Visual Arts Nova Scotia is pleased to officially announce the participants of this year’s VANS Mentorship Program. After receiving a many excellent applications, the program will be supporting four dedicated emerging Nova Scotian artists. Alexis Vessey, Ben Mosher, Kate Grey and Ryan Josey have been individually paired with established artists and mentors: Sarah Maloney, Craig Leonard, Andrea Dorfman and Bryan Maycock.

Emerging artists in this year’s program use sculpture, installation, ceramics, painting and digital media to consider organic immersive environments, the intersection of the digital and physical world, feminism, and coded language. 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 and program criteria; emerging artists are evaluated on 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 selected apprentices, the committee solicits interest from qualified mentors who possess the skills to propel the emerging artist’s practice.

By investing intensely in a few emerging artists each year for the last 10 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 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: Alexis Vessey, Cabbage Flower, Paper clay & 04 glazes, 1′, 2009; Ben Mosher, Secret Spiralled, Found wood assemblage, 6” x 14”, 2015; Kate Grey,  Teapots (detail), Semi-porcelain cone 6 and Digital image projection, 10’’ x 48’’ x 4.5’’, 2016; Ryan Josey, Fair Wind; Safe Return (project overview), Digital collage, variable dimensions, 2014.

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

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