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
May
Date: May 19th, 2022 to May 20th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Chers amateurs de théâtre,
Les spectacles ont maintenant été reportés aux 19 et 20 Mai. Celles-ci vous seront communiquées dès que possible. Les billets émis demeurent valides et seront honorés pour ces futures représentations. Si vous ne souhaitez pas conserver vos billets, il est possible d’obtenir un remboursement en contactant la billetterie du NACC dès maintenant. Nous espérons pouvoir annoncer de nouvelles dates bientôt. Nous nous excusons de cette
situation hors de notre contrôle, des membres de l’équipe de production doivent s’isoler.
Merci de votre...
Date: May 25th, 2022 to May 28th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: The Quilted Raven
Instructor: Marilyn Moran
Dates: Wednesday May 25 6:30-9:30; Saturday May 28 10:00 - 5:00
Cost: $75 plus GST (PLUS pattern, fabric, supplies required)
If you have ever wanted to learn how to paper piece, this is the class for you! Learn how to precut the exact size pieces you need to make to these adorable placemats with our prep night on Wednesday. Then returning on Saturday you will make the placemats. Paper piecing and a small amount of applique will have your summertime table looking amazing! This is a pattern for all levels of quilters - from Beginners to Advanced...
Date: May 26th, 2022 to May 29th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: TBD
The 17th annual NorthWords Writers Festival is approaching fast, and the author line up and schedule are now available.
Date: May 26th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts
You are invited to attend the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts Annual General Meeting (AGM)
AGM will start at 7pm, held in person in the upstairs mixed media space of the Guild
113 Kam Lake Road
Only those members in good standing (membership fee paid) are able to vote.
Membership is available on Eventbrite
Date: May 27th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Elks Lodge #314
Quasar Quartet will unveil four shades of saxaphone with its wide embracing repertoire. The innovative Montreal quartet will be presenting ‘’From Bach to Zappa’’ in Yellowknife on May 27 at 8pm at the Yellowknife Elks Lodge.
Date: May 28th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Miraj has been a mentee for the NACC mentorship program in Yellowknife for the past four years. Together the electronic duo Harrison Roberts (DJ Flora) and Sami Blanco (Sunaïra) will perform their final show under the NACC mentorship residency. The performance will happen along side the release of there new album on the digital platform bandcamp. The duo will join forces to showcase years of making electronic music in Yellowknife and working with unique synthesizers and video mixers.
Miraj will perform “Venus enters Taurus” at NACC on May 28th. The show will be an immersive...
June
Date: June 4th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Yellowknife Elks Lodge #314
The Main Stage Showdown
June 4, 2022
Where: Elks Lodge
When: Doors at 6:30pm, Show at 7pm
Tickets: $15 in advance / $20 at the door
With the re-opening of Yellowknife, FOTR is keen to resurrect an event that premiered in 2019, the Main Stage Showdown.
The Main Stage Showdown is a talent show style event that is open to all performing arts. The event is open to anyone (maximum of 10 slots), and performers will compete in sets of 10 minutes or less for a chance at the ultimate prize!
The winner will take home a $500 cash prize, artist passes for...
Date: June 4th, 2022 to June 5th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Join the students of Bella Dance Academy as they bring their favourite books to life on the NACC stage. From Page to Stage will feature almost 250 students as they take the stage in front of a full audience for the first time in years!
Date: June 7th, 2022 to September 13th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Somba K'e Civic Plaza
The Yellowknife Farmers Market operates every Tuesday, June 7- September 13,
5:15 pm to 7:15 pm at Somba K'e Civic Plaza.
Date: June 10th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Yellowknife Elks Lodge #314
Gnarwhal with Temple Volant, Brenden MacIntosh & Friends, Elbows Crooked Toes Wilson, and Loren F'n McGinnis.
Date: June 11th, 2022 to June 12th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Western Arctic Moving Pictures
Western Arctic Moving Pictures (WAMP) Sound Design workshop will include the use of field recorders, synthesizers, and open-source sound libraries to support participants and their creation of their own audio documentary on a subject of interest.
Date: June 11-12, 2022
Time: 01:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: The WAMP Workshop-Space 4916 49th st. (Lower Level)
Price: $80.00 (WAMP members save 25%)
Date: June 11th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
A contemporary roots duo featuring sibling songwriters Leela Gilday and Jay Gilday. Sechile Sedare (pronounced ‘seh-chee-leh’ 'seh-dahr-eh') means ‘my younger brother, my older sister’ in the Dene language. This musical collaboration sees Jay and Leela co-write and co-create new repertoire together, harnessing their talents as deeply insightful and genuine storytellers. Their voices blend in perfect harmony, hitting notes of nostalgia, hope, humour and reflection. The songs, created during lockdown in 2021 and during a residency at the Banff Centre, share stories about their family...
July
Date: July 15th, 2022 to July 17th, 2022
Community: Yellowknife
Location: Folk On The Rocks Site
Folk On The Rocks (FOTR) Annual Music Festival has come a long way since founder Rod Russell and his band of folkie go-getters re-booted a small outdoor gig on the shores of Frame Lake, and transported it over to Long Lake in the summer in 1980.
FOTR is one of Canada’s top summertime music and cultural festivals, drawing performers from the NWT, Nunavut and all across Canada for the North’s biggest party under the midnight sun.
More than 35 hours of programming on six stages, including a children's area and a beer garden, promises fun and enjoyment for all ages. Along with...