Announcing the 2017-18 Mentorship Program Artists

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is pleased to announce the participants of this year’s Mentorship Program. After receiving many truly excellent applications, the program will be supporting four dedicated emerging Nova Scotian artists. NAT chantel, Lux Gow-Habrich, Bree Hyland, and Karen Langlois have been individually paired with established artists and mentors: anna sprague, Kim Morgan, Emily Falencki, and Terri Whetstone. For more information on the participants click here.

Emerging artists in this year’s program use sculpture, installation, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, drawing and painting to explore identity, concepts of family, culture, and disability, and to connect with notions of self. The 10-month mentorship program supports the artistic and professional ambitions of emerging artists in Nova Scotia by providing access to the skills and experience of established artist mentors.

Nova Scotian artists are selected by a peer assessment committee based on individual proposals, program criteria, their dedication to their art practice, their independent studio practice outside of formal training environments, and their ability and willingness to engage in critical discussion about their work. Based upon the needs of the selected emerging artists, the committee solicits interest from qualified mentors who possess the skills to propel the emerging artists’ practice.

By investing intensely in a few emerging artists each year for the last 11 years, the VANS Mentorship Program contributes to the overall strength, sustainability and vibrancy of the visual arts community in Nova Scotia.

Visual Arts Nova Scotia gratefully acknowledges core funding for the Mentorship Program and exhibition from Joan Craig and the Craig Foundation. The program is also supported by the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage and the Halifax Regional Municipality.


Image details left to right: NAT chantel, Mother Daughter Hymn, mixed media; Lux Gow-Habrich, here, again (preoccupations), earthenware, porcelain, glazes, wrapped hair, metal leaf, knit wool yarn, natural dyes, 147x 168 x 14cm, 2015; Bree Hyland, Cloaked Figure, oil on wood, 28cm x 36cm, 2017; Karen Langlois, A Story, found book, fabric, thread, glue, gesso 20cm x 14cm x 3.5 cm, 2014.

For additional information about the VANS Mentorship Program, please visit https://www.visualarts.ns.ca/programs/mentorship-program or contact:

Carri MacKay
Programming Coordinator
Visual Arts Nova Scotia
(902) 423-4694
communicate@visualarts.ns.ca