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 year, then it will automatically charge your 2025 membership fees on December 1, 2024. No need to set a reminder – the website will automatically renew your membership every year (or until you opt-out). 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.

If you haven’t purchased an auto-renewing membership, 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.

VANS also has membership bursaries. We understand that membership fees can be prohibitive for some artists, so we have fully funded 2025 memberships. If you want to apply for one of these bursaries read more here.

Here are some of our programs and opportunities online and around the province this past year that you may have enjoyed, including:

• Visual Arts News issues featuring Atlantic artists, including cover artists Seamus Gallagher and Alan Syliboy.
• Professional development workshops in Lunenburg and Halifax, and online workshops that you can take from home.
• The PAINTS program which brings workshops by professional artists to students and communities, now with new rosters of artists and workshops and an Equity Subsidy for schools.
• Our Peer Application Review Groups, helping artists improve grant applications.
• The Mentorship Program pairing four emerging artists with mentors for the better part of a year.
• VANS in Residence supporting two artists; Ibe Ananaba at at Wonder’neath in Halifax and Cortney Cassidy at ARTSPLACE in Annpolis Royal.
• New VANS merch designed by member AGLENNCO.

Maybe you didn’t participate in any programs this year, but you recognize the importance of being connected to the VANS community, keeping up to date by receiving our newsletter, and supporting arts advocacy in the province. Whatever the reason, we hope you’ll continue to be a member in 2025. See the VANS website for a full list of membership benefits.