Qaumajuq Museum Opens in Winnipeg with Groundbreaking Inuit Art Center and INUA Exhibition

In March 2023, Qaumajuq, a newly established museum linked to the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Winnipeg, Canada, debuted with the exhibition INUA, which will be available until December. The 3,700sqm facility, crafted by Michael Maltzan, includes a three-story 'visible vault' showcasing around 5,000 Inuit carvings. The name Qaumajuq translates to 'it is bright, it is lit' in Inuktitut and contains the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art globally. The initiative, guided by an Indigenous Advisory Circle, stemmed from a 2012 Inuit taskforce led by WAG Director Stephen Borys. Curator Jaimie Isaac fostered relationships with Indigenous communities through various exhibitions. INUA, curated by Heather Igloliorte and others, highlights over 100 artworks with an emphasis on forward-thinking perspectives. The museum's opening was marked by a ceremony conducted by the Seven Nations of Manitoba.