News

Happy Holidays from VANS!

The VANS office, along with the rest of the Cultural Federations, will be closed for the holidays December 19 – January 2. Our last day in the office will be Monday, December 18 (so get your membership renewals in before then) and our first day back will be Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Happy holidays from…

Black background with illustrations of yellow Christmas ornaments hanging from the top. Two issues of the Visual Arts News overlap in the middle, with sparkles on the top left and lower right framing the magazines. Below there is a yellow thin line with text underneath that reads "Give the Gift of Visual Arts News

Give the gift of Visual Arts News

A subscription to Visual Arts News makes the perfect gift for the art lover in your life. Issues will be mailed twice a year, Spring and Fall, to the gift recipient, as well as access to additional online content throughout the year for just $22 (or $36 for a two-year subscription). A letter will be…

A still image from ART RECESS video. Overhead image of hands creating a blue and white collage on a table with art supplies and a laptop nearby,

Take an ART RECESS

ART RECESS. A break, a change, time to play, to have fun – just like regular recess!  You can even have a snack too.  ART RECESS is a collection of short, accessible workshops that can be delivered online at times that work for teachers in the school year, or for parents and caregivers anytime. VANS…

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Time to renew your membership

As the end of the year approaches, remember to renew your VANS membership before it expires on December 31! If you selected an automatically renewing membership when you joined or renewed last time, then it will automatically charge your 2024 membership fees on December 1, 2023. No need to set a reminder – the website will automatically…

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Open Call for Visual Arts News Spring Issue

The team at Visual Arts News is eager to hear from writers, artists and critics to expand 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 region.  For this open call, we are seeking pitches for features, profiles and…

Join us for Activating Art in Mi’kma’ki panel discussion

Visual Arts Nova Scotia and Visual Arts News, in partnership with the Native American Art Studies Association and Nocturne: Art at Night Festival, present an in-person keynote panel discussion: Activating Art in Mi’kma’ki on Thursday, October 12, from 6 – 8 pm. Moderating the discussion is Tiffany Morris, an L’nu’skw (Mi’kmaw) artist and writer from…

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New Equity Subsidy for Schools

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is offering an Equity Subsidy to support PAINTS (Professional Artists In The Schools) workshops in schools serving significant populations of BIPOC students. The PAINTS Equity Subsidy will support qualifying schools by fully funding projects including the artist fee, materials and any travel costs. Workshops are usually 3 – 4 hours in length for up…

Meet the 2023-24 Mentorship Program

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is pleased to officially announce the participants of this year’s Mentorship Program. After receiving some great applications, the program will be supporting four dedicated emerging artists in Nova Scotia. Barbara Brown Conrod, Kordeena Clayton, Kristi Farrier, and Pam Juarez and have been individually paired with established artists and mentors Susan Tooke,…

Register today for workshops!

Our Fall Workshop Series is back with some familiar favourites like Grant Writing (in person) with Becka Barker, Pricing Your Work with Stacey Cornelius, Networking & Talking About Your Work (in person) with Sarah Maloney, and Documenting Your Work with Steve Farmer. We have some great new workshops this fall too, like Crafting Your Artistic…

Call for Expressions of Interest: VANS Limited Edition Merch

We’re seeking expressions of interest from VANS member artists to support our new annual fundraising initiative – limited edition tote bags and sketchbooks! Artists will receive 15% of gross sales in accordance with the CARFAC fee schedule – estimated at $300-$500. A new artist and design will be selected coinciding with our annual membership promotion…

Membership Renewal Info

YOUR MEMBERSHIP CAN RENEW AUTOMATICALLY Members said that the main reason they don’t renew their membership is because it slipped their mind. With an auto-renewing membership, you will be charged the initial fee for the full year ahead, and your membership will renew automatically each year, on December 1 – no need to set a…

Announcing VANS’ New Executive Director

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is pleased to announce their new Executive Director: Therese Cruz! After a lengthy search by Placemaking 4G, the VANS Board of Directors has hired Therese, who will start as the ED in July. Therese is a community engager, artist and a mother. An immigrant from the Philippines, she moved to Toronto,…

Take our workshop survey!

VANS will be offering online and in-person workshops for our Fall Workshop Series in October and November. We’d love to get your feedback about which professional development workshops we should offer and when.  Let us know what you would like to see VANS offer by completing the Fall 2023 Workshop Survey, here: https://forms.gle/sKjAQXaJhCYiRWjk9. Then we would really appreciate it if you’d share…

In Combination: 2022-23 Mentorship Program Exhibition

Visual Arts Nova Scotia’s 2022-23 Mentorship Program Exhibition The Craig Gallery, June 28 – July 30, 2023 Opening: Wednesday, June 28, 2023, from 6 – 8 pm Emerging Artist Talk (in-person): Saturday, July 15, 2 pm  Highlighting the talents of emerging artists AGLENNCO, Sonia Chow, Gabrielle Theano, and Julie Rosvall, In Combination also includes work…

VANS In Residence with Mallory Gorman in Kentville

Visual Arts Nova Scotia, in partnership with the Annapolis Valley Regional Library, hosted VANS In Residence artist Mallory Gorman this spring (April 2023) at the Kentville Library. The time in residence was split between the artist’s own work and community engagement. Mallory Gorman is a visual artist located in Halifax, NS. Her work is inspired…

VANS 2023 AGM

Visual Arts Nova Scotia’s Annual General Meeting will take place over Zoom on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.  Join us at 7 pm to find out about VANS’ accomplishments this year, review the new strategic planning and learn about the new Executive Director. Please register by June 12 to get your Zoom link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqcu-gqDIpHNBkcSUyGUwJSr0lXak2vNtp After…

JOB CALL: Executive Director

Deadline: May 3rd, 2023, 12 pm AST VANS works for artists “This position offers a dynamic emerging leader the opportunity to have a broad impact on Nova Scotia’s cultural sector with the support of a comprehensive mentorship, diverse board, dedicated staff, and secure operating funding.” STATEMENT OF INTENTION VANS is committed to employment equity, and…

Call for Board Members

Deadline:  April 20th, 2023. 11:59 pm AST   We’re seeking 3 creative individuals engaged with the arts in Nova Scotia to stand for election to our Board of Directors and support our new Strategic Plan. Help us build a future where a career as an artist is accessible, sustainable, and recognized as an integral part of…

VANS Spring Workshop Series

VANS Spring Workshop Series has been announced! Check out our workshops page on the VANS website to see what workshops we have programmed, as per your request. We have a couple of favorites returning, including Community Connection and Collaboration with Heather Wilkinson & Melissa Marr and Taxes for Artists with Sally Wolchyn-Raab. Plus, DIY: Website for…