BACKGROUND 

In 2006, the VANS Mentorship Program was created in response to the growing requests from visual artists in Nova Scotia for additional support beyond VANS’ already successful workshop series, information sessions, panel and peer discussions and other educational programs. Basing its structure on similar programs such as MAWA (Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art) in Winnipeg, CARFAC Saskatchewan’s Visual Arts Mentorship Program and the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia’s Mentorship Program, the VANS Mentorship Program joined the ranks of a handful of such programs Canada-wide.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

The goal of the VANS Mentorship Program is to support the professional ambitions of emerging artists who seek additional career development, or technical guidance, to develop their practice as visual artists in Nova Scotia by providing access to the skills and experience of selected mentors. Mentees are selected from a pool of applicants based on their demonstrated commitment to their practice, the clarity and level of ambition outlined in their goals for the program, and the ability of the applicant to utilize the program to its fullest potential. The program requires that mentees make a focused commitment to their visual arts practice and dedicate a significant portion of their time to their work throughout the program.

Over the course of the 10-month program (beginning mid-September), mentors will meet with mentees one-on-one, at least once a month, and additionally four times as a group. The mentors may be asked to provide support in any one or more of the following areas: proposal development for exhibition in public galleries or artist-run centres, grant writing assistance, artist statement development, documentation of work, technical advice, skills development, critiques of work, research assistance, thematic development of work, networking, budgeting, organizational tips, and creative brainstorming. 

The VANS Mentorship program is tailored to support the needs of selected emerging artists’ methods and ambitions, and is shaped by the skills of participating mentors. Its impact depends on participants’ enthusiasm, openness and initiative in the program and their commitment to the development of their artwork.  The mentorship program is best suited to emerging artists who maintain an active studio practice and have created a body of work outside of formal training environments. Mentors will be paid an honorarium for their participation in the program. The program is free for mentees.

By investing intensely in a few individuals each year, the VANS Mentorship Program contributes on a wider scale to the overall strength, sustainability and vibrancy of the visual arts community in Nova Scotia. 

Deadline: July 15, 5pm AT.

APPLICATION INFO

All applicants to must respond to the questions/ requests below and include support material. Responses to the application questions can be submitted via:

1. Online form: https://forms.gle/KNyYNQWJCLfrteMW9.
2. Written in the body of an email, a Word document, or PDF (no .pages files) and emailed to Carri at communicate@visualarts.ns.ca.
3. Pre-recorded answers in video format sent to communicate@visualarts.ns.ca (5 minutes max).
4. You can schedule a 10-minute Zoom interview with Carri MacKay, VANS’ Programming Coordinator in advance of the deadline.

MENTEE APPLICATION (please provide all the info and answer all of the questions)

1._Contact info:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Pronouns
• Preferred communication method (email, phone call, text)

2. Eligibility (answer yes or no):

• Are you in the early stages of your career as a professional artist?
• Are you 19 years old or older? There is no maximum age.
• Are you a resident of Nova Scotia (for at least one year previous to the application)?
• Are you a member of Visual Arts Nova Scotia (you can join here)?
• Are you willing and able to follow VANS’ Code of Conduct policy?

Please note: Individuals enrolled in post-secondary study are ineligible to participate.

3. Questions about your art practice:

• What are you working on? Describe your art practice/ studio activity over the last year.
• What are your goals for this program?
• What can VANS and/or a mentor do to support you during the program (will you be seeking help with written proposals, feedback on your work, community connections, etc.)?
• What challenges do you have in your practice and what are your strategies to overcome those challenges?
• Is there anything else you would like us to know?

4. Support Material:

All applications must include examples of your work with an image list:

• images of your work (max 10 jpeg images) or
• short videos (max 5 minutes) or
• audio files (max 5 minutes)
• with accompanying image list (including title, date, media, dimensions)

and

• a link to your website or social media or
• your artist cv

and

• a list of two references who have experience with your work (curators, established artists, former instructors, etc.)

Support material can be sent to us by:

1. 1. Including links in the Google form to your website/social media
   2. Uploading files directly into the Google form
   3. Attaching files to an email to communicate@visualarts.ns.ca for attachments
   4. Sending links to file-sharing services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and WeTransfer to communicate@visualarts.ns.ca for larger files
   5. Sending YouTube, Vimeo and Soundcloud links to communicate@visualarts.ns.ca

MENTOR APPLICATION

Mentors must submit:

• a cover letter which outlines who you are, the reasons for wanting to participate in the program; highlighting the applicants specific eligibility to participate – professional and personal skills, experiences and qualities that the applicant will bring as a mentor to the program (coaching, communication skills, experience, etc.) (400 words max);
• a CV detailing your training/education, exhibitions, and other related experience and information (3 pages max);
• 10 jpgs (500 kb max) images (or a maximum of 5 minutes of media in standard definition) of previously completed work;
• a corresponding numbered image list (01, 02…10,) describing in order: title, media, dimensions, and year;
• an artist statement (300 words max)
• names and contact information for three references (reference letters not required)

SELECTION PROCESS

The jury first selects mentee applicants for the program. The jury will then match each selected emerging artist with a mentor that the committee feels would benefit the emerging artist’s work based on their demonstrated goals, working methods and geography. If necessary, the jury will solicit the participation of an eligible established artist who they feel would best support a selected mentee, but who may not have formally applied to act as a mentor.

The jury is composed of professional artists, curators, and art educators, including past participants of the Mentorship Program. The jury will review emerging artist applications, check references and then select three or four mentees based on their demonstrated commitment to their practice, the clarity and level of ambition outlined in their goals for the program, and the ability of the applicant to utilize the program to its fullest potential. Applicants may be contacted with questions.

Acknowledging the lack of diversity in our Mentorship Program in the past, the jury will give special consideration to artists who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour).

NOTIFICATION OF THE RESULTS

Notification of results will take place approximately one month after the deadline by email. All applicants will be contacted.

PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS

There will be a Mentorship Program info session over Zoom on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 7 pm AT. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eqiJ7C8ETd-XNV4gnQtsrw.

VANS gratefully acknowledges the support of The Craig Foundation. VANS also acknowledges operational support from Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage, the Halifax Regional Municipality, the Canada Council for the Arts and the many individual contributions from our members and supporters.

Please visit our website under Programs for further details of past program participants and answers to Frequently Asked Questions when applying for the mentorship program: https://www.visualarts.ns.ca/programs/mentorship-program/

For inquiries, please contact: 

Carri MacKay (she/her)
Programming Coordinator
Visual Arts Nova Scotia
1113 Marginal Road Halifax, NS B3H 4P7
902-423-4694, 1-866-225-8267 

communicate@visualarts.ns.ca