Mentorship Program

The VANS Mentorship Program is designed to support the individual artistic methods and professional ambitions of emerging artists in Nova Scotia by providing access to the skills and experience of selected mentors. Basing its structure on similar programs such as CARFAC Saskatchewan’s Visual Arts Mentorship Program and the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia’s Mentorship Program, the VANS Mentorship Program provides an exceptional opportunity for emerging artists to develop both their creative process and professional skills, thus building the foundation for a successful career in the visual arts. As a secondary outcome, the program offers established artists an opportunity to pass on their experience, resources, knowledge, and insight.

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

The deadline for the 2024-25 Mentorship Program was July 15, 2024 at 5pm. Applications are now closed.

View the full Call for Applications: 2024-25 VANS Mentorship Program, which details program information, application requirements and eligibility.

VANS gratefully acknowledges core support of the Mentorship Program from The Craig Foundation. With additional support from the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, the Halifax Regional Municipality, and the Canada Council for the Arts.

program description

The VANS Mentorship Program’s mandate is to pair established artists with emerging artists (not necessarily young artists, but those at the beginning of their artistic careers) to take part in a ten-month long mentorship. Over the course of the program, mentors and mentees will meet one-on-one, at least once a month, and four times as a group. The program is free to mentees. Mentors are paid an honorarium.

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, and thematic development of work, networking, budgeting, organizational tips, and creative brainstorming.

application

Mentee artists must submit:

  • a letter of application – Describe your art practice/ studio activity over the last year. What are your goals for this program? How would your current work benefit from support of the program? What kind of support are you looking for in the program? How will you devote adequate time to the development of your work while balancing other commitments?  What challenges do you have in your practice and what are your strategies to overcome those challenges? (max 2 pages)
  • 10 jpeg images or 10 short videos (max 5 minutes each) with accompanying annotated image list (including title, date, media, dimensions). You can also submit any combination of images and videos for a total of 10 submissions.
  • one letter of reference from an established artist and/or curator who has experience with your work. This letter should demonstrate that you are a good candidate for the program. Also include the names and contact information of two additional references who have experience with your work.

AND

  • a link to your website

OR

  • a resume/cv (max 2 pages)

Mentor artists 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 jpeg images (or a maximum of 5 minutes of media) 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)

current program

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. Solmaz Asheri, Elise Campbell, Jools Annie (Julia Hutt), and Adam McNamara and have been individually paired with established artists and mentors François Gaudet, Barbara Lounder, Jessica Winton, and Andrew Maize. Read more about this year’s participants.

past programs

2023-24

  • Mentees Barbara Brown Conrod, Kordeena Clayton, Kristi Farrier, and Pam Juarez were individually paired with established artists and mentors Susan Tooke, Duane Jones, Onni Nordman, and Eryn Foster. Read more about this year’s participants.

2022-23

  • Mentees AGLENNCO, Sonia Chow, Gabrielle Theano, and Julie Rosvall were individually paired with established artists and mentors Andrea Dorfman, Leesa Hamilton, Frances Dorsey, and Melanie Colosimo. Read more about this year’s participants.

2021-22

  • Mentees Nancy Chiasson, Jessie Fraser, Jeighk Koyote, and Boma Nnaji were individually paired with established artists and mentors Louise Pentz, Bonnie Baker, Jan Peacock, and Duane Jones. Read more about this year’s participants.

2020-21

  • Mentees Celine Gabrielle, Sarah Mosher, Trevor Novak, and Liam Ross were individually paired with established artists and mentors Susan Tooke, Melissa Marr, Robin Metcalfe, and David Diviney. Read more about this year’s participants.

2019-20

  • Mentees Annik Gaudet, Hila Peleg, Andrea Tsang Jackson, and Jack Wong were individually paired with established artists and mentors Becka Barker, Marilyn McAvoy, Frances Dorsey, and Steve Higgins. Read more about this year’s participants.

2018-19

  • Mentees Carrie Allison, Emily Lawrence, Jenny Yujia Shi, and Kyle Vingoe-Cram were selected and individually paired with established artists and mentors Ursula Johnson, Peter Dykhuis, Charley Young, and Karin Cope. Read more about this year’s participants.

2017-18 

  • Mentees NAT chantel, Lux Gow-Habrich, Bree Hyland, and Karen Langlois were selected and individually paired with established artists and mentors anna sprague, Kim Morgan, Emily Falencki, and Terri Whetstone. Read more about this year’s participants.

2016-17

  • Mentees Alexis Vessey, Ben Mosher, Kate Grey and Ryan Josey were selected and individually paired with established artists and mentors Sarah Maloney, Craig Leonard, Andrea Dorfman and Bryan Maycock for a 10-month mentorship, starting in September. Read more about this year’s participants.

2015-16

  • Mentees Claudia Legg, Alice MacLean, Sophie Paskins and Anna Taylor were selected and individually paired with established artists and mentors James MacSwain, Ian McKinnon, Mathew Reichertz and Becka Barker for a 10-month mentorship, beginning in September. Read more about this year’s participants.

2014-15

  • Mentees Angela Glanzmann, Kate Walchuk and Stephanie Yee were selected and individually paired with established artists and mentors, Barbara Lounder, Eryn Foster, and Wilma Needham for a 10-month mentorship, beginning in September. Read more about this year’s participants.

2013-14

  • Mentees Andrew Maize, Annalise Prodor, and Sera Senakovicz were selected and individually paired with established artists and mentors, Michael Fernandes, Eleanor King, and Ericka Walker for a 10-month mentorship, beginning in September. Read more about this year’s participants.

2012-13

  • Mentees Christine Waugh, Wes Johnston, and Judy Arsenault were selected and individually paired with established artists and mentors, Steve Higgins, Ilan Sandler, and Janice Leonard for a 10-month mentorship, beginning in October. Read more about this year’s program participants.

2011-2012

  • Mentees Anne Macmillan, Natalie Boterman, and William Robinson were selected and were individually paired with established artists and mentors, Peter Dykhuis, Ariella Pahlke and Bob Bean for a 10-month mentorship, beginning in September. Read more about this year’s program participants.

2010-2011

  • Mentees Ruth Marsh, Matthew Carswell and Kyle Cunjak were selected and paired with individual mentors Melinda Spooner, Cathy Busby and Adrian Fish for a 10-month mentorship. This year’s program ran October 2010 to July 2011. The group participated in the inaugural Mentorship program retreat July 8 – 10, 2011 at Windhorse Farms in New Germany, NS. The program exhibition took place from August 25 – September 3, 2011 at Eyelevel Gallery in Halifax, NS. To view their collaborative artist book project, visit Blurb.com.

2009-2010

  • Mentees Raina McDonald, Leslie Menagh and Chantal Tardiff were selected and paired with mentors Dawn MacNutt, Sarah Maloney, and Ilan Sandler for a 10-month mentorship. The VANS Mentorship exhibition took place at Eyelevel Gallery from August 12 – 21, 2010.

2008-2009

  • Mentees Nicholas Johnson, Terry Drahos and Scott Saunders were selected and were paired and supported by their individual mentors Nancy Stevens, Susan Wood, and Craig Leonard for a 10-month mentorship. The exhibition took place at Anna Leonowens Gallery from June 2 -6, 2009.

2007-2008

  • Mentees Bethany Riordan-Butterworth and Jesse Harrod were selected and paired with their individual mentors, Robert Zingone and Frances Dorsey for a 10-month mentorship. The group exhibition took place at Eyelevel Gallery from August 4 – 9, 2008.

2006-2007

  • For the inaugural year of VANS Mentorship Program, 3 emerging artists and 3 senior artists were selected by a Selections Committee of artists and art educators from 40 applications submitted by artists from across the province. Mentors and Mentees worked together over a period of 8 months. This year’s mentees were: Kate MacLeod, photographer, Barbara Schmeisser, sculptor, and Miya Turnbull, 3D/Installation. They worked with mentors: Rose Adams, painter, Richard Mueller, glass & installation artist, and Glynis Humphrey, installation artist.