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Kenojuak Cultural Centre

History
The West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative (WBEC), aka Kinngait Studios, is the oldest community art studio cooperative in Canada. Located at the south west coast of Baffin Island, the studio established an important area in the history of the promotion and production of Inuit art. In 1949, working with the Canadian Handicraft Guild, James Houston organized the first Inuit art exhibition in Montreal. Instrumental in starting the cooperative economy in Cape Dorset, James and Alma Houston moved there in 1956 to support the development of the arts and crafts market. While James introduced printmaking skills, Alma focused her efforts in supporting the Inuit women’s traditional skills and potential for hand-sewn goods in the market.