This is our bi-weekly newsletter of opportunities and information for artists. Become a member of VANS and we’ll email this newsletter to you. Click on items in the index at the top of the page to visit different sections of the VANS Newsletter. Learn more about each opportunity by clicking on the colourful links to visit their website.

Want to submit something for the next newsletter? Check out the VANS Promotion Guide for details on what we need and then send us an email with your event/ program/ opportunity info. Something missing? Let us know!

VANS Newsletter #619
May 27, 2026

INDEX:

VANS Matters
Announcements
Awards and Funding
Education
Employment
Events
Residencies
Submissions
Nova Scotia Exhibition Listings

VANS Matters

If you want to renew your VANS membership but find the membership fee out of reach right now, consider applying for a Membership Bursary. Membership Bursaries provide artists in need of financial support with a VANS membership (which runs from January 1 – December 31). There’s no deadline to apply and applications are confidential. Recipients of the bursary will receive a .pdf of Visual Arts News magazine instead of the print-mailed version, but other than that the bursary membership has the same benefits as any other VANS membership.

You are invited to Visual Arts Nova Scotia’s Annual General Meeting. It will take place over Zoom on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Join us from 6 – 7 pm AT to find out about VANS’ accomplishments this year and elect new directors to our Board. Please register by June 8 to get your Zoom link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WNsrJfuEQta8DA8yZzsAwg. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing the link you can use to join the meeting. All are welcome at the AGM but remember that only VANS members in good standing can vote and make or second motions. After the AGM, we will be hosting an online Q & A where we will discuss how the recent budget cuts have affected VANS and give you a chance to ask questions and share your experience.

Previously posted:

Lisa Meecham as the newest VANS in Residence Artist, in partnership with the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design. Lisa will be in residence in Sydney from March 16 to April 16, 2026, dividing her time between her own practice (60 per cent) and leading community-based art education programming (40 per cent). Lisa is an award-winning traditional rug hooker and eighth-generation African Nova Scotian descendant. Her practice uses wool and natural fibres to process and share hard stories, including generational trauma, pride, and the complexities of Black Canadian history. As she describes, “With every loop, there is a thought, an emotion, a memory, and hopefully a reconciliation of sorts.” She is currently creating new works for an upcoming exhibition, including a hooked interpretation of Richard Rudnicki’s painting Freedom Halifax 1814, which depicts the arrival of Black Chesapeake refugees in Nova Scotia. Thanks to support from the Level Up! program of Balancing Act, this residency is designated for an artist who is a caregiver. We are grateful to offer this opportunit

Renew your VANS membership anytime!   You can renew your membership online here or by sending a cheque along with a Membership Form to VANS, 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax, NS, B3H 4P7.  You can also send an e-transfer to communicate@visualarts.ns.ca – just make sure you also send an email with your contact info so we can update our records. Need more info or renewal options? Email communicate@visualarts.ns.ca. Not sure if you signed up for an automatically renewing membership? Log in to the VANS website then, in the Membership Details section of your account, you can adjust your membership type and opt out of auto-renew. VANS also has membership bursaries. We understand that membership fees can be out of reach for some artists, so we have fully funded 2026 memberships.

Visual Arts News is pleased to announce our new Editor, Ross Nervig. As we enter our 50th year as a publication, we’re thrilled to have Ross join us to help us keep moving forward on our journey. Ross is a writer, editor, and communications strategist with more than a decade of experience in journalism, arts writing, and non-profit communications. In his work, he has been honoured to help make space for the voices of those in equity deserving communities. From Ross: “I’m thrilled to be joining Visual Arts News as its next editor. The magazine has long been an essential platform for reflecting and shaping the conversations that matter in Atlantic Canada’s arts community. I believe any act of creation is, at its foundation, an invitation to connect — with each other, with place, and with possibility. I feel deeply honoured to help carry that spirit of connection forward.” We welcome Ross to this new role and can’t wait to get started on our first issue with him as our Editor — Spring 2026 issue. Watch for the call for pitches to come out later in October. Our Fall issue his newsstands and subscriber mailboxes September 15th.

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is pleased to officially announce the participants of this year’s Mentorship Program. After receiving many great applications, the program will be supporting four dedicated emerging artists in Nova Scotia. Jordan Johnson, Kamila Orbegoso, Shane Keyu Song, and Jessica Steele and have been individually paired with established artists and mentors Melanie Colosimo, Margarita Fainshtein, Mathew Reichertz, and Christopher Webb.

Did you know that VANS has an Artist Emergency Fund? VANS established the Artist Emergency Fund to assist artists in financial need arising from severe illness, an accident resulting in inability to work or help with studio replacement in case of a disaster, such as fire, where there is no insurance. VANS Members are able to apply for short-term assistance, up to $500/month for three months maximum. The fund has been used in recent years to help member artists who have been injured in a car accident, had a surgery that prevented them from working, who were ineligible for benefits but could not work during the pandemic, whose studio was damaged by natural disasters, and more. There is no application deadline and applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. The fund is supported in part by donations from VANS members – and we are so grateful for their generosity! If you would like to make a donation to the Artist Emergency Fund you can do so anytime here.

You can now purchase VANS limited-edition merch! The black cotton tote bag ($25) and iridescent stickers ($5/each) are sold individually or as a bundle of all three VANS merch items ($30). The merch was designed by VANS member and artist AGLENNCO and produced by Copy Shop Books. You can buy them at the VANS office or in our online shop (and we’ll mail them to you). We are selling VANS merch as a fundraiser so get yours today and show your support! Click here for more info and to purchase: https://visualarts.ns.ca/shop-category/vans-merch/.

A subscription to Visual Arts News makes the perfect gift for the art-lover in your life and costs just $24. Two times a year, your gift recipients will be reminded of your generosity and good taste when you give them a year-long subscription to Visual Arts News, the magazine that is an ongoing conversation inspired by the artistic vision of artists and writers pushing the boundaries of art and culture in Atlantic Canada. Order, here: https://visualartsnews.ca/subscribe/.

Without the generosity of its many supporters, VANS could not offer such a wide range of programs and services. Last year over 30% of our total expenses were fees paid out directly to artists in Atlantic Canada and with more donations, more artists can be paid! Here are some examples of how your donation could support an artist at VANS:

• $50 supports a membership bursary
• $240 supports a three-hour PAINTS project
• $500 supports one month of Artist Emergency Funding

Donate $20 or more to receive a charitable tax receipt. Donate before December 31 to include it in your tax deductions.

At VANS, we love sharing events and news from Nova Scotian arts organizations, galleries, and our members on social media or in our biweekly newsletter. When it comes to asking for people, organizations, or media outlets to share your project or event, we find there’s a way to do it to maximize your chance of getting promoted. Check out our new Guide to Getting Your Project/ Event Promoted Digitally! Learn the things that VANS needs you to provide in order to share your event (and what NOT to do)!

ART RECESS is a new collection of short, accessible workshops that can be delivered online at times that work for teachers in the school year, or for parents and other caregivers in the summertime!  VANS’ commissioned 9 artists to create ART RECESS workshops and videos available for free to educators, students and parents. Part of the PAINTS  (Professional Artists In the Schools) Program, these workshops are made to be quick (15 – 20 minutes) and use materials that most people would have around the house. Check out all the ART RECESS videos on the VANS’ YouTube channel today!

VANS has launched a Facebook Group! This group welcomes any visual artists living in Nova Scotia. This community space can be used for exchanging opportunities, resources or news with one another. Click here to join, and invite your friends so they don’t miss out on this information hub.

We are now including an Artist Page (formerly known as an E-studio) with EVERY membership! Artists say this is one of our most valuable membership benefits, and with everyone on board it will be THE destination to find Nova Scotian artists online. The Artist Pages provide a page on our website where artists can post up to six images, an artist statement, selected biography, and contact information. It can provide an increased online presence for artists or provide an online presence for artists without a website. As members renew their membership they will get a login and be prompted to create their Artist Page. We’ve created a template to follow (that will appear when you click on Create My Artist Page in My Account) so it’s never been this easy. If you already have an Artist Page, you can still edit it, as usual. We are just a phone call away if you need help with a step.

VANS Members can now access the Arts & Entertainment health plan. ACTRA Fraternal Benefit Society (AFBS) is a Member-owned, not-for-profit, federally incorporated insurance company and financial institution operating since 1975. AFBS has proudly underwritten the Arts & Entertainment Plan® since 2011. They offer multiple types of plans and you’re eligible if: you are a VANS Member; you are a professional in the arts, living in Canada; you have a valid Provincial Health Card; and you’re under 71 years of age. See their website for details on their plans, coverage and get a free quote.

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Announcements

The inaugural Unama’ki Cape Breton Craft Week is launching June 1–7, 2026! Presented by Cape Breton Beverages, this brand new week-long celebration will bring together makers, artists, cultural organizations, and communities from across Unama’ki Cape Breton for seven days of creativity, connection, and hands-on experiences. From workshops and artist talks to exhibitions, studio experiences, demonstrations, and the highly anticipated Pottery Throw Down there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy. Craft Week celebrates the incredible talent, traditions, and contemporary craft practices that make Cape Breton so unique, including textiles, ceramics, jewellery, Mi’kmaq craft practices, and more. Best of all? All events and workshop are free or pay-what-you-can because everyone deserves the chance to make, learn, and connect through craft.

Celebration of Life for Andrew David Terris and Announcement of Legacy Award. Friends of Andrew and NSTT invite the community to gather in honour of Andrew David Terris (1943–2025), a cultural visionary, arts advocate, and creative force. Join us Saturday, May 30 at the Cultural Federations of Nova Scotia for Andrew’s Celebration of Life. The celebration will include tributes from friends, colleagues, and members of the arts community, along with performances by local artists. We look forward to this opportunity to gather in gratitude for Andrew’s lifelong contributions to Nova Scotia’s cultural life. The event is pay what you can, and all proceeds will support a new legacy award established in Andrew’s name. Tickets and event details are available here.

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You’re invited to join in fundraising to support people experiencing or who have experienced Breast Cancer in Nova Scotia. Rn’R (Reconnect n’ Revive) Nova Scotia Breast Cancer Retreat Charity are collecting donations of original works of art for an Art Auction to take place online and at the retreat, Sept. 19, 2026. Women across the province come together annually to find support and respite after having a breast cancer diagnosis. The Retreat helps women create connections and support lines with those they may have never met if not for the event. This brings together newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors and those that have been out of treatment or living with the cancer for years. This helps bring hope and a kinship that lasts indefinitely. With assistance through donations, sponsors and purchase of Ad space, they pay for the facilities, food, speakers, instructors, entertainment, decor, and help those that cannot afford the small registration fee to attend the retreat without cost to themselves. They rely on our volunteers to raise funds through small events such as the art auction. A receipt can be forwarded upon request. Please consider contributing for the Rn’R Retreat and helping those in your community connect to support. Charity HST# R125030429. If you would like to arrange for art collection, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer Georgeff, Art Auction Coordinator 902-402-0495, jengeorgeff@hotmail.com. For cash donations, Email or e transfer: breastcancerretreatns@gmail.com or donate direct via website: nsbreastcancerretreat.ca

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia will offer free access to all Nova Scotia residents under 25. Alongside this change, they are also making changes to their membership program. Now there will now be two membership options at the AGNS: single ($75) or dual ($125). This includes unlimited admission, a discount in the shop, and access to member-only events and programs. They will no longer be offering other memberships, including the artist membership (previously $45). Their new Annual Pass for just $28 that provides unlimited admission to the AGNS for one year. While this doesn’t offer all of the same perks as membership, it does create a new, low-cost option for people who just want to visit the AGNS as often as they like. If you want to promote either the Free Access under 25 or Annual Pass check out their website.

Buy a ticket for the Home of Our Hearts Lottery. 13 incredible Cape Breton arts and culture organizations have teamed up to launch something pretty special – In the face of budget cuts, they’re choosing collaboration over competition – because our arts scene isn’t just important… it’s the heartbeat of this island. There is a 50/50 draws every two weeks and proceeds support all 13 organizations. When you buy a ticket, you’re not just taking a chance to win – you’re helping keep craft, art, music, theatre, language, and culture alive in Unama’ki Cape Breton. Grab your ticket!

Creative Homes Halifax has studio space for rent! They run a studio block in Halifax’s North End out of 3200 Kempt Road and currently have both private and shared studio spaces available. Creative Homes Halifax is a home for creative space in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. Their space is home to makers of all kinds, from painters and textile artists to printers and animators. Both the shared studios and private studios at 3200 Kempt Road can accommodate a variety of practices. Contact them to see if Creative Homes Halifax could be the right space for your creativity. Join a new artist community space connecting and collaborating with others. Rent in the shared studios is from $200-$350 per month.

Peer Gallery in Lunenburg is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year! The season opened April 16 and they are open 12:30 to 4:30 pm, Thursday through Sunday. Check out the Gallery members’ exhibition of painting, drawing, original prints, metal arts, and ceramics by Allyson Simmie, Anne Tweed, Audrey Nicol, Barbara McLean, Carol Morrow, Christopher Joyce, Diana Baldwin, Douglas Boutilier, Joan Bruneau, Melissa Nichols-McConnel, Sally Warren, Sharon Fox Cranston, Teresa Bergen and Tom Ward.

A warm congratulations to this year’s Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival juried artists! They’re excited to share the selected artists for the 2026 Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival! This year’s juried group brings together a diverse range of talent, each ready to capture the dramatic landscapes, shifting tides, and unique spirit of our community. Join them June 16 – 21, 2026, as artists paint on location throughout the community, culminating in exhibitions and events that celebrate creativity in the open air. Learn more about the artists, schedule, and how to get involved at pipaf.ca.

Budget cuts will end Artists in the Schools! The Nova Scotia Government’s budget cuts are devastating to the arts, our natural environment, social services, mental health and equity programs. Among these heavy-handed cuts, they eliminated 100% of the provincial support for the Artists in the Schools programs, including PAINTS. If you are an educator, a parent, or a student, you already know that schools are asked to do more with less every day, and arts programs are often first to go. Artists in the Schools programs need to grow, not end. The government can do better. Send a letter to your MLA, the Premier and the Ministers of CCTH & Finance and ask them to reinstate funding for Artists in the Schools.

Kjipuktuk/Halifax galleries, museums, cultural and educational institutions, community groups, and local businesses are invited to submit their plans to participate in Nocturne: Embodied City as part of our signature night-time art experience on Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 6:00 PM – midnight. They encourage proposals of all kinds: interactive installations, performances, community engagement, workshops, collective creating, film screenings – and more! Nocturne’s 2026 Festival Curator, Annalise Prodor selected the theme Embodied City to inform this year’s festival. Applicants are invited to explore this theme within their proposals. Deadline: August 1, 2026, 11:59PM (ADT).

Aisle 4 is pleased to announce the online launch of Silencing in the Arts, a multi-year research project that traces the extent and impact of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) on the Canadian visual arts sector. The project aims to shed light on the culture of silence that permeates the artworld, and the cycles of abuse and professional misconduct that are perpetuated as a result. They initiated Silencing in the Arts out of widespread, sectoral concerns of artists and arts workers signing NDAs without clear understanding of their rights; organizations quietly dissolving without public accountability; and the growing culture of censorship in our industry. The project examines how these compounded issues impact the personal and professional wellbeing of cultural workers across Canada, as well as reinforce power imbalances, limit transparency, and hinder growth in the sector more broadly. Through research and advocacy, they aim to expose these challenges and push for meaningful change. This includes a free online resource for artists and arts workers to better understand their rights when it comes to NDAs, and a national survey to collect vital information about the impacts and prevalence of NDAs in the Canadian visual arts sector. Have you signed, or been asked to sign, a legal agreement that prevents you from speaking about your experience working with a Canadian arts organization? Please consider contributing to this continued research through this anonymous survey. Results will serve to inform arts institutions, funders, and policymakers about the serious harm caused by silencing, advocating to end the misuse of NDAs in the arts sector.

Did you know that The Kalaman Group is now offering fine art logistics and transport services throughout the Maritimes?  Alongside their ongoing work in collection management, cataloguing, and appraisals, their team now provides in the Maritime region:

• White-glove fine art transport for art and objects;
• Expert handling and installation services;
• Custom packaging for delicate and high-value pieces;
• Emergency support for last-minute or time-sensitive packing and moves; and
• Flexible, short leg rural route coverage

Whether you’re preparing for an exhibition, relocating a collection, or need help moving a single piece — The Kalaman Group is here to support with care, discretion, and precision. If you would like to learn more or discuss an upcoming project, feel free to reach out anytime via email (contact@kalamangroup.ca) or fill out their intake form here.

Kiley Brown is a therapist, artist, and founder of The Living Room Therapy. They recently launched a therapy clinic for creatives (artists, writers, performers and so on). It is a cozy, integrative space where artistry and mental health meet. Their work is rooted in the belief that creative people hold a deep capacity to transform pain into meaning, but that process can often feel isolating without the right kind of support. Kiley focuses on working with artists, makers, and creative professionals who are navigating burnout, identity shifts, or the emotional ups and downs that come with a life of expression. As both a therapist and creative, they understand how personal and vulnerable the creative process can be and how mental health care tailored to that experience can make all the difference. Accessibility is really important, so they also offer a sliding-scale fee structure and options for artists without insurance or those experiencing financial strain. The goal is to make mental health care feel approachable, affirming, and genuinely supportive for those doing creative work in the world.

Arts Consultants Canada / Consultants canadiens en arts (ACCA) have released the results from the 2025 feasibility study for a Canadian network for cultural management. This 2025 study assessed the appetite and requirements for a ‘Canadian Network for Cultural Management’—a community of practice that would fill an identified gap and facilitate knowledge sharing, professional development, and collaboration among cultural management professionals and post-secondary educators. They are pleased to share the Executive Summary of the study’s final report with you, along with the detailed full report attached as a PDF. You may read the Executive Summary, and there is also a download link for the full 50-page report.Thanks to the many people in Canada’s cultural sector who participated in this feasibility study.

Andrew David Terris, arts advocate and former Director of Visual Arts Nova Scotia, passed away in 2025. A special award has been established by the Nova Scotia Talent Trust to honour Andrew’s contribution to the arts in Nova Scotia. If you would like to make a donation to support this award, please visit their website and select “Andrew David Terris Legacy Award” from the drop-down menu.

Join 2b at the Video Difference Arts Hub on Quinpool Road in Halifax. They currently have a private 105sqft office available for long term lease that could be perfect for your organization’s office or as a studio for an individual artist.  They’ve been so thrilled to host several pop-events in the Video Difference Lobby.  Whether it’s an afternoon, or a full weekend takeover- it’s the perfect space for a thrift shop, art market, etc! They also have artist housing available. The process and policies for housing have been evolving, and they’ve been making changes/adjustments to better suit the incoming inquiries, schedules, etc. If you are interested in any of these spaces, please send an inquiry to bookings@2btheatre.com. 

NYC podcast History UnErased chooses a local Nova Scotian artist’s graphic novel for inclusion in LGBTQ school curricula. Lynette Richards’ book Call Me Bill (Conundrum Press) reveals the life of ‘the mysterious female sailor’, who died in the 1873 wreck of the SS Atlantic. Listen to the podcast here.

The Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art at Concordia University is pleased to present Craft & Craftivism: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Ceramic, Fibre, and Glass Artists in Canada, a free, three-volume e-publication co-edited by Loren Lerner, Janice Anderson, Shannon Stride, and Karine Antaki. This publication features professional biographies of nearly 350 artists, with an emphasis on the artists’ works in relation to materials, techniques, processes, creative inspiration, and artistic vision. Also featured are artists who blend craft with activism, using their works to convey social and political commentary, challenge the status quo, and advocate for change.

Gallery on Lincoln, a contemporary fine art gallery owned and operated by 11 respected Nova Scotia artist-entrepreneurs, officially opened its doors on April 3, 2025. Gallery on Lincoln is located at 167 Lincoln Street, in the very heart of “Gallery Row” in Lunenburg, NS – one of Canada’s most-loved UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The gallery features a dynamic collection of contemporary landscape, figurative, still life, and abstract works created by a talented and professional group of artists whose work is held in public and private collections around the world. Gallery artists include Catherine Bagnell Styles, Michelle Darwin, MJ Dominey, Lynn Ellis, Janet Griffen, Mary Kersell, Paulette Melanson, Mary Morey, David Shimp, Katy Maria Shimp, and Sharon Wadsworth- Smith.

Creative Pictou County is thrilled to have an artist studio in the new deCoste Culture Hub at 99 Water Street in Pictou. This beautiful open space is ready for artists to teach their craft to the community. Artists can rent on an hourly basis. For full details including rental rates and how to apply, please visit their website.

There are many things to consider when shipping art abroad. Each country has its own requirements for temporary and permanent imports. Prepare in advance to avoid unexpected travel delays! Make sure you have your paperwork in order ahead of time. Check out CARFAC’s tips on taking artwork over the border. Due to ongoing tariff discussions between Canada and the United States, there may be changes affecting the movement of artworks across the border. They strongly recommend consulting a customs broker and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for the most up-to-date and accurate information on current regulations and potential costs. If you want to know more about the ever changing situation with tariffs, they have a note on that as well.

The Canadian government has passed Bill S-202 which will create Canada’s first parliamentary visual artist laureate (like the poet laureate). The visual artist laureate position will be a two-year term, with a mandate to promote, foster, develop and bring awareness to the visual arts in Canada. The visual arts laureate will produce art or “cause to be produced artistic creations at the request of the Speaker, especially for use in Parliament on occasions of state,” as well as sponsor artistic events, including exhibitions, and give advice on the collection and acquisitions for the Library of Parliament. Details are still being finalized, but the position will be open to all Canadians and the primary official language will alternate.  Applications for the new position will be made to the Library of Parliament. The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons will select the parliamentary visual artist laureate from three names submitted in confidence by a committee that includes the Parliamentary Librarian of Canada, the director of the National Gallery of Canada, the commissioner of Official Languages for Canada, the chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts and the president of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts or designates.

Nova Scotia based Caribou Loft Art Prints is a growing e-commerce retailer specializing in large format giclée art prints with a Canadian influence. They’re currently seeking up-and-coming Canadian artists, painters, photographers and digital creators to partner with them in an endeavour to bring Canadian inspired art to the home decor market. Artists represented at the loft will remain full copyright holders of their work, receive a 30% commission on sales and rentals, and receive a 10% discount at their print lab. They’re also waiving all fees associated with the digital scanning of any artwork under contract with the loft where applicable. All styles are encouraged to submit. Please be sure to tell them about yourself and include links to your work. They’re also happy to answer any questions you may have. Visit www.caribouloft.art or e-mail your submissions directly to: submissions@caribouloft.art.

ArtSeen is a digital venue that showcases contemporary art programming, creators and practices from a variety of artist-run and community arts organisations. In spring of 2020 ARTSPLACE, located in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, was awarded funding through the Canada Council Digital Strategy Fund to develop capacity to run hybrid (digital and in-person) programming and to develop a strategy to amplify its programming impact. After a period of consultation with various stakeholders, it was decided creating a website designed as a digital venue would best serve our shared initiatives. ArtSeen first went live in Fall 2022 and officially launched December 2023. The project continues to recruit partners to work collaboratively, broaden contemporary art audiences and amplify the work of artist-run and community-led initiatives and the artists they present. Would your gallery or organisation like to be an ArtSeen collaborator?
ArtSeen is managed and maintained by ARTSPLACE. They are always looking to add to our community of contributing partners. If your organisation is interested in learning more about how to join ArtSeen, please contact admin@arcac.ca.

Therapeutic Arts Practitioner Gerard McNeil MEd, BEd (VAS), BFA,TAPC is excited to offer a new therapeutic arts service. This service is designed for those who want new ways to explore personal growth, stress reduction and overall mental wellness. To facilitate these therapeutic services a range of media from drawing to digital imaging will be utilized with a focus on personal development and wellness for individuals and community wellness for organizations and groups. McNeil is offering Personal Development and Wellness sessions (including Creative Wellness Through the Lens, and Creative Wellness One–to–One) as well as Community Wellness (Creative Wellness Through Connections). For more information about this therapeutic arts service, you can check out the website www.gerardmcneil.com/creative-wellness.html, contact Gerard by phone at 902-456-0861 or by e-mail at gmcneiltap@gmail.com.

Do you like to sketch? Want to share your passion for urban sketching with other like minded artists? Why not join the Urban Sketchers Halifax Facebook group.  Here you can share your urban sketches with other members and you will have the opportunity to attend a weekly sketchout.  Each week, they meet at a different location and sketch that location on-site in your medium of choice.  You are not obligated to attend each week, but the opportunity is there.  They are a very friendly, helpful group that love to share their passion for urban sketching.  They would love to have you join.  No fees of any kind.

Plein air painting/sketching immerses you in your surroundings. Artists often find their outdoor work is more spontaneous and vibrant than studio work. To succeed you need simply need to be persistent, and patient. Painting with others builds camaraderie and self-confidence. We recommend you join in group critiques. They are educational and act as social contact. Several plein air groups exist in Nova Scotia. Of those listed here, the groups meet weekly, rain or shine. You decide whether to come or not. No event is canceled or rescheduled due to weather. PAAHRM and PAAAV (Plein Air Artists HRM and Plein Air Artists Annapolis Valley) meet Thursdays with an optional date on a weekend. Some prefer weekdays. Some prefer weekends. Some like to go twice to each paint-out site. There are no fees involved with any of these groups. All artistic levels are accepted.

AFCOOP is proud to begin streaming 50 selected works from their nearly 50 years of helping members and the greater community make great films! There is so much work in the basements and closets of Atlantic filmmakers that is in danger of being lost to time. The AFCOOP Archives seeks to address this imminent loss by providing digital storage and an online streaming portal for the preservation and dissemination of AFCOOP members’ and community films.

Artists in Canada has a fixed pension plan for visual artists. Started in 2016. This Pension Plan is for all Canadian Artists (Visual Artists, Musicians, Writers, Performance, Graphic, Web development and Film Artists). Commercial, Public Art Galleries and Art Resource businesses and their staff are also eligible.

ART= WORK T-Shirts Available! VANL-CARFAC is excited to be re-launching the ART=WORK campaign in partnership with the Mary MacDonald Foundation. This joint fundraiser will support visual artists, curators, and art workers living in Newfoundland and Labrador through programs and awards distributed by their organizations. The T-shirts are $20 each and come in sizes include, XS (ladies S), S, M, L, XL, 2XL.

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Awards and Funding

Tourism Nova Scotia is offering the Tourism Digital Assistance Program for Communities which will provide up to $15,000 in services from a qualified digital expert to help communities bridge the digital gap and improve their online marketing and services to attract visitors and encourage spending. The pilot program expands on the successful Tourism Digital Assistance Program for businesses and will also be delivered in partnership with Digital Nova Scotia.

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Education

Sign up today for Taking Back the Narrative: Zines and DIY Print Publishing,  Saturday, June 6, 1 – 3pm at the MacPhee Centre in Dartmouth. We are living alongside a digital world that increasingly censors the experiences and bodies of marginalized people and communities. When we can’t rely on social media platforms to share our knowledge and experiences, what other tools can we turn to?  In this workshop we’ll learn about the radical and educational origins of Zines, learn basic at-home bookbinding and Zine-making techniques, and explore community benefits of skill-sharing and DIY distribution.

A Watercolour Botanicals workshop is happening at The Craig Gallery in Dartmouth June 7th and 14th, 12:00-1:30 pm. Come paint with Judy and Jessica Olu from Adanne Designs on the beautiful Dartmouth waterfront for a relaxing watercolour workshop. Adanne Designs is a Nova Scotia–based duo of sisters who create greeting cards, paintings, bookmarks, and more—capturing everything from florals and fauna to vibrant scenery through thoughtfully crafted watercolours. Join them for two creative sessions designed for all skill levels, where you’ll be guided step-by-step as you explore colour, flow, and your own artistic style. Cost is $50 for 2 sessions. Max 10 participants. All materials are included and no experience is needed.

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Beyond the Surface: Abstract Painting with Wayne Boucher is open for registration for 3 more people! This 4-day abstract painting workshop at ARTSPLACE in Annapolis Royal, NS on July 17-20.Wayne has stated, “This is probably the last 4 day workshop that I will do, I will do other workshops but not as long or as intensive”. The purpose of the workshop is to have the artists express an idea through a painting medium. The workshop involves approaches to painting and presentation, use of materials, tools, critical thinking, editing and processes of application in formulating meaning through paint. The objective of the workshop through preliminary explorations, and studies is to create a responsive dialogue in bringing essential elements of signification and process into a final work. This is intensive and vigorous four-day workshop, where Wayne Boucher works one-on-one with artists, and in a group critique to provide a forum for constructive evaluation and progress. The course costs $400.

The NSCAD Extended Studies Spring term is just about to bloom! Classes begin soon. What will you MAKE? They have Adult Classes including classic courses and new offerings this term, including a bootcamp for Drawing Hands and Feet, Introductory Black and White Film Photography, Intro to Throwing, Watercolour Painting, Make Do and Mend,  Digital Illustration and more. You can choose between in person and online courses. They also have classes for teens and kids coming up soon, including Saturday morning or afternoon art classes this spring for ages 5-18.

Medalta in Medicine Hat Alberta is offering Lindsay Montgomery’s Summer workshop: Crafting Narratives With Maiolica. Lindsay is a nationally and internationally known ceramic artist and educator. Her works investigate our society through a feminist lens, drawing on Western folklore, personal narrative and pop culture. She uses earthenware clay and majolica technique, which originated in Italy. Majolica is a white tin glaze that uses colour to decorate the surface before firing. During the intensive 9-day workshop, she will guide participants to explore sculptures in both 2D and 3D, discovering how drawing, painting, and sculpture can come together on clay. $1,281 +GST.

Have you seen all the great workshops going on at Makers Studio and Art Market in Windsor? They have classes in pottery, loom weaving, needle felting, rag rug making, arranging dried flowers, and more. They have options at various levels of experience and the workshops are very reasonably priced. They also have drop-in days for pottery if you want to book a session on the wheel.

Lunenburg School of the Arts offers workshops led by professional art educators and working artists. Their Summer courses are filling up quick — don’t delay, register today! The small and intimate class sizes allow students to work closely with instructors and each other, fostering self-expression in a supportive atmosphere. LSA offers courses in a wide variety of mediums, our programs encourage exploration, discovery and development of skills and ideas.

Deanne Fitzpatrick Rug Hooking Studio in Amherst has just finished creating something they’re really proud of: Create Beauty Everyday an 88-page, ad-free magazine all about art, creativity, and rug hooking. It’s filled with beautiful imagery and heartfelt stories from artists and makers from across Canada and the US, people who find beauty in the everyday. They are excited to connect with new artists and craftspeople to feature in future issues. Check out their magazine here and all their online courses here.

Wondering what a tariff is, how it’s collected, and how it affects Canadian artists? With so much uncertainty in our trade relations with the US, Canadian artists who sell art in the US or rely on American materials could be facing rising costs and new export challenges. Staying on top of changes to export rules can be frustrating and stressful. With this in mind, CARFAC has compiled some resources to help you navigate this challenging environment. Check out their resources on what Canadian artists need to know about US tariffs.

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Employment 

NSCAD is hiring! The following courses for Fall 2026 are currently unassigned to Full- time, Pro- Rated, or Sessional faculty members. Individuals who feel they are qualified to teach any of the listed courses are asked to submit an application to dean.academic@nscad.ca Office of Academic Affairs and Research specifying the course(s) for which they wish to be considered. Applicants should include a current curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy and an artist statement, and a portfolio with 20 examples of your work in digital format (JPEG or PDF preferred). AHIS applicants should include a CV and statement of teaching philosophy. Courses include Intro to Ceramics for Design, Introductory Animation, Introductory Filmmaking, and many more. Deadline: June 1. (Review of applications will begin immediately).

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Nocturne is pleased to announce their call for the 2028 Festival Curator! The Festival Curator will develop a vision/theme for the festival and will curate the Anchor Project program. Nocturne’s Anchor Project program consists of site-specific installations and performance art activations at sites across Halifax and Dartmouth. The selected applicant(s) will receive a curatorial fee of $10,000 CAD for development of the theme, selection of artists, and administration of the curator-selected Anchor Project program for the 2028 festival. Proposals for curatorial teams will also be accepted. Deadline: July 6, 11:59 pm (ADT).

Confederation Centre in PEI is hiring a Curator. Reporting to the Director of Confederation Centre Art Gallery (CCAG), the Curator directs the gallery’s exhibition and public programming initiatives and oversees collecting, research and publications. The Curator is the public face of the artistic direction of CCAG, mediating between the work of Canadian artists and publics. The Curator plays a key role in cultivating and sustaining strong, long-term relationships with artists, donors, Board members, staff, volunteers, and other CCAG stakeholders, including a variety of engaged publics. The ideal candidate is a creative, self-driven professional with exceptional interpersonal and organizational abilities. They possess a well-established network and a strong knowledge base in Canadian and contemporary art. The Curator is expected to travel for studio visits, research, and relationship-building opportunities. They encourage applications from the BIPOC community, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Where requested, they will provide accommodations to candidates for all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. This position is represented by The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local B906. The starting annual salary as of April 1, 2026 (0-6 months) is $69,574. This is a full-time, permanent position for 37.5 hours per week.

A list of presenters/galleries that pay the CARFAC/RAAV Minimum Fee for artist exhibitions was compiled by CARFAC Maritimes to guide the membership in their search for paying venues. You will find public galleries, galleries in other establishments, artist cooperatives and artist run centres. They will update the list on a regular basis. Should you find any information missing or incorrect, kindly let them know at anna.rail@carfacmaritimes.org  with the pertinent information and they will make the necessary changes immediately. Here is the link to the list:  http://www.carfacmaritimes.org/en/exhibition-opportunities-maritimes/

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Events

Antigonish Culture Alive is excited to announce their annual cake-themed fundraising extravaganza on Sunday, June 7th, from 2-4pm at Candid Brewing! ALL YOU NEED IS CAKE is an all-ages event filled with cake, improv performances from Antigonish Improv, live cake decorating from professional artists, a silent auction and cake walk, a cupcake decorating competition for kids, and lots of cake! Tickets are $10.

Carnival of Colours, a fundraiser for Chester Art Centre, expands into a weekend of art, music, and immersive experience in Chester, NS. The Chester Art Centre invites you to experience an unforgettable celebration of creativity as Charm Diamond Centres’ Carnival of Colours returns in 2026, now expanded into a vibrant, three-event festival weekend. Taking place Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th, 2026 , this signature fundraiser transforms Chester into a dynamic hub of art, music, and immersive experiences. all in support of arts and arts education on Nova Scotia’s South Shore.

What does Wolfville have in store for you this weekend? ArtLove Festival Tour Wolfville is happening this Friday, May 29 at the Devour! Building in Wolfville.
Come for a free evening of art, creativity, community, and fun and watch the live speed painting competition! Meet local artists, connect with friends and neighbours, and celebrate the amazing talent in the community. Doors open at 6:00 PM, event begins at 6:30 PM. No RSVP required — just show up and enjoy the evening! Want to register and get a free ticket anyway? You can do that here.

Join The Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival on Saturday, June 20, 2026 for the PIPAF Awards Night Gala! An inspiring evening celebrating the Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival. Be the first to view and collect new work from our 30 juried artists, celebrate award-winning artists, and enjoy the energy of Parrsboro’s vibrant arts community. Purchase your tickets here.

Join Dalhousie Art Gallery this Thursday at Treaty Space Gallery in Halifax for a conversation with curator Nahom Assefa and artist, filmmaker, and writer Sylvia D. Hamilton, moderated by Pamela Edmonds. Presented in conjunction with In Relation: Black Material Life & Memory on Mi’kma’ki, the conversation will reflect on Black cultural memory, African Nova Scotian histories, material culture, archives, and the ways knowledge is carried through objects, images, stories, and relationships. In Relation is a group exhibition that brings together historical and contemporary works, reference books, and objects connected to African Nova Scotian, Black Canadian, African diasporic, and Ethiopian cultural memory. The discussion will consider works by Edith Clayton, Clara Clayton Gough, Sylvia D. Hamilton, Jan Wade, Kwame Owusu Brobbey, Tyshan Wright, and others, alongside Nahom’s use of Ethiopian objects such as the gabi and mesob. Together, Nahom, Sylvia, and Pamela will speak about curatorial process, mentorship, Black material life, the significance of presenting the exhibition at Treaty Space Gallery, and the responsibilities of working with community histories. The event is Thursday, May 28,  6:00 – 7:00 pm at the Treaty Space Gallery, 1887 Granville Street, Halifax.

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Critique as Gift Crit Club is launching pilot crit program open to the arts community in Halifax and beyond. Three in-person sessions are scheduled for May 26, June 28, and July 26 at Wonder’neath, 2482 Maynard Street, Halifax. Critique as Gift is an ongoing research project exploring new ways of practicing critique by collaborators Laura Bucci and Katherine Diemert. For full info and to book your spot visit: https://critiqueasgift.wordpress.com/. You can present work or participate solely as a responder. A minimum of 8 participants are needed to run the program and a maximum of 16 participants can be in attendance, this includes the 3 presenting artists. Laura and Katherine will both be present as facilitators. Their intention is to create an environment that supports the artist in doing their best work. They do this by guiding attendees (presenters and responders) in using a modified critique framework based on Critical Response Process (CRP) founded by Liz Lerman. They also help the presenting artists prepare for the crit with a ‘Prep’ email that invites reflection on their needs. They highly recommend that you review the CRP website before you attend your first session. Want to receive feedback on your creative work? You can present work in progress or a finished single artwork, or a series, 2D, 3D, performance, or other media pending space and equipment needs. Reserve your spot and express interest at checkout that you’d like to present. The first 3 people to express interest in presenting will be able to receive a critique. You can present at one event and register as a responder for any of the other dates. You can attend all three events but only present once for this three-month period.

Gallery on Lincoln, a contemporary, artist-owned and operated fine art gallery, has reopened for its second season on Lincoln Street, in the heart of Lunenburg’s vibrant arts district. The gallery offers a thoughtfully curated collection of contemporary work spanning landscape, figurative, still life, abstract, photography, and 3D media. It brings together a talented group of Nova Scotia artists whose work is held in public and private collections around the world. After a successful first year that welcomed thousands of visitors from across North America and beyond, the gallery returns with fresh energy and new work for the season ahead. Gallery artists include Catherine Bagnell Styles, MJ Dominey, Lynn Ellis, Janet Griffen, Mary Kersell, Paulette Melanson, Mary Morey, and Sharon Wadsworth-Smith. New this season are Guy Cranston and Heather Sayeau. Gallery on Lincoln is open April through December, 11 am–5 pm daily (closed Tuesdays).

Harvest Gallery in Wolfville invites you to PRESS, their annual printmaking exhibition. This year’s exhibition features new work by a select group of Nova Scotia Printmakers, including Bonnie Baker; Diana Baldwin; Cecil Day; David Gillespie; Sheri Hancock; Sydney Lancaster; Laura MacDonald; Joyce Martin; John Neville; Leonard Paul; Rachel Reeve; Steven Rhude; Julie Rosvall; Kath Kornelsen Rutherford; Robert Rutherford; Anna Syperek and of course, Alex Colville. The show runs  May 2 – 31st.

Head to the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design to see Ground Rules: Materia! They’re excited to welcome you to this powerful new exhibition curated by Fabiyino Germain-Bajowa, bringing together the work of 12 artists across ceramics, textiles, painting, sculpture, and sound. Ground Rules: Materia explores how the smallest moments—shaped by land, movement, and shared experience—come together to influence our collective future. Developed during a five-day residency in Cape Breton Highlands National Park last June, the exhibition invites visitors to slow down, look closer, and reflect on the quiet power held in everyday details. The exhibition runs April 16 – June 26.

Peer Gallery opened it’s doors for their 25th season on April 17th with an exciting all-members exhibition. Open Thursday through Sunday 12:30 to 4:30. Allyson Simmie, Anne Tweed, Audrey Nicoll, Barb McLean, Carol Morrow, Chris Joyce, Diana Baldwin, Doug Boutilier, Joan Bruneau, Melissa Nichols-McConnell, Sally Warren, Sharon Fox Cranston, Teresa Bergen and Tom Ward. Members continue showing through until May 17th. A feature show of original prints work by Diana Baldwin and Ed Porter entitled Landscapes of the Heart and Mind runs from May 6th through 17th. Open daily (except Monday) from 12:30 to 4:30. Artist’s Reception May 9th. Remembering a retrospective of the work of Peer founder Susan Hudson RCA (1941 – 2026) will fill the gallery from May 19th through 31st.

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Residencies

Eyelevel is accepting submissions for their annual summer local emerging artist residency program, HEAT WAVES. The residency will span from July 1st to 31st, with the four selected artists working in the shared studio room at 2482 Maynard Street, operated by Wonder’neath and The Blue Building Gallery. This program is designed for local, early-emerging artists with limited or no professional experience in the arts, who face systemic barriers to accessing professional opportunities. Folks unfamiliar with Eyelevel are encouraged to read their mandate before applying. Heat Waves is a great fit for artists who have had limited or no paid professional opportunities in the visual arts (such as exhibitions, residencies and performances where professional/CARFAC fees have been paid). Deadline: June 8.

The Shannon Residency at Beinn Mhàbu offers artists the opportunity to live and explore their craft in Mabou, Cape Breton Island. Artists are provided with meals, living accommodations, and a workspace for six weeks on Cape Breton’s beautiful western coast known for its living Gaelic culture and unspoiled beauty (any additional fees incurred by artist are the artists’ responsibility). The historic setting within a newly-renovated building — recognized for past educational, community, and spiritual contributions, and now on a new journey as a cultural education hub — provides a peaceful and reflective space, perfectly suited to the creation of new ideas or development of one’s craft. Opportunities exist to immerse oneself in the living Gaelic culture of the wider region, to engage with the Beinn Mhàbu student population, and with North America’s only Gaelic immersion primary school, Taigh Sgoile na Drochaide. Artists may be based within any medium – writing, poetry/song, visual arts, music, dance, craft, film, etc. Proposals may focus on creative expression, research, education, collaborative explorations, according to the artists’ wishes. Taking into consideration the mandate of Beinn Mhàbu as a culturally-rooted and community-focused institution, applicants should demonstrate how their work might relate to local Gaelic culture and/or how they might integrate with the wider community of Mabou and surrounding areas during their time here. Please note that travel costs to and from Mabou, as well as any costs with the artists’ work are the responsibility of the artist. Deadline (for two 2027 Winter/ Spring terms): July 31.

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The Grantham Foundation residency program consists of a four-week research-creation stay at the Foundation, followed by a public presentation of the works in progress (residency showcase). This stay offers artists in residence time for reflection and creation on the Foundation’s premises, as well as the opportunity to build connections with the diverse communities of Centre-du-Québec, a predominantly Francophone region. For this stage, the selected artist will receive a grant of $5,000 CAD. While not making it a requirement, the Grantham Foundation encourages artists to submit projects inspired by the specific characteristics of the environment in which the Foundation is located. The program is aimed at visual artists residing in Quebec, Canada or abroad, with a minimum of five years of professional practice. Submitted projects must align with the mission and objectives of the Grantham Foundation. By visual arts, the expert committee means practices recognized as such professionally: photographic, installation, sculptural, pictorial, graphic and performance practices, as well as sound, digital and media arts. The Foundation’s pavilion is located on the banks of a small river, in a wooded area at the edge of a forest, in the French-speaking municipality of Saint-Edmond-de-Grantham, about 100 km east of Montreal. Deadline: May 27.

Bareneedstudios Artist Retreat and Residency is located in Bareneed on the Port de Grave Peninsula, a one hour drive west from St. Johns, Newfoundland. The year-round dual studio space offers artists, curators and creative types a getaway from their everyday existence – an experience framed within a unique geographic and cultural context. Bareneedstudios encourages cultural exchange through local, provincial, national and international artists-in residence for durations of one to six months. It will accept artists of all kinds, but with some exceptions based on the materials used. Art modalities sustained by Bareneedstudios but not limited to include: visual arts, small scale sculpture, writing, film-making, theatre arts, music, craft, dance. The residency costs $600 CAN per studio per week and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Ou Gallery is a warm and beautiful space curated to support creatives in their artistic journey on Vancouver Island; a stunning, nature-filled place. Come to decompress, gather new inspiration alongside like-minded artists and writers, and devote space and time to create. The Ou-telier is an independent and process based residency; a place for you to decompress, experiment, research and play. They love hosting folks who are self-directed, focused and kind, and our hope is that you will leave the residency feeling rested, renewed and inspired. They welcome applications from emerging and established writers, painters, photographers, textile and 2D artists. Artists have 24/hr access to their own designated studio in a shared space. Each studio is approx. 250 square feet in a historic boatbuilding workshop with open rafters and original fir floors. Fees: 2 weeks $1,250 CAD, 4 weeks $2,500 CAD. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

A Position on Retreat focuses on creating experiences of connection to the natural world, personal well-being, and self-actualization to cultivate creative expression and flow. They aim to create experiences between the natural world of Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island and the curated groups of artists that reorient us to the collective goals of peace, acceptance, and wholeness. The program welcomes all media of artistic expression, including painting, drawing, digital photography, video, film, 3D animation, AI, creative coding, game development, XR, emerging digital practices, web3, creative and academic writing, and more. They aim to balance digital/emerging practices with traditional practices. Residents can select whether they would like individual/self-directed time or if they would like to participate in skill and conceptual development. They also offer thematic residencies throughout the year. Two-week residencies cost $1300. There is no deadline to apply.

Studio H Canada International Artist Residency and the Northern Women Arts Collaborative are excited to announce a new textile residency in honour of artist, activist, and social worker Irene Borins Ash (1952-2020). Irene was passionate about weaving and art in all its forms. She gifted the studio her Leclerc Tapestry Loom and to honour her memory and her art, we are now offering a partially funded, one-month intensive textile residency. This residency is open to proposals of experimental to traditional and hybrid approaches to weaving. Textile artists interested in tapestry weaving using the Leclerc Loom (Tissart model pre-1990), are invited to apply for this special residency to undertake new work and research in Metchosin, BC Canada – the unceded territories of the Sci’anew First Nation. The selected artist may choose a one-month period for the residency, but some months may be more relevant in the local community. The selected artist is welcome to propose a longer period for the residency which may not be fully funded. $1,500 CAD stipend. January 2024-April 2024.

Studio H Canada art residency and exchange is hosted in Metchosin, a rural municipality of Victoria, BC. Artists from around the world and Canada, in all disciplines and media, are invited to engage in collaborative projects or to develop new work on their own in this creative and inspiring setting. The vision of the Studio H Canada Art Residency program is to create meaningful, collaborative connections between artists from around the world and Canada, in all media and walks of life, that will result in new art, opportunities, friendships, and supportive circles of creativity. Artists can create, exhibit, do public presentations and workshops, research, and network. Fees for the art residency average $40 – $60 per day. There is no deadline to apply.

The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts in Canning offers residencies to professional artists working in one or more of the following media: visual art, writing, theatre, dance, film, music, performance art, photography, fibre arts and video. Their residencies provide a spectacular rural environment free from distraction. Each season offers a unique and changing landscape guaranteed to inspire artists of all disciplines. Apply individually or as a collaborative team looking to make some creative explorations in a safe and welcoming space. Ongoing submissions are welcome.

Apply to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Caetani Cultural Centre (a historic heritage house) in the small town of Vernon, BC. The residency is open to emerging and established artists and writers in most mediums: installation, earthworks, sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, digital media, printmaking, etc. Fees range from $10 – $35 per day, depending on the room, studio and season. There is a minimum two week stay. Applications for Caetani Cultural Centre’s Self-Directed Artist-in-Residence Program are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Looking for artist residencies? Res Artis: Worldwide Network of Arts Residencies is a 26 year old network of arts residency operators from around the globe. Their easy to navigate website has tons of listing of open calls from organizations around the world, or you can search their list of residencies by location, disciplines, fees, and more. They also link all the residency descriptions back to the individual arts organizations websites.

The 360 Xochi Quetzal Artist and Writer’s Residency Program is located in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on the shores of the largest lake in the country where the perfect year-round climate and stunning lake and mountain views have long established the region as an international artist mecca. They now offer four live/work spaces. Residents will be inspired by the natural beauty, history and culture of this special part of central Mexico. They offer a personal residency that can be applied for throughout the year.

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Submissions

Inkwell Modern Handmade Boutique in Halifax is seeking to consign handmade products for their retail and online stores! Do you have work you’d like to see featured at Inkwell? Or maybe you know a maker who produces great handmade items? The talent of the local and international maker community is infinite. They believe representation matters and those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Disabled and any minority groups are encouraged to apply. Know a maker who might be interested in working with Inkwell? They look forward to seeing what you’ve been making!

The J. Franklin Wright Gallery in Port Hawkesbury welcomes submissions from visual artists at all stages of their career for their 2022 season. Submissions must include; CV, Biography – 100 words max, Project Proposal – 500 words max (please note in your proposal whether there are any special requirements), 5- 10 images relevant to your project (Image list – artist’s name, title of work, medium, dimensions and date). Please see their page for more information and floor plan of the gallery. There are no hanging fees; however, a 25% commission from sales arranged directly between the artist and the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre is charged. Please forward submissions to: ryansharon2012@gmail.com. There is no deadline for submissions.

The CSARN Mentoring Program. CSARN (the Canadian Senior Artists Resource Network) offers emerging and transitioning professional artists the guidance of a mentor with a lifetime of talent and experience to share. Their award-winning mentors have inspired and empowered and they want to empower the next generation of artists so that they also can change the world. There is no cost to our program. In fact, mentors for their time and cover mentees’ expenses. Mentors and mentees must be professional artists. If you are not sure you qualify, read the Canadian Artist Code. For more information see their website. 

The Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo is looking to build a database of artists who work with glass, clay, and ceramics. This database would be for research purposes with the intention of finding artists to potentially work with in the future- whether that is through exhibition opportunities or otherwise. Interested artists are encouraged to visit the following link: https://forms.gle/cnxk3rob6yZp19uS8 or contact Cheyenne Mapplebeck directly at Cheyenne.mapplebeck@gmail.com.

C Magazine is seeking to expand their pool of writers. Do you want to write for C Magazine? If yes, enter yourself in their Writer Directory. The purpose of this directory is to allow writers at all experience levels to express interest in working with C Magazine, and to tell them a bit about themselves, without pitching a specific piece. By completing this form, you are consenting to the possibility that you could be contacted by C’s editorial team for an assignment at any time. They pay all contributors a minimum of 35 cents/word (CAD).  If you’d like to pitch something specific, please visit the submissions page to read about C Magazine’s sections, style, and submission guidelines.

Artwork Archive just published their Complete Guide to Artist Grants and Opportunities. They’ve compiled a list of artist grants, residencies, and calls-for-entry in the upcoming year and although some of them are US specific, there are several international opportunities as well. You can download a free copy of the guide and start submitting your applications!

The Teichert Gallery at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is currently accepting submissions. New works are juried biweekly by their volunteer accessions committee who meet every other Monday. The deadline for submission is every other Sunday before 3pm. Artists may submit up to five works at a time. Please have your works titled (title should be written on the back of the work along with your name) and attach or email your biography, CV, or both. You will need to determine the sale price for you work. The gallery’s commission rate is 35%. If you are unsure about pricing your work they encourage you to browse around the gallery and look at comparable works. Works may be dropped off anytime during gallery hours, no need to set up an appointment. For more information see their submission guidelines.

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Nova Scotia Exhibition Listings

ANNA LEONOWENS GALLERY (NSCAD), HALIFAX: Gallery 1: Forged in Flesh, Ruby Gillam; Gallery 2A: Warping Worlds, Bree Kuhnen and Beth Neville; Urbania, Ruben Viktor Valentine, May 26 – 30. Gallery 1: Pieces Of Home, Ensiyeh Dekhani; Gallery 2A: Petra Phantasma; Petra Bouwers; Gallery 2B: SLEEPOVER, Annette MacLellan; Gallery 3: storylike, Elliot Grantham, June 2 – 6.

ARTCAN GALLERY, CANNING: Relics of Neverville, Frank Forrestall, June 6 – 27.

ART GALLERY OF NOVA SCOTIA, HALIFAX: Conceptual Art and the Camera, January 24 – November 30.Mi’kma’ki Artists’ Spotlight: Gordon Sparks, until September 13. Jawbone Corner: Watercolours of Henry M. Rosenberg, ongoing. Blacklight, May 3 – ongoing. TA’N A’SIKATIKL SIPU’L | CONFLUENCE, ongoing. Maud Lewis, ongoing. From One to Many Natures, ongoing. Conversations With Jipijka’m, Diane Langevin, until May 4. Place In Mind, Annika Sinclair, April 11 – September 13. (Tea)chings: Clay mask medicine, March 14 – December 31. On The Matter of Memory: The Drawings of Harold Cromwell, until September 13.

ARTSPLACE, ANNAPOLIS ROYAL: In the Spirit of Colour, Ross Reynolds; Pilgrimage Through Uncertain Worlds, Frank Forestall; Wandering Through Trees, Group exhibition project of The Robert Pope Foundation; Afterburn, Group exhibition, April 18 – May 30. AWEC Art Show, May 16 – 30. Library Gallery: Peripheral Visions, Sage Sidley, June 6 – 27. Chapel Gallery: We Are Nova Scotia, Anne Launcelot, June 6 – July 2. Mym Gallery: Inscapes: A Photographic and Mixed Media Exploration, Cheryl Mootoo, June 6 – July 25. Main Gallery: In Place: Photographs, objects, stories, Katherine Knight, Barbara Lounder, June 6 – July 25. Opening reception: June 6, 12 – 2pm.

THE BLUE BUILDING GALLERY, HALIFAX: How to be…excerpts from how to be 57, 2018, lucie chan, May 2 – June 13.

CAPE BRETON CENTRE FOR CRAFT & DESIGN, SYDNEY: Ground Rules: Materia, Diana Brown, Elise Campbell, Ashley Anne Clark, Miranda Crabtree, Daniel Edmonds, Kristi Farrier, Caoife Garvey, Teresa Jolliffe, Mary Larade, Liam Ross, Cyd Sparrow, and Catherine Vardy, April 16 – June 26.

CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY, SYDNEY: Hot Pursuit (The Fabled Chase), The Powers (Katherine Kline, Jessica Mensch, and Emily Pelstring), April 10 – June 19. Understory, Bailee Higgins, May 8 – June 19.

CHESTER ART CENTRE, CHESTER: Forest Heights Show, May 21 – 31. Fishers, Curtis Botham, June 11 – 28. Opening reception: June 12, 5 – 7pm.

THE CRAIG GALLERY, DARTMOUTH: Main Gallery and Case Gallery: Spectrum, Dartmouth Visual Arts Society, May 27 – June 28. Opening reception: May 28, 5 – 7pm.

CREATIVE WORKS GALLERY, PARRSBORO: Celebrating Plein Air, Dale Fehr, Michael Fuller, Joy Laking, and Benjamin Pittman, June 1 – 26.

DALHOUSIE ART GALLERY, HALIFAX: Present: Past / Future, Ed Pien, Co-curators Catherine Sicot and Pamela Edmonds, May 8 –  August 16.

DECOSTE CULTURE HUB, PICTOU: Gender Series: Am I Queer? Vivianne LaRivière, until July 18. Intermission, The Pugwash Artist Collective, until September 16. Floating, Paul Edmond, until July 18. Harrison’s Little Shop of Horrors, Harrison Evely, until July 18. Opening receptions: May 28, 5 – 7pm.

ELTUEK ARTS CENTRE, SYDNEY: Sailing, Paulina Osorio, February 7 – June 27. Exhibitions Gallery 203: Sa’se’wamukwa’sit/Changes, Alex Balkam, April 24 – June 13.

14 BELLS FINE ART GALLERY, HALIFAX: It’s the Little Things, Tabatha Cass, May 9 – June 5.

THE FRASER, TATAMAGOUCHE: Everyday Ordinary, 2026 Members’ Show, May 15 – June 9, Gallery 2 and Gallery 3: Saltwater Elegies: Floorcloth Paintings, Su Rogers;  Lobsters-Shamans of the Sea, Adrienne Black Connell, June 12 – July 7.

GALLERY ON LINCOLN, LUNENBURG: Now open for the season. Catherine Bagnell Styles, Guy Cranston, MJ Dominey, Lynn Ellis, Janet Griffen, Mary Kersell, Paulette Melanson, Mary Morey, Heather Sayeau, and Sharon Wadsworth-Smith.

HARVEST GALLERY, WOLFVILLE: PRESS, Annual Printmaker’s Show, May 2 – 31.

ICE HOUSE GALLERY, TATAMAGOUCHE: Sensing Place, Catherine Vardy, May 2 – June 14.

KATZMAN ART PROJECTS, HALIFAX: Community, Nelson White, until May 30.

KHYBER CENTRE FOR THE ARTS, HALIFAX: I’thandi Munro & Kay Macdonald | KREAM 2026 Residency: May 18-June 3. Performances: 2 pm on May 31 & 6 pm on June 1.

LUNENBURG ART GALLERY, LUNENBURG: Name That Tune, May 1 – 30. Small Stuff artist: Erin Philip.

LUNENBURG SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, LUNENBURG: Circle of Friends, Hangama Amiri, April 25 – May 30. My Horae,  Erin Philp, Artist-in-Residence (Winter 2026), June 4 – 28. Artist Talk & Opening Reception: June 4,  7 pm.

MMFI GALLERY (MARIGOLD CULTURAL CENTRE), TRURO: Postcards From Home, Kas Stone, May.

MARY E BLACK GALLERY, HALIFAX: Interior Motifs, Martina Lantin, April 23 – May 31.

MSVU ART GALLERY, HALIFAX: Brain Child, Allyson Mitchell, June 13 – August 8. George Bernard Jr: Light & Legacy, June 20 – August 9. Opening reception and exhibition tour with Senator Wanda Bernard: June 20, 1 -3 pm.

PEER GALLERY, LUNENBURG: Remembering Susan, Susan Hudson RCA 1941-2026, May 19 – 31.

SMU ART GALLERY, HALIFAX: The Harbour View Motel, Sarah Sears & Meghan Macdonald, May 9 – July 12.

SECORD GALLERY, HALIFAX: Last Summer and into the Fall, Janice Leonard, May 8 – 30.

TIDES CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY, KENTVILLE: Rummage, Carl Snyder, April 29 – May 31.

TREATY SPACE GALLERY (NSCAD), HALIFAX: In Relation: Black Material Life and Memory, curated by Nahom Assefa, works by Edith Clayton, Clara Clayton Gough, Sylvia D. Hamilton, Kwame Owusu Brobbey, Tyshan Wright, Jan Wade, and materials by unknown makers, May 19 –  30. BLACK / RED / PINK: Black, Red, & Queer Power in the Punk Movement, Jack Clayton, Zeta Paul, Kev Plummer, Julia Rose Sutherland, Curated by Paxton Romana, June 2 – 13.

LE TRÉCARRÉ, CHURCH POINT: D’ici à là-bas à ici (vecteurs)/ From Here to There to Here (Vectors), Mathieu Léger, May 20 – June 21.

VERVE CRAFT GALLERY, HALIFAX: The Mug Monologues, opened May 9.

VIEWPOINT GALLERY, BEDFORD: Main Gallery: Untitled, ViewPoint Member Group Show, May 7 – 31. Fresh Ideas Gallery: Telephono, Evan Purney; Featured Member Gallery: Three Sisters, Tim Krochak, May.

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