBD
The 2019 festival will take place from November 6-10th, 2019. Films and events will occur at both the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, Capitol Theatre, Western Arctic Moving Pictures office and the Champagne Room. For more information visit: www.ykfilmfest.com/
Date: November 6th, 2019 to December 11th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: YK Guild of Arts and Crafts
This class will teach you how to center larger amounts of clay, refine skills learned in Level 1 wheel class, how to make basic shapes, and will also introduce students to more advanced skills such as adding handles and lids. Level 1 is a prerequisite.
Wednesdays
November 6 to December 11 (6 weeks)
7:00 to 9:30 pm
Instructors: Wendy Stephenson and Ann Peters
$180 + $35 clay
Date: November 12th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northstar Building
This 1-day workshop will equip artists to understand the implications and opportunities of artificial intelligence and also imagine the appropriate artistic and political responses to a world that will be significantly altered by the introduction of these technologies.
We need artists not only using these tools, but informing the conversation about how these tools will be deployed, and to whose benefit.
Structure:
Hands-on experience with AI in a non-technical way
Notes from the field on how it is being deployed
Considerations for NWT creators and...
Date: November 15th, 2019 to November 17th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Centre Square Mall
Far North Photo Festival is excited to showcase the photos, stories and talent from Northern Canada. The exhibit will be held at a pop-up gallery in the Centre Square Mall in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories from November 15th to November 17th, 2019. Click here for more details.
Date: November 15th, 2019 to November 16th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: YK Guild of Arts and Crafts
Learn simple welt felt techniques on Friday night and then spend the next day transforming the felt made in class through embroidery, beadwork and other embellishments into feature panels for your own special occasion cards. Each participant will make a minimum of 4 embellished cards.
Friday evening AND Saturday
Nov 15 and 16
Friday night – 7-9pm, Saturday 10am-2pm
Cost: $70 plus $15 in materials paid to instructor
Instructor: Pat Moore
Level: Beginner
Date: November 15th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Watch the 2019 VIMFF World Tour 's top films on the big screen while enjoying a cold beer or smooth wine in the comfort of our cushy red seats. Each day of the festival features 90 minutes of film screening everything from environmental documentaries, extreme mountain sports, adventure, canoeing and kayaking, culture and more.
Local adventure outfitters will offer interactive activities in the lobby before and after the show.
The Festival provides communities around the world with a selection of award-winning and critically acclaimed selection of films; featuring adventure,...
Date: November 16th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Grand Prize Winner of 2017 OSM Manulife Competition
Benjamin was accepted at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal in 2010 where he spent 6 years under the guidance of Marie-Andrée Benny. After completing his Baccalaureate degree, he pursued his studies at the Yale School of Music with internationally renowned flutist and pedagogue, Ransom Wilson, recently obtaining a Master of Music degree. Additionally, Benjamin has taken master classes with flutists such as Mathieu Dufour, Emmanuel Pahud, Philippe Bernold, Jeanne Baxtresser, and Robert Langevin.
In addition to...
Date: November 16th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Yellowknife Elks Lodge
It's that time of year again! Time to get heat up the dance floor before you freeze off your tail feather! Come join us November 16th at Elks Lodge for the 2019 AGM & Fall Freeze-up!
6:00pm for our Annual General Meeting
7:30pm for The Sweeties followed by Soda Pony!
$5 for a Society Membership
$30 for Fall Freeze-up & Membership
More info and AGM documents available at www.folkontherocks.com
Date: November 16th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Have you ever been to a movie musical and had the uncontrollable urge to burst into song?
Now's your chance! So get your friends and family together to watch a classic and come sing your heart out.
Your emcee will lead you through vocal warmups and get you ready for the show.
The Lion King
You can almost hear The Circle of Life just looking at the event photo. When it’s cold and dark outside, we all could use something to warm our hearts. What better way than to relive our youth by belting out the lyrics to our favourite Disney songs?
For kids of...
Date: November 21st, 2019 to November 24th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Scrooge is coming to the Yellowknife stage! A musical retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel A Christmas Carol, in which the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the course of a Christmas Eve night, after being visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.
Suitable for all ages. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Featuring the talents of 32 performers including Eli Purchase, Iona Strachan, Ashley Deavu, Phoenix Smith, Melanie Heppelle, Ray Bethke, Wessam Bou-Saleh,...
Date: November 23rd, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Sir John Franklin High School
Guaranteed to be the largest craft sale of the season…
Tables almost sold out for the SJF Christmas Craft Sale!
Call: 669-0773
Date: November 23rd, 2019 to November 24th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Chateau Nova Hotel
Join us for the ‘Polar Blitz Art Show and Sale’ at the Chateau Nova Hotel, (4571 48 St, Yellowknife, NT X1A 0E2). The show will feature Eleven of your favourite local artists. The artists will be showcasing a selection of their great art. A great event to start or finish your Christmas shopping. The ‘Polar Blitz’ is for anyone, so be sure to invite your friends and family.
Saturday, November 23rd, (10am-5pm).
Sunday, November 24th, (11-4pm).
Date: November 23rd, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern United Place
NWT Arts is helping artists in our northern communities access new markets at select Yellowknife craft fairs this holiday season. Be sure to stop by the Christmas Bazaar to find gifts for everyone on your shopping list (and you too!).
Date: November 23rd, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Weledeh Catholic School
Weledeh is hosting a Craft Sale in our Gym November 23, 2019! Support our Fine Arts program and buy some beautiful things.
Date: November 24th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Museum Café, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Please join us on Sunday, November 24th, for the pre-Christmas edition of our season of free, mainly classical, concerts performed by COSY members and students of COSY members on the last Sunday of each month, October to June, except for December, at the Museum Café from 3-4pm.
Date: November 25th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Yellowknife Public Library
Come and join us to talk about this past years successes and next years plans!
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Date: November 30th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: St Pats High School Rock Foyer
This years Guild Sale runs 10-2 on Saturday. Preview is Friday Night from 7-9 where you can buy a pottery mug filled with hot chocolate and bid on silent auction items that you can take home that night! Held in conjunction with the Annual Yellowknife Quilters Guild sale.
Date: November 30th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: St Pats High School Rock Foyer
This years Guild Sale runs 10-2 on Saturday. Preview is Friday Night from 7-9 where you can buy a pottery mug filled with hot chocolate and bid on silent auction items that you can take home that night! Held in conjunction with the Annual Yellowknife Quilters Guild sale.
Date: November 30th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Yellowknife United Church
Christmas bake sale baked goods, antipasto and pepper jelly. There is no admission for the sale. If you wish to take some time to relax, please join us for sandwiches, goodies, and a beverage for $6.00 for adults and $2.00 for children under five.
Date: November 30th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: YK Guild of Arts and Crafts
Learn how to make a beautiful hand-felted scarf out of soft merino wool and silk. There will be a brief demo to get you started, then with guidance, you will create your own one-of-a-kind scarf to take home with you. Learn how to felt wool and other fibres onto a silk base.
Saturday
November 30 2019
10am-4pm
$90 plus $40 in materials payable to instructor
Instructor: Pat Moore
Level: Beginner
December
Date: December 1st, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Holy Trinity Anglican Church
The Yellowknife Youth Choir invites to you to celebrate the Christmas season at their annual 40 Below Christmas Show held on Sunday December 1 at 7 PM at Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Tickets are $10 each and are available at the door. The concert will feature selections by the choir, selected soloists and an audience sing-a-long. Please join us!
Date: December 3rd, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Centre Square Mall
Mark your calendars folks! The annual Yellowknife Farmers Market Christmas Market is happening on December 3rd from 5-7 pm at the Center Square Mall.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor at our Christmas Market check out our website for the application:
Date: December 4th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: YK Guild of Arts and Crafts
Join us for an evening slide show and artists talk about the history of rug hooking in Canada and some recent Canadian projects. Learn about some of your local hookers! Try your hand at rug hooking. If you are an experienced hooker, register for an 8inch mat exchange. Refreshments will be available.
Date: December 7th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Described as possessing an “impressive” (Brooklyn Discovery) “sonorous,” (Meet Me at the Opera) and “stentorian bass voice” (National Herald), Kofi Hayford, is swiftly building his reputation as an accomplished young bass. Born to a Ghanaian-American family in New York, Kofi developed a love for classical singing in high school. He brings an exciting and stunning sound to stages and ensembles worldwide, among them the United Nations Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Loft Opera, Apotheosis Opera, Chelsea Opera, Central Florida Lyric Opera, Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Regina...
Date: December 7th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Range Lake North School
The Annual Range Lake North School Craft Sale will take place on Saturday December 7th from 10 am – 3 pm
To book a table please contact the school by email rln@yk1.nt.ca or phone (867) 920 7567.
Date: December 7th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern United Place
NWT Arts is helping artists in our northern communities access new markets at select Yellowknife craft fairs this holiday season. Be sure to stop by the Christmas Bazaar to find gifts for everyone on your shopping list (and you too!).
Open 10-3pm.
Date: December 14th, 2019 to December 15th, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Ecole St Joseph School
The biggest sale of the season! Over 45 tables to choose from. 2-day weekend event
Date: December 21st, 2019
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Explorer Hotel
Dene Nahjo is hosting our 3rd Annual Winter Market on December 21st, 2019 from 12-5pm at the Explorer Hotel banquet room.
We have an exciting line up of talented Indigenous artists who will be selling their art.
Come out to have some appetizers, meet the artists, snap a photo at the photo booth, listen to Young Dene’s set, and buy some beautiful art!
This is a free event, open to everyone and the venue is wheelchair accessible.
Mahsi cho!
January
Date: January 25th, 2020
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Children's Festival of Silliness is a celebration of all things kids.
Move aside grownups, this show is for kids! With two fantastic shows and fun activities in between, NACC becomes a place where a kid can be a kid. In between both shows, (2-4pm), kids can take part in all activities: a big bouncy castle, face painting, clowns, games and fun snacks and more!
