News

VANS 2022 AGM

Visual Arts Nova Scotia’s Annual General Meeting will take place over Zoom on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.  Join us at 7 pm to find out about VANS’ accomplishments this year. Please register by June 6 to get your Zoom link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtdeuhqzgtGd3kQwMzgsLNXvzwR2PD5HMq After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing the link you can use to…

Artists in Mind: A Report on Artists’ Mental Health & Wellbeing in Nova Scotia

Visual Arts Nova Scotia releases the Artists In Mind: Report on Artists’ Mental Health and Wellbeing in Nova Scotia – a research initiative examining the mental health experiences of artists of multiple disciplines (including visual and media arts, craft, theatre, music, dance, writing, circus, and others) living within the province of Nova Scotia.  With funding…

VANS Seeks Board Nominations

Do you want to help shape the future of Visual Arts Nova Scotia? We’re looking for creative and engaged individuals who are looking to develop new skills in arts leadership and make an impact on cultural policy in Nova Scotia. Visual Arts Nova Scotia is seeking 1 – 4 individuals engaged with the arts in Nova Scotia…

Call for Pitches

Open call for our Fall 2022 Issue of Visual Art News! We are curious to hear from writers, artists, and critics in order to expand, respond and deepen conversations inspired by the artistic vision of emerging and established artists who are pushing the boundaries of art and culture in the Atlantic. For our open call,…

The Spring Issue of Visual Arts News is Here!

The Spring 2022 issue of Visual Arts News has been sent out to members and subscribers and it should be on newsstands soon! This issue looks at this theme of Connection through the lens of art and art practices in Mi’kma’ki. Featured artists include Arjun Lal on the cover, Acadian artist Mario LeBlanc, Shary Boyle,…

VANS Spring Workshop Series

VANS Spring Workshop Series has been announced! Check out our workshops page of the VANS website to see what workshops we have programmed, as per your request. We have a couple of favourites returning, including Pricing Your Work with Stacey Cornelius and Exhibition Prep and Installation with David Dahms. We also have three new workshops including Teaching an Online Art…

VANS in Residence at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre

Apply for VANS in Residence at The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown, NS. VANS is really excited to be partnering with this great organization to host a new round of VANS in Residence. This program provides a studio space at the Centre, a stipend of $2500 to support the artist to work full-time for…

Have a fellow member give feedback on your application

It’s time for another round of the Peer Application Review Groups. Visual Arts Nova Scotia is facilitating this six week peer-review process to help current members strengthen their upcoming proposals. Artists will get and give feedback by email on applications from two peers, matched based on the type of application that is being made. You can still take part in this program that connects you…

Take our workshop survey (please)

At your request (and to make workshops more accessible during the pandemic and in all weather), VANS will continue offering online workshops for our Spring Workshop Series in March and April. We would love to get your feedback about which professional development workshops we should offer and when. Let us know what you would like to see…

Supporting Art Audiences with Disabilities: A Roundtable Discussion

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is excited to present Supporting Art Audiences with Disabilities, a free virtual roundtable event happening over Zoom on Thursday, February 10 at 7 – 9pm AST.  Presenters Kayla Besse, Ayoka Junaid, Paula Bath and Tiphaine Girault will join moderator Syrus Marcus Ware to discuss accessibility practices, and the alterations they would like to…

VANS Instagram account has been deleted

The VANS Instagram account was deleted (by Instagram, for unknown reasons) and we are in the process of trying to get it reactivated. In the meantime, for VANS update please follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VisualArtsNovaScotia) and subscribe to our newsletter (https://visualarts.ns.ca/forms/).

JOB CALL: Programming Coordinator (Parental Leave Term Contract)

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is seeking a highly motivated, friendly and well-organized individual with a commitment to the arts community to cover the parental leave term contract of Programming Coordinator. This person will have excellent communication skills, some post-secondary education, administrative experience (preferably in arts admin), and be able to work independently and collaboratively. Term: 35 hour/week,…

Apply for a Membership Bursary

Membership Bursaries provide artists in need of financial support with a 2022 VANS membership (which runs from January 1 – December 31, 2022). The deadline to apply for a 2022 Membership Bursary is January 7, but we will continue to accept applications until all the bursaries have been given away. Applications are confidential and are reviewed…

Check out the New Grad Program online exhibition!

Take a look at the New Grad Program participants’ recent work in this online exhibition. The 10 emerging artists who participated in the 2021 New Grad Program are Katelynne Cagliostro, Elise Campbell, Holly Clark, Belle DeMont, Ace Duguid, Emma Jordan, Annie MacDonald, Monique Silver, Cydnee Sparrow, and Mary Brantnall. Click the link to visit the…

Call for Art Recess video workshop proposals

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is excited to be opening a call for artists to be part of ART RECESS. We piloted this program in the spring of last year with little time and great results. We’re building on that success. The idea is for artists to create art activities for children and/or youth that can…

Happy holidays from VANS

The VANS office, along with the rest of the Cultural Federations, will be closed for the holidays December 18 – January 3. Our last day at work will be Friday, December 17 and our first day back will be Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Happy holidays from the team at VANS (Benny, Andrea, Carri, and Emily)!

Open Grants now accepting applications

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is accepting applications for the Open Grants program from Indigenous, Black, and Racialized groups, galleries, organizations, and/or collectives to create new arts programming or enhance existing arts programming in their community.  We have expanded the Open Grants program so that a gallery, group or collective could apply for up to $500…

Come to the New Grad Open Studio!

Join us on Wednesday, December 15 from 6 – 9pm as the New Grad Program participants open their studios to the public to celebrate the end of their 14-week program! There will be artwork on display, some art for sale, the occasional demo, as well as cookies and hot drinks for everyone. The Open Studio…

It’s Membership Renewal Time!

As the end of the year approaches remember to renew your VANS membership before it expires on December 31, 2021! If you selected an automatically renewing membership when you joined or renewed last year, then it will automatically charge your 2022 membership fees on December 1, 2021. No need to set a reminder – the website will…

Membership Survey

Take our new survey!

Visual Arts Nova Scotia wants your feedback! We are working with Louise Adongo of Inspiring Communities to develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of artists during the post-pandemic recovery. Take our survey by November 9 to help shape the future of our programming and membership, and help us understand the needs of artists.…