Visual Arts Nova Scotia’s Open Grants program supports groups, galleries, organizations and/or collectives with up to $500 to create new arts programming or enhance existing arts programming in their community. For this year, only groups from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community were eligible to apply. Congratulations to this year’s Open Grants recipients!

Quilting: An African Canadian Tradition by Upper Big Tracadie Seniors Action Club
Upper Big Tracadie is a predominantly African Canadian community near Guysborough and the Seniors Action Club undertakes activities to promote activities among African Canadians. In partnership with The Chedabucto Bay Quilters, Vale Quilters of New Glasgow, aand ArtWorks East, they are creating a quilting workshop of at least four summer sessions to introduce interested African Canadians in our community to traditional quilting. The four workshops will introduce attendees to the basics of quilting, using both hand-stitching and machine stitching methods.

Stained Glass Workshops by Potlotek Education
Artist Sonya Marshall will instruct small, stained glass workshops to members of the community which will provide crafters in the community with another avenue to explore and expand their skillset. The workshops will take place in the spring at the Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton and will be supported by the Cultural Coordinator.

Exploring Sand Hill by Cumberland County Black Artisans Network
The project creates a family friendly 40 page full color publication featuring the life and times of Historic Sand Hill; the predominant Black community in Cumberland County dating back to the early arrival of Black descendants in 1785 to this present day that is now giving way to urban development. The publication will include visual art, vintage photos and didactic text to capture the times places, people, events and activities back in the day and will be distributed to the community, libraries and schools.

The Water We Drink Online Forum and Video by South End Environmental Injustice Society
The Water We Drink is an online forum designed to expand understanding on what Environmental racism is and how it is affecting our community. SEED illustrates the lifelong impacts that environmental racism endures in the rural community of Shelburne. The water we drink is not safe, clean, or protected. The goal of the project is to increase the understanding and knowledge of what environmental racism is, as well, what you can do in your community to identify it. With Shelburne having one of the most unique histories of African Nova Scotians, it’s highly important in understanding our community has been built on systemic racism. The online forum will involve storytelling by artists and will then be turned into a graphic video. 

Lunar New Year Celebration – Queer Feasting and Chosen Family placemaking and photography
This placemaking event creates a space for Asian Queer, Trans and Non-binary folks during the time of Lunar New Year. The focus is to gather up to 10 people who have been connected during the pandemic and who celebrate the Lunar New Year and the event will be captured through documentary and portrait photography with written components to accompany the photography elements. The moments collected from this event will be published online via social media, and/or website platform, and submitted to other digital art collectives.

Jacks, Kay and Eddie’s Dreamland illustrated books by Lisette Sumbu
Lisette Sumbu has written a children’s book series with a focus on life lessons which will be illustrated by an artist. There are 4 books included: Don’t Follow The Leader focuses on the awareness of right and wrong and creating our own paths through integrity; I Am Unique celebrates our differences; Web of Lies details how lies affect the world around us; and Poverty Hill, offers lessons in gratitude and helping others. 

Ground Work: Outreach Sessions
Ground Work, a new initiative led by LaMeia Reddick to enhance Wonder’neath’s Studio Artist Program, is exploring modelling Studio Art Practice through an African Nova Scotian perspective; understanding current needs/supports for African Nova Scotian/BIPOC artists in arts programming spaces; space for dialogue, care, learning, creative exploration, mindful meditation in practice; exploring arts education strategies to better understand accessibility and share skills. Ground Work: Outreach Sessions will create an opportunity to teach, grow, share as a community of black artists. Participating artists in collaboration with LaMeia Reddick will host several small group outreach sessions to hold space for dialogue and hands-on exploration of Black art practise and access in a studio environment.