After breaking ground in 2014, the Illusuak Cultural Centre in Nain, NL opened its doors to the public in November.
The Illusuak Cultural Centre houses five permanent exhibitions, representing each Nunatsiavut community, and contain clothing, tools, crafts and other artifacts. The 13,700 square-foot building also contains an auditorium for language classes, a café, a craft shop, a studio space, a 75 seat theatre, and office space that is currently leased to the Nunatsiavut Government and, as part of their $2 million contribution, Parks Canada.
In a statement made by Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe: "Illusuak will help bridge the generation gap between elders and youth, encouraging open dialogue, the sharing of traditional knowledge and the vision for the future. The stories that will be told in Illusuak will make Labrador Inuit proud. By understanding where we came from and how we survived as a people, Labrador Inuit will have a better appreciation of who we are as individuals and as a culture continuing to evolve in a modern world."
The $18 million structure was designed by Newfoundland-born, Norway-based architect Todd Saunders with Attila Béres, Ken Beheim-Schwarzbach, Rubén Sáez López, Joshua Kievenaar and Chris Woodford. The building's strikingly soft form was inspired by sod houses— temporary houses traditionally constructed by the Labrador Inuit—and includes numerous floor to ceiling windows. The building's outer layer is made of Kebony spruce and will turn grey over time.
To keep up to date with all Illusuak Cultural Centre events, see their Facebook page.
Courtesy Illusuak Cultural Centre