KLONDIKE INSTITUTE OF ART & CULTURE

Screen Printing Drop-In
2025-01-08 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Whitehorse) | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Wednesdays, 6-9 pm
Self-guided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with screen printing. A volunteer or staff member will be available to answer questions. Basic materials provided with additional supplies available for purchase.
Drop-in fee: $10 for KIAC members / $12 for non-members (cash only)
902 – 2nd Avenue (at Princess Street). Please use the back door for classroom access.

Desirée Dawson & Leela Gilday: Celebrating 20 Years of DCMF’s Songwriter-in-Residence Program
2025-01-09 19:30 - 22:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Dënäkär Zho / KIAC Ballroom
Doors at 7:30 PM, Music at 8:00 PM
In 2025, the Dawson City Music Festival (DCMF) will celebrate 20 years of its Songwriter-in-Residence program. To mark this milestone, KIAC and DCMF are teaming up for a concert series that brings back some of the most beloved participants from the past two decades.
The series kicks off on January 9th with performances by Leela Gilday and Desirée Dawson. Leela Gilday, from Yellowknife (NWT), was DCMF’s very first Songwriter-in-Residence. Desirée Dawson, from Vancouver (BC), has just been announced as the 20th participant in the program and will be spending the entire month of January in Dawson City. Both Leela and Desirée are award-winning songwriters and powerhouse vocalists. Leela will perform with a full band of talented musicians from across Canada, while Desirée will present new material she’s developing during her residency.We can think of no better way to celebrate two decades of this vital program!
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
ABOUT DESIRÉE DAWSON
Desirée Dawson is an award-winning songwriter and recording artist from Vancouver, BC. A festival favorite at DCMF 2023, we are thrilled to welcome her back! Driven by a passion for collective liberation, Desirée’s music emphasizes that learning how to take care of ourselves and getting to know and love ourselves, is essential to fostering stronger and more loving connections with the world around us.
ABOUT LEELA GILDAY
Leela Gilday is one of the most successful songwriters to emerge from the Northwest Territories. A passionate singer-songwriter and soulful performer, her voice comes straight from the heart. With a raw, honest presence on stage, Gilday shares her stories—drawing on her experiences as a northerner, a member of the Dene Nation, and a traveler—inviting listeners into a world rich with emotion and connection.
Thanks to our funders and partners:
Canada Council for the Arts | Government of Canada | Yukon Government | Parks Canada | North Klondyke Highway Music Society

Bonnie Northgraves Quintet Live Concert
2025-01-11 19:30 - 22:30 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Bonnie Northgraves Quintet
Mid-winter retro jazz dance party
co-presented by Jazz Yukon
Doors open – 7:30 / Music – 8:00
Tickets – $22 General admission / $20 KIAC members / $12 youth, SOVA, and accessible rate / $25 at the door for everyone
Buy your ticket online here, call 867-993-5005 or visit the KIAC office!
Bonnie Northgraves is a Canadian trumpeter, vocalist, pianist, and composer based in Vancouver, BC. Her singing is smokey, rich, and explorative; her trumpet playing a call to the early jazz styles of New Orleans while being lyrical, intriguing, evolved, and playful. With one foot rooted in heritage and one foot leading forward she is an engaging musical powerhouse that is exciting, joyful, and chock full of personality. This strong combination has given wings to a music career that’s seen her tour North America, Europe, China, and India. Bonnie has released two full length albums, one Ep, and has recorded as a side person on numerous albums.
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovo3k5z2644
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Thanks to our funders – Government of Canada, Yukon Government, Canada Council For the Arts

ODD Gallery General Open Call for Exhibitions
2025-01-15 00:00 - 2025-03-22 01:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
The ODD Gallery is VERY excited to announce we are re-opening our nationwide exhibition open call for artists and curators across Canada to showcase their work in the ODD Gallery from May 2026 – April 2027.

If you or anyone you know would like to bring your artwork to our gallery on the edge of the Arctic, please follow the link to find out the full details and how to submit your proposal!

Please see our Call for Submission page for full details on how and when to apply.

We’re looking forward to reviewing all potential proposals!

Raven Shares the Sun: GRAND UNVEILING!
2025-01-16 13:00 - 14:30 | ODD Gallery
STEPS + ODD Gallery Present: Raven Shares the Sun

Date: Thursday, January 16thTime: 1pm – 2:30pm Location: Front Street & Princess Street Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in territory, Dawson City, Yukon
Join us on Thursday, January 16th to celebrate the return of the sun with the grand reveal of an artwork by Krystle Silverfox, embodying the story of how Raven Stole the Sun and shared it with the world. Presented by the Klondike Institute of Art & Culture and STEPS Public Art with the support of the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre.
The event will start at 1pm at Front and Princess with a ceremonial fire, an opening traditional welcome, and a tobacco offering.
After the unveiling, hot drinks and light snacks will be offered at the ODD Gallery during the telling of Raven Steals the Sun as part of Silverfox’s artist talk about her creative practice experience creating the artwork.
This installation would not have been possible without KIAC’s partnership with STEPS Public Art, and support from our sponsors Canada Council, Robert Service School, Wildstone Construction, ISL Engineering, Dawson City, Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, TD Ready Commitment, Canada Race Relations Foundation, and Arctech Circle Welding.

Videodrome:Cult Cinema at the Eldorado
2025-01-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Join us in the Sluice Box Lounge at the Eldorado Hotel for a screening of a some Canadian film wierdness.
Videodrome
Director: David Cronenberg
1983, 87m
When Max Renn goes looking for edgy new shows for his sleazy cable TV station, he stumbles across the pirate broadcast of a hyper-violent torture show called Videodrome. As he struggles to unearth the origins of the program, he embarks on a hallucinatory journey into a shadow world of right-wing conspiracies, sadomasochistic sex games, and bodily transformation. Starring James Woods and Deborah Harry in one of her first film roles, Videodrome is one of writer/director David Cronenberg’s most original and provocative works, fusing social commentary with shocking elements of sex and violence. With groundbreaking special effects makeup by Academy Award®-winner Rick Baker, Videodrome has come to be regarded as one of the most influential and mind-bending science fiction films of the 1980s.

Sexy Heels Adult Jazz Dance Class
2025-01-22 17:30 - 18:30 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Description: Sexy Jazz dance classes with Lexie. Heels are optional. No experience required!
Location: The KIAC Dënäkär Zho Ballroom

Dates: Wednesdays – January 22, 29, February 5
Time: 5:30- 6:30 PM

Cost:

$50 Non-members
$45 Members
$25 Accessible

Plus GST
*Bring heels if you’d like*

Click here to pay.

To register, fill out the form below:
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please complete this form or contact us at 993-5005 or programs@kiac.ca.
Spaces are limited.
Step 1. Fill out registration form
Step 2. Wait for confirmation email from KIAC staff
Step 3. Proceed with payment and fill out program waiver
Filling out the registration form does not guarantee a spot in the program.
Participant Name *FirstLastEmail *Phone *PronounsShe/HerHe/HimThey/ThemOther - Please write down belowComment or MessagePlease indicate any special accommodation requests, comments, or questions.Submit
For questions or concerns please contact the Programs Coordinator at programs@kiac.ca or call us at 867 993 5005.
Our offices are open Tues – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

FOYPAC Photo Sessions
2025-01-23 09:00 - 17:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
FREE Artwork Photography Sessions
When: Thursday, Jan 23rd 9am – 5pm
Where: ODD Gallery, 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City

Are you applying to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection? Friends of the Permanent Art Collection (FOYPAC) is working with KIAC to offer free photography sessions by a professional photographer.
To learn more about the call for submissions, visit online at: yukon.ca/yukon-permanent-art-collection

REGISTRATION REQUIRED
To sign up, please fill out the form below.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Phone *Medium *Items *Preferred Timeslot *9:00 - 9:45am1:15 - 2:00pm2:00 - 2:45pm2:45 - 3:30pm3:30 - 4:15pm4:15 - 5:00pmPLEASE CHOOSE A FIRST CHOICE TIMESLOTNotes *PLEASE CHOOSE A SECOND CHOICE TIMESLOT & any other notes for the photographer in regards to your artwork(s)Submit

Classic Cinema: Late Spring by Yasujiro Ozu
2025-01-26 18:30 - 21:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Late Spring/Banshun
Dir. Yasujiro Ozu
Japan | 1949 | 110m
January 26, 2025
doors 6:30, film at 7:00 (cash concession)
This January 26th come on down to KIAC/Dënäkär Zho Ballroom for a screening of Late Spring (1949) – a masterpiece by the prolific director Yasujiro Ozu. Gorgeous cinematography of everyday life in post-war Japan along with Satsuko Hara’s charming performance of a daughter everyone is trying to marry off will transport you to another place leaving a lasting impression long after the credits roll.

Coffee House & Open Mic Night
2025-02-01 19:00 - 21:30 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Join us for an all-ages family-friendly evening of local talent. Everyone is welcome to perform or simply enjoy. Admission is by donation, with all funds raised contributing to a different community group each month

Cult Cinema at the Eldorado: Valley of the Dolls
2025-02-02 19:30 - 21:00 | Eldorado Hotel, 3rd and Princess, Dawson City, Canada
Films from the Edge of Cinema!
Join us in the Sluice Box Lounge at the Eldorado Hotel for a night of film.
Film starts at 7:30m
Valley of the Dolls
Dir: Mark Robson, USA, 1967, 123 minutes
In New York City, bright but naive New Englander Anne Welles (Barbara Parkins) becomes a secretary at a theatrical law firm, where she falls in love with attorney Lyon Burke (Paul Burke). Anne befriends up-and-coming singer Neely O’Hara (Patty Duke), whose dynamic talent threatens aging star Helen Lawson (Joey Bishop) and beautiful but talentless actress Jennifer North (Sharon Tate). The women experience success and failure in love and work, leading to heartbreak, addiction and tragedy.
“Trashy, campy, soapy, and melodramatic, Valley of the Dolls may be a dud as a Hollywood expose, but has nonetheless endured as a kitsch classic.” Rotten Tomatoes

Rachel Fenlon - Solo Piano & Soprano Concert
2025-02-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Classical Solo Piano & Soprano Concert
Co-Presented by Whitehorse Concerts
Doors open – 7:30 / Music – 8:00
Tickets: $22 General admission / $20 KIAC members $12 youth, SOVA, and accessible rate / $25 at the door
To buy your ticket online, click here!
Rachel Fenlon is a soprano and pianist who is finding a unique voice on the classical music stages of the world. Drawing from a singer-songwriter approach, Rachel performs song recitals as both singer and pianist accompanying herself. Praised for her “unusually shaped recitals in keeping with her extraordinary talent” (Places des Arts/Festival de Lanaudière), Rachel performs internationally as a recitalist, as solo pianist and singer, and on the opera stage. Rachel was born in the UK, raised on the west coast of Canada, and is now based in Berlin.
The 2024/25 season sees Rachel make self-accompanied recital debuts at the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Bechstein Hall, the Virtuosi Festival in Brazil and the Algarve Music Series. She returns to her native Canada, touring various programmes at leading festivals and venues including Salle Bourgie, Vancouver Recital Society, Domaine Forget, Coast Recital Society, ArtSpring, SweetWater Music Festival, and Music Toronto. In opera, Rachel returns to work with Ensemble Nylandia/Isabella Shaw in La Doriclea. Rachel’s recording of Schubert’s Die Winterreise will be released on Orchid Classics in autumn 2024.
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Thanks to our funders – Government of Canada, Yukon Government, Canada Council for the Arts

Film Screening: Universal Language
2025-02-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Universal Language
Dir. Matthew Rankin
2024, Canada, 89 min
English, Farsi and French with English subtitles
Canada’s nomination for Best Foreign Language Feature Oscar®.
In a mysterious and surreal interzone somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg, the lives of multiple characters interweave with each other in surprising and mysterious ways. Gradeschoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it. Meanwhile, Massoud leads a group of increasingly-befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg. Matthew quits his meaningless job in a Québecois government office and sets out upon an enigmatic journey to visit his mother. Space, time and personal identities crossfade, interweave and echo into a surreal comedy of disorientation.
Director Matthew Rankin and writer Ila Firouzabadi in attendance.
With gracious help from Air North: Yukon’s Airline and NVD Hotels (Eldorado)!
Admission by Donation. Cash Bar.

TROPICANA Exhibition - FREE Private Tours!
2025-02-13 - 2025-04-13 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
JUAN ORTIZ-APUY | TROPICANA February 13 – April 12, 2025 ODD Gallery, Dënäkär Zho | KIAC Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in territory, Dawson City, Yukon

TROPICANA

A GENUINE FORAY INTO THE WORLD OF OBJECTS, THE YOUTH EXHIBITION TROPICANA SEEKS TO EXAMINE THE WAY WE CONSUME TODAY THE BETTER TO UNDERSTAND ITS FUTURE IMPACTS.

When confronting the environmental crisis, in which unbridled production of goods is threatening the diversity of the natural world, it’s essential that we take an interest in how things are displayed, commercialized and consumed, whether in brick-and-mortar store windows or online. This youth exhibition, specially designed for kids and teenagers aged 6 to 14, casts a critical eye on modern consumer society and advertising aimed at children, which often features animals, colours, sounds and shapes designed to appeal to them. For the occasion, Montreal-based Costa Rican artist Juan Ortiz-Apuy has created a visual and sound environment allowing visitors to explore the language of advertising and its ability to act on us, in sometimes unexpected ways. The artist based his research on new marketing strategies that have emerged in the social media era, i.e., the phenomenon of “unboxing” and ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) videos. Besides a guided tour, children can take part in a workshop designed to awaken their senses, creativity and critical thinking. Observation games to be completed with family members round out the experience.
To learn more about the artist – GO HERE

FREE Private Tour Booking

The ODD Gallery is excited to offer pre-scheduled 45-minute or 90-minute tours of TROPICANA to any interested schools, daycares, youth centres, elders centres, families or professional organizations interested in directed education on how stealth-marketing incentives all of us to buy. Please use the form below to book your private tour today!
Hours of availability: Tuesday – Friday, start at 9am – ending at 6pm
Tours are unavailable from March 7 – 17th, but will restart March 18th
Contact Jessica via email gallery@kiac.ca or 993-5005 if you have any questions.
ODD Gallery Tropicana Educational ToursPlease enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastPhone *Email *Date / Time *DateTimePlease let us know what day and time you'd like your 90 minute tour to begin so we can ensure we book it into our schedule.

Tours can be booked from 10am - 6pm Monday - Friday.

The final day to book a tour is April 11th, 2025.Age Range of Visitors (choose all that apply in your group) *0 - 5 Years Old6 - 8 Years Old9 - 11 Years Old12 - 14 Years Old15 - 18 Years Old18+65+Informing us of the ages of attendees helps us better prepare materials for your visit.Comment or MessageSubmit

Crédit pour la tournée de Juan :

La circulation de Tropicana bénéficie du soutien financier du Conseil des arts du Canada et du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Cette exposition a été produite en 2020 par VOX, centre de l’image contemporaine grâce au soutien financier du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

Credits for Juan tour:

The Tropicana’s tour benefits from the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. This exhibition was produced in 2020 by VOX, centre de l’image contemporaine with financial support from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

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Juan Ortiz-Apuy | TROPICANA Opening Reception
2025-02-13 19:00 - 22:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
JUAN ORTIZ-APUY | TROPICANA February 13 – April 12, 2025 ODD Gallery, Dënäkär Zho | KIAC Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in territory, Dawson City, Yukon

OPENING RECEPTION & ARTIST TALK: Thursday, February 13th at 7PM – 10PM, Artist talk at 7:30PM – 8:30PM

TROPICANA

A GENUINE FORAY INTO THE WORLD OF OBJECTS, THE YOUTH EXHIBITION TROPICANA SEEKS TO EXAMINE THE WAY WE CONSUME TODAY THE BETTER TO UNDERSTAND ITS FUTURE IMPACTS.

When confronting the environmental crisis, in which unbridled production of goods is threatening the diversity of the natural world, it’s essential that we take an interest in how things are displayed, commercialized and consumed, whether in brick-and-mortar store windows or online. This youth exhibition, specially designed for kids and teenagers aged 6 to 14, casts a critical eye on modern consumer society and advertising aimed at children, which often features animals, colours, sounds and shapes designed to appeal to them. For the occasion, Montreal-based Costa Rican artist Juan Ortiz-Apuy has created a visual and sound environment allowing visitors to explore the language of advertising and its ability to act on us, in sometimes unexpected ways. The artist based his research on new marketing strategies that have emerged in the social media era, i.e., the phenomenon of “unboxing” and ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) videos. Besides a guided tour, children can take part in a workshop designed to awaken their senses, creativity and critical thinking. Observation games to be completed with family members round out the experience.

Juan Ortiz-Apuy

Costa Rica–born Juan Ortiz-Apuy has lived and worked in Montreal since 2003. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Studio Arts at Concordia University. Working in his favoured techniques of collage and assemblage, he makes art driven by thinking around consumer goods, often employing humour to explore the advertising and media strategies associated with them. His works—which he presents in the form of multimedia installations—draw inspiration from design, art history and pop culture. His work has been shown in several museums and art centres across Canada as well as abroad, including the Fondation Phi pour l’art contemporain (Montreal), Birch Contemporary Gallery (Toronto), OPTICA, centre d’art contemporain (Montréal), ARTSPACE (Peterborough), the Carleton University Art Gallery (Ottawa), the IKEA Museum (Älmhult, Sweden), as well as at MOMENTA | Biennale de l’image in Montreal and Manif d’art 7 in Quebec City. In 2011 he was the beneficiary of the Halifax Regional Municipality Contemporary Visual Art Purchase Program. Upcoming projects include a solo show at Open Space (Victoria), and residencies at MASS MoCA (North Adams, MA, USA) and the Zentrum Für Keramik (Berlin). Juan Ortiz-Apuy holds a BFA from Concordia University, where he now teaches, along with a postgraduate diploma from the Glasgow School of Art and an MFA from NSCAD University.

Crédit pour la tournée de Juan :

La circulation de Tropicana bénéficie du soutien financier du Conseil des arts du Canada et du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Cette exposition a été produite en 2020 par VOX, centre de l’image contemporaine grâce au soutien financier du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

Credits for Juan tour:

The Tropicana’s tour benefits from the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. This exhibition was produced in 2020 by VOX, centre de l’image contemporaine with financial support from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

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CHOIR WORKSHOP with KHARI
2025-02-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
CHOIR WORKSHOP with KHARI
Co-presented with Dawson City Music Festival

In advance of his performance at KIAC on Saturday, join acclaimed soul and gospel singer Khari Wendell McClelland for a participatory choral workshop. Learn to harmonize in a group setting with a master of the tradition. All welcome. No experience necessary.

Email production@dcmf.com to sign up!

Friday, February 14th7pm at KIACFree!

Workshop participants will also receive free admission to Khari’s performance on February 15th (and may even have the opportunity to perform!)

Khari Wendell McClelland Celebrating 20 Years of DCMF’s Songwriter-in-Residence Program
2025-02-15 19:30 - 22:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Dënäkär Zho / KIAC Ballroom
Doors at 7:30 PM, Music at 8:00 PM
To buy tickets, click here!
In 2025, the Dawson City Music Festival (DCMF) will celebrate 20 years of its Songwriter-in-Residence program. To mark this milestone, KIAC and DCMF have teamed up for a concert series that brings back some of the most beloved participants from the past two decades.
The second show in the series features a full-band performance by Khari Wendell McClelland from Vancouver (BC). Khari was DCMF’s 10th Songwriter-in-Residence in 2015. He made a lasting impression on the Dawson community, organizing a choir that continued to perform together long after his residency.
We are excited to welcome Khari back to Dawson City for a weeklong mini-residency. Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved beyond his performance on February 15th.
ABOUT KHARI WENDELL MCCLELLAND
Originally from Detroit, Khari Wendell McClelland has become a darling on the Canadian music scene, with critics praising his performances as a clever mix of soul and gospel. Khari’s songwriting crosses genres and generations, joyfully invoking the spirit of his ancestors who straddled the US-Canadian border in efforts to escape slavery and discrimination. His music draws from this rich history, integrating the rhythms and folklore of early African-Americans with contemporary sounds and stories of struggle. Recently, Khari received critical acclaim for his Freedom Singer project, recreating the music fugitive slaves carried on their journey north into Canada. Khari also performs with the Roots Gospel group The Sojourners. Whether on stage or in the studio, Khari’s passion for community, equality and justice is palpable, as is his belief in the redemptive power of music.
Thanks to our funders and partners:
Canada Council for the Arts | Government of Canada | Yukon Government | Park Canada | North Klondyke Highway Music Society

Opera Night at the Pit
2025-02-19 20:00 - 22:00 | Westminster Hotel (The Pit), 975 Third Ave, Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
Join us for a special one-night-only event at The Pit in Dawson City! Opera Pub brings the excitement of opera to this intimate, cozy venue for an unforgettable evening.

Enjoy impromptu performances of stunning arias, art songs, and ensembles, all showcasing incredible talent in a relaxed, vibrant setting. Don’t miss your chance to experience opera like never before, up close and personal, in the heart of Dawson City

Re:Imagine | Re:Create - Reclaimed Public Art Residency OPEN CALL!
2025-02-21 - 2025-03-18 | ODD Gallery
Program Description
The ODD Gallery, in collaboration with STEPS (Sustainable Thinking & Expressions in Public Spaces), is pleased to present Re:Imagine | Re:Create, a public art initiative that champions sustainability, creative reuse, and community engagement. This program will commission the creation of an original site-specific public artworks utilizing reclaimed materials sourced from various locations across Dawson City, including the municipal dump, Thrift Store, Free Store, local construction sites, mis-tint paint from Home Hardware, and donations from voluntary community members. This initiative seeks to engage an artist with a demonstrated history of working with reclaimed materials, ensuring the final artworks are not only structurally sound but also conceptually rigorous, inclusive, and accessible to a diverse audience. The selected artist will be challenged to consider both the environmental implications of material reuse and the social narratives embedded within the salvaged objects, transforming discarded materials into evocative public art installations that foster dialogue and reflection. The completed works will be temporarily installed on the Dawson City dike as part of the Yukon Riverside Arts Festival (YRAF) taking place June 12 – 15, 2025. By activating this prominent public space with thought-provoking and environmentally conscious art, Re:Imagine | Re:Create aims to highlight the potential of creative sustainability while deepening community connections to both the artistic process and the local landscape.
This project is supported by STEPS Public Art, the TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment and the Canadian Council for the Arts.
Please see our Public Art -> OPEN CALL – Re:Imagine | Re:Create page for full details on how and when to apply.

We’re looking forward to reviewing all potential proposals!

About STEPS

STEPS Public Art is a Canadian charity and social enterprise. STEPS offers services in public art management, hoarding exhibits, cultural planning, and artist capacity building. Our charitable programs support artists and foster vibrant and inclusive communities across the country. www.stepspublicart.org

Opera Residency Presentation: Karim Al-Zand's The Book of Tales & Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle
2025-02-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Doors and Reception at 7:00
at the KIAC Ballroom / Dënäkär Zho
Performances to follow
Admission by Donation
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Join us for an extraordinary evening of music, and a pre-show reception hosted by The Yukon Arts Centre, that blends innovative new work with a new spin on an opera classic. The night will feature newly composed excerpts by the talented Karim Al-Zand, offering a fresh and captivating perspective on contemporary opera.
Following this exciting premiere, the evening will continue with an in-concert performance of Béla Bartók’s haunting and intense Bluebeard’s Castle. This masterwork will be sung in English, to tell a contemporary love story shadowed by dementia.
Don’t miss this exceptional evening where the cutting edge of contemporary composition meets a 20th-century opera masterpiece, creating a truly unforgettable experience.
Featuring:
Elizabeth Polese, Soprano
Rachael McAuley, Mezzo-Soprano
Connor Hoppenbrouwers, Baritone
Karim Al-Zand, Composer
Spencer Kryzanowski, Conductor/Pianist
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This presentation is the culmination of a week-long residency co-presented by the Yukon Arts Centre in the KIAC Ballroom at Dënäkär Zho
This immersive one-week residency offers a unique opportunity for an opera composer to delve deeply into their creative process, collaborate with performers, and refine their compositions in a supportive and inspiring environment. During the residency, composers will have access to a range of resources, including rehearsal space and professional musicians to bring their work to life.
The residency provides the time and space needed for composers to experiment, explore new ideas, and push the boundaries of their work. At the end of the week, there will be an informal presentation of the work-in-progress, offering a chance to hear their compositions come to life and gather valuable audience feedback.
This residency is designed to support and nurture emerging opera composers by providing a focused, creative atmosphere to take their projects to the next level.

Danceathon: A KIAC Fundraiser!
2025-02-22 20:00 - 2025-02-23 01:00 | Diamond Tooth Gerties, 4th Ave, Dawson City, Canada
DANCEATHON: A KIAC Fundraiser!
Saturday, Feb 22nd. Entry by donation, cash only!
Doors @ 8pm, Dancing @ 9pm.
So you think you can dance? Do you have what it takes to dance longer than anyone else in town? Grab a partner, sign up at the door, and see who has the footwork to be the last team standing!
Participate to win some great prizes and remember, dance moves are not judged, just movement!
Not interested in dancing? Door prizes and raffles are also available! Some of these prizes include:

3 Air North travel vouchers, 2 of $100 value and 1 valued at up to $1300

Mystery box from Bonanza Market, $100 value

3 RSS Woodshop prizes

Interested in volunteering? Please click here!
If you require accommodations to participate, email kiac@kiac.ca or call 867-993-5005

Susan Schuppli: SOVA Artist-in-Residence Artist Talk
2025-02-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Yukon School of Visual Arts (SOVA), 982 Third Ave, Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Y0B1G0, Canada
Dr. Susan Schuppli is a researcher and artist based in the UK. She is Professor and Director of the Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths University of London and is also an investigative researcher with the human rights agency Forensic Architecture recipient of the 2024 Right Livelihood Award. Susan Schuppli’s fieldwork and documentary film practice is situated at the intersections between environmental struggles, climate science, and affected communities with a contemporary focus on the cryosphere and the politics of cold.

Creative projects have been exhibited throughout Europe, Asia, Canada, and the US. She has published widely within the context of media and politics and is author of the book, Material Witness: Media, Forensics, Evidence published by MIT Press in 2020.

Supported by Yukon School of Visual Arts, the Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), YukonU, with funding support from a Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Connections Grant / Toronto Biennial of Art.

OVERVIEW

Dr. Susan Schuppli will be working in collaboration with students from SOVA in Nicole’s 4D Studio class on her project SOUNDING ICE: sensing frozen flows. Via sound and various field recording strategies, the project explores the signals of climate change found in and around the Yukon and Klondike Rivers—their confluences and histories.

The practice of ‘sounding’ refers both to the taking of depth measurements in a body of water as well as the sourcing of ‘evidence’ needed in a preliminary step towards taking action. This project and forthcoming website will document our collective efforts to ‘sound out’ local expressions and histories of the environment—Earth evidence—and its urgent calls to action.

My earlier work as an artist-researcher and writer explored material evidence, specifically the ways in which non-human witnesses, enter into trials and tribunals to testify to historical events, in particular those involving political violence, ethnic conflict, and war crimes. This work assumed many different modes of communication from legal analysis and public advocacy to theoretical reflection and creative exploration. Current research and artistic production expands these investigations to examine how environmental systems and the transformations brought about by global warming are generating new forms of evidence; creating, in effect, a planetary archive of material witnesses.

https://susanschuppli.com

Coffee House & Open Mic Night (Featuring Spoken Word & Poetry)
2025-03-01 19:00 - 21:30 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Join us for a family-friendly Open Mic Night at KIAC. Everyone is welcome to perform or simply enjoy.

This month we are celebrating poetry and spoken word!

We encourage folks to bring a piece of writing to read. We’ll even have a special reading by visiting poet Joanna Lilley (and perhaps participants of her workshop – ‘You’re a poet and deep down you know it’)

To register for this workshop, follow this link – https://kiac.ca/calen…/poetry-workshop-with-joanna-lilley/

Classic Cinema: Pather Panchali
2025-03-02 19:00 - 21:30 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Pather Panchali
Dir. Satyajit Ray
India | 1955 | 125m
Doors 6:30, film at 7:00
Free (cash concession)
This March 2nd, KIAC Classic Film presents a screening of Pather Panchali (1955) in the KIAC/Dënäkär Zho Ballroom. Starring and directed by complete unknown amateurs, “Song of the Little Road” will have you marveling at its realistic storytelling and Ray’s groundbreaking direction and Subrata Mitra’s gorgeous cinematography. You’ll be immersed in the lives of a poor family in a Bengali village, and while you wonder how their concerns are not all that different from your own. Meanwhile, Ravi Shankar’s bumping score never lets up.

‘LOOK UP’ by Open Pit Theatre (3 performances)
2025-03-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
LIMITED CAPACITY – Each performance accommodates 9 people
To buy tickets, click here!
—
Fri, March 7
performances at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00
—
OPEN PIT THEATRE
Open Pit Theatre was founded in 2011 with the desire to create new and innovative theatre shows that explore contemporary northern themes and alternative approaches to making theatre. Co-Artistic Directors Genevieve Doyon and Jessica Hickman have created many original plays including the verbatim piece Busted Up: A Yukon Story and a mask and puppetry show called Radio Silence which have both toured the country. Open Pit Theatre is currently gearing up for their first international tour to Osaka, Japan in August 2025.
LOOK UP
Look Up is a series of intimate short performances which combines live visual animation, storytelling and live foley soundscape. Look Up aspires to bring everyone back to the simple magic of storytelling. Everything you will see is analog and happening right then and there. There will be no “play” button to hit, and no computers in sight.
Conceived and created by Geneviève Doyon
Performed by Alita Powell and Geneviève Doyon
Creative Collaborator: Brian Fidler
Visual Designers: Virginie Hamel, Jessica Hickman
Sound Design: Hannah Mazurek
Set Design: Selene Vakharia
Things to know
Two short pieces will be shown at every performance.
Friday evening is geared towards adults
Saturday matinee are geared towards children aged 5 and up.
Audiences will need to lie down on mats on the ground and get back up again.
Funded by
Lotteries Yukon
New Horizons for Seniors, Government of Canada
Sponsored by the Guild
The Guild Hall
Thank you!
Copper Ridge Place
Yukon Arts Centre
The Downtown Hotel
Open Pit Theatre’s board of directors: Caili Steel, Valerie Herdes, Kinesi Mills, Nicole Schafenacker, Josée Bergeron
The seed for the show Look Up was planted when Genevieve saw a drawing on the ceiling above her hospital bed in 2017. That simple drawing of a sunset accompanied by the words “This will not last forever” resonated with her in a profound way. Years later, she approached visual artist and dear friend Virginie Hamel to finally start tackling the creative concept that had inhabited her ever since: “Let’s make a show for audiences lying on their backs”.

‘LOOK UP’ by Open Pit Theatre (3 Kid-friendly performances)
2025-03-08 11:00 - 14:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
LIMITED CAPACITY – Each performance accommodates 9 people
To buy tickets, click here!
—
Sat, March 8
performances at 11:00, 12:00, 1:00
—
OPEN PIT THEATRE
Open Pit Theatre was founded in 2011 with the desire to create new and innovative theatre shows that explore contemporary northern themes and alternative approaches to making theatre. Co-Artistic Directors Genevieve Doyon and Jessica Hickman have created many original plays including the verbatim piece Busted Up: A Yukon Story and a mask and puppetry show called Radio Silence which have both toured the country. Open Pit Theatre is currently gearing up for their first international tour to Osaka, Japan in August 2025.
LOOK UP
Look Up is a series of intimate short performances which combines live visual animation, storytelling and live foley soundscape. Look Up aspires to bring everyone back to the simple magic of storytelling. Everything you will see is analog and happening right then and there. There will be no “play” button to hit, and no computers in sight.
Conceived and created by Geneviève Doyon
Performed by Alita Powell and Geneviève Doyon
Creative Collaborator: Brian Fidler
Visual Designers: Virginie Hamel, Jessica Hickman
Sound Design: Hannah Mazurek
Set Design: Selene Vakharia
Things to know
Two short pieces will be shown at every performance.
Friday evening is geared towards adults
Saturday matinee are geared towards children aged 5 and up.
Audiences will need to lie down on mats on the ground and get back up again.
Funded by
Lotteries Yukon
New Horizons for Seniors, Government of Canada
Sponsored by the Guild
The Guild Hall
Thank you!
Copper Ridge Place
Yukon Arts Centre
The Downtown Hotel
Open Pit Theatre’s board of directors: Caili Steel, Valerie Herdes, Kinesi Mills, Nicole Schafenacker, Josée Bergeron
The seed for the show Look Up was planted when Genevieve saw a drawing on the ceiling above her hospital bed in 2017. That simple drawing of a sunset accompanied by the words “This will not last forever” resonated with her in a profound way. Years later, she approached visual artist and dear friend Virginie Hamel to finally start tackling the creative concept that had inhabited her ever since: “Let’s make a show for audiences lying on their backs”.

Thaw-di-gras Snow Sculptin
2025-03-15 11:00 - 2025-03-16 14:00 | Diamond Tooth Gerties, 4th Ave, Dawson City, Canada
Snow Sculpting in the the Gerties Parking lot will start on Saturday Mach 15th and 11AM. There will be 8 snow blocks to carve. The blocks will be given out on a first come first serve basis.

What you’ll need:
Bring your own tools and equipment
Some tools will be provided.
Dress very warm
Bring water and food
Gertie’s Parking Lot

To Register: Registration Closed

Sponsors: Grenon Enterprises, Klondike Visitors Association, City of Dawson, KIAC, Robert Service School Shop Program

Coffee House & Open Mic Night: Thaw-Di-Gras Edition
2025-03-15 19:00 - 21:30 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Share your talents or just hang out and enjoy! An all-ages Family-friendly Alcohol-free event!

Skye Wallace: Celebrating 20 Years of DCMF’s Songwriter-in-Residence Program
2025-03-22 19:30 - 22:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Dënäkär Zho / KIAC Ballroom
Doors at 7:30 PM, Music at 8:00 PM
To buy tickets, click here!
In 2025, the Dawson City Music Festival (DCMF) will celebrate 20 years of its Songwriter-in-Residence program. To mark this milestone, KIAC and DCMF are teaming up for a concert series that brings back some of the most beloved participants from the past two decades.
The series ends with a bang on March 22nd with a performance by Skye Wallace (Toronto, ON). Skye was DCMF’s 13th Songwriter-in-Residence in 2018. During her short stay in Dawson, she dove headlong into Dawson culture, hosting a radio show on CFYT and even joining a curling team.
She makes her triumphant return to Dawson in March for a weeklong mini-residency. This time she is bringing with her one of the finest rock bands in the Country. The perfect way to complete this 20th Anniversary celebration!
ABOUT SKYE WALLACE
With a voice that soars and captivates, Skye Wallace has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most compelling artists. Their blend of folk, rock, and alternative influences, along with their ability to craft emotive and impactful lyrics, has won critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. The Act of Living marks Wallace’s latest artistic evolution, offering an exploration of life’s most profound experiences, with songs that are both cathartic and reflective. Produced alongside Hawksley Workman and released on Tiny Kingdom, The Act of Living finds Skye fully embracing the grungy, unbridled enthusiasm of their live performances, as they invite listeners on a journey of near-death experiences, dream worlds, loss, and rebirth.
Thanks to our funders and partners:
Canada Council for the Arts | Government of Canada | Yukon Government | Park Canada | North Klondyke Highway Music Society

Classic Cinema: Being There
2025-03-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC), 902 2nd Avenue, Dawson City
Being There
Dir. Hal Ashby
USA | 1979 | 130m
Starring: Peter Sellers, Shirley Maclaine
Do you like to watch? This March 23rd, come and enjoy the KIAC Classic Films presentation of Being There (1979) starring Peter Sellers, Shirley Maclaine, Melvyn Douglas, and the impressive Biltmore Estate at the KIAC/Dënäkär Zho Ballroom. This Hal Ashby classic retelling of Jerzy Kosinski’s 1970 novel couldn’t be more relevant in the spring of 2025 as it beautifully reveals that we are all so drawn to the vague rhetoric and sculpted image of our screens and that none of us is actually really listening to one another.
Doors at 6:30
Free admission (Cash concession)
