Klondike Institute of Art and Culture

The Dawson City Arts Society is a volunteer based, non-profit orga-nization with registered charitable status, formed in 1998. In its first two years, the society obtained the historic Odd Fellows Hall in Dawson City, completed renovations, and established a centre, known as the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC), for the development and implementation of a broad range of arts and cultural education, creation and presentation programs.

Highlights in our year round calendar of activities include: The Annual Dawson City International Short Film Festival takes place during Easter weekend each year and is an extravaganza of screenings, workshops, talks and, of course, a limitless supply of popcorn. In 2004, a total audience of more than 1400 at-tended 11 screenings of 77 local, regional and international films. Among a number of nationally known film industry participants are Bruce McDonald (Highway 61, Hard Core Logo) and Don McKellar (The Red Violin, Twitch City).

The Yukon Riverside Arts Festival takes place in Dawson City during mid August Discovery Days celebrations. This very popular annual event attracts local and regional artists and consists of demonstrations, interactive workshops, performances, youth art activities, 16 mm film screenings, a giant retail art market, a public art auction and much, much more.

KIAC’s ODD Gallery was inaugurated, by Canada’s Governor General, in 1999 and is open to the public year round, featuring juried exhibitions of regional, national and international contemporary art and design. Admission is free and visitors are most welcome.