Kenojuak Centre campaign starts fundraising in Cape Dorset

The West Baffin Eskimo Co-op's campaignto builda new art and cultural centre in Cape Dorsethas begunlocal fundraisingwith a giant community bingo.

TheNunavut community has produced many world-renowned artists, including the late Kenojuak Ashevak,who producetheir work using the co-op'sfacilities.

Jimmy Manning, manager of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-op, says the new KenojuakCulturalCentre and Print Shop is neededbecause the current facilities, built in the 1950s, are out of date.

"It would help everywhere southerners, tourists," he told CBC News in Inuktitut. "Itwill be placed well when it opens and because of that it has been supported including financially."

The total cost of the project is estimated at $10 million to build and equip the centre. Almost $1.5million has already been raised in the private sector.

PaulDesmarais, thechair of the national fundraising campaign, is making his first visit to the communitythis week.

The campaign also hopes to raise contributions from territorial and federal governments.

The centre is scheduled to open in 2017.