Visual Arts Nova Scotia, in partnership with the Annapolis Region Community Arts Council (ARCAC) and the Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC Maritimes) present Sorting the Studio: Estate Planning for Artists panel discussion.

What will happen to all our artwork? In this panel lawyer Paige McInnis and curator and writer Ray Cronin will discuss ways artists can deal with the lifetime of work in their studio. How can artists make decisions about what work to keep and what should be donated, gifted, bequeathed, or even tossed? What do artists need to know about estate planning to make decisions that feel right for them and their loved ones? This panel discussion will involve short presentations by both experts with lots of opportunities for discussion with the audience.

Date: Thursday, April 24 at 6 pm – 8 pm over Zoom

Register for this free panel discussion here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IK5kdWQ8RqKxwWlHkArESA. You can join by Zoom from anywhere, or attend the livestream event upstairs at ARTSPLACE, 396 St. George St, in Annapolis Royal.

About the panelists:

Ray Cronin is a writer and curator living in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the traditional unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq and the Wəlastəkewiyik (Maliseet) Peoples. In 2023 he was named the Curator of Canadian Art at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. From 2001 to 2015 he worked at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia as Curator and as Director and CEO. He is the founding curator of the Sobey Art Award and the author of fourteen books on Canadian art, including Alan Syliboy: Culture is Our Medicine (Gaspereau Press),  Our Maud: The Life, Art and Legacy of Maud Lewis (Art Gallery of Nova Scotia), Halifax Art & Artists: An Illustrated History (Art Canada Institute), and Nova Scotia Folk Art: An Illustrated Guide (Nimbus Publishing). He is a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (Bachelor of Fine Arts), the University of Windsor (Master of Fine Arts), and the Getty Museum Leadership Institute.

Paige McInnis has a practice focused in tax law, trusts and estates law and estate administration. Paige has gained extensive experience in tax and estate matters, providing support on tax-efficient corporate reorganizations, supporting general corporate transactional work and working with businesses to develop tax effective planning strategies. Paige also supported both individuals and corporate clients with estate planning matters, including pre-planning structuring meetings, reviewing estates and drafting wills. Fascinated by the complexities of the Canadian tax law system, Paige remains up-to-date on current legislation and applies problem solving to address client matters. She recently authored an article for Tax Hyperion relating to Canada v. Bank of Montreal, 2020 FCA 82. Paige works with the broader tax group to tackle complex problems effectively and efficiently. Paige is a lawyer at McInnis Cooper and is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Canadian Bar Association and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.

About the presenting partners:

ARCAC was founded as a Society in 1982 by a group of artists who wanted to share their work and ideas with each other and their community. ARCAC is a registered charitable organization. In 1996, ARCAC acquired its own building in Annapolis Royal, known as ARTSPLACE. In 1998, ARTSPLACE was awarded Canada Council funding to present contemporary, visual arts as an artist-run centre. ARTSPLACE has three galleries, residency and pop-up studio/gallery and space for workshops and performances. ARTSPLACE’s juried, professional visual arts exhibitions are programmed by an arm’s length committee of the Board, comprised 100% of artists. ARCAC is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), the NS Dept. of Communities, Culture and Heritage (CCH), and through membership, donations and fundraising. ARCAC has developed a province-wide and national reputation for being able to generate interesting activities and opportunities within the community. Our membership is composed of approximately 200 individuals and families who believe that involvement in the arts makes life both rewarding and fun. We run a year round schedule of workshops, classes, readings, screenings, talks and special events. Through our Scholarship Fund, we assist students of all ages who wish to pursue art-related courses of study.

CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens) is the national voice of Canada’ s professional visual artists. CARFAC Maritimes, established in 2003, is the regional affiliate representing New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. We share the mandate and goals of CARFAC, bringing support and services to professional visual artists in the Maritimes.

Visual Arts Nova Scotia believes in a future where a career as an artist is accessible, sustainable, and recognized as an integral part of our communities. VANS supports artists through education, connection and advocacy. We operate across Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the L’nu people, also known as Nova Scotia. We prioritize artist-to-artist learning through workshops, mentorship, and sharing information about meaningful opportunities. Visual Arts Nova Scotia advocates for artists by listening to their concerns, speaking up for their needs, and creating platforms to share their work. Recognizing that equity-deserving artists face additional barriers to a career in the arts, Visual Arts Nova Scotia works to make resources accessible to artists across the province, while prioritizing support for those who are impacted by systemic oppression.