Eltuek Arts Centre

Unama’ki, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

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Eltuek Arts Centre

A Creative Cultural Hub with a Focus on Community

Eltuek (el-do-ehg) Arts Centre is a creative cultural hub in Sydney, Unama’ki, Cape Breton Island featuring affordable studios for artists. Eltuek is a Mi’kmaw word meaning “We are making [it] together” – the “it” refers to anything that is made; this name notes a process of creation that is continuous, inclusive, and accessible, much like the new Centre. Entro worked in collaboration with Eltuek, New Dawn Enterprises, and DTAH to develop a visual identity for the Centre as well as a multilingual wayfinding and donor recognition program in Mi’kmaw, English, and Braille.
  • Client

    Eltuek Arts Centre and New Dawn Enterprises

  • Location

    Unama’ki, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

  • Sector

    Cultural

  • Discipline

    Brand Identity, Wayfinding, Donor Recognition

  • Architect

    DTAH

  • Photography

    Corey Katz

Heritage Revitalization

The Eltuek Arts Centre was originally the Holy Angels Convent, founded in 1885 by the Sisters of Notre Dame. It was the only all-girl educational institution east of Montreal. After having gone through many renovations, the school closed in 2011 and remained vacant for many years.

 

New Dawn Enterprises, a non-profit, private, volunteer-directed social enterprise dedicated to community building, purchased the site with the goal of creating affordable work spaces for artists. Since opening, the Centre has come to achieve even more: it serves as a community hub that brings cultures together, a showcase space for local talent, and an event venue.

 

The renewal retained much of the original structure, including the tower. A newly defined entry drive and drop-off area featuring helpful directional signage draws people toward the Centre, where they are further greeted by exterior gathering spaces, including a new terrace, exterior vestibule, and a re-envisioned forecourt.

 

Inside the Eltuek Arts Centre, artists and visitors enjoy an Open Studio for shared artist workspaces, accessible spaces to showcase artwork, a café, and a community kitchen. An abundance of white walls throughout the Centre make an ideal backdrop for showcasing art throughout the year.

Eltuek Arts Centre logo, black and white version
A Vibrant New Identity

Entro developed a visual identity that reflects both the art and the inclusive spirit of the community. The design takes the shape of a window into the artist community that allows the Eltuek Arts Centre to showcase a different work of art with every application.

Eltuek Arts Centre logos with artwork applied to the square window.
Eltuek Arts Centre

This marketing graphic exemplifies how the black and white base identity is meant to be used with bright, punchy colours that reflect the vibrancy of the artists’ creations and the diverse ethnicities of the people who use the space.

Inspired by Landscape and Language

Wayfinding signage is derived from the weathered wood found in local architecture. Colours inspired by some of the more vibrant tones of the Cape Breton landscape differentiate between the Centre’s four levels to facilitate wayfinding. Brightly painted accent walls identify each floor in support of level-focused directory signage at elevator lobbies and stairwells.

Signage is multilingual, in Mi’kmaw, English, and Braille. Mi’kmaw appears first in a brighter colour to give it special meaning. English follows in white, highly legible type to ensure that, although second in the language hierarchy, it is visible and easy to read. Pictograms are used at every opportunity, and copy is reduced wherever possible to minimize clutter.

The donor recognition wall builds on the four wayfinding colours with additional hues that represent different levels of giving.
Eltuek Arts Centre donor wall - a series of vertical bright coloured blanks featuring donor names and a message of thanks.

The Eltuek Arts Centre stands as a testament to cultural preservation and community collaboration, blending historical architecture with modern amenities to foster artistic expression.

Find out more about the Eltuek Arts Centre.

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