Introducing the DIGITAL PATHS mentorship pilot program
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Introducing the DIGITAL PATHS mentorship pilot program
Let's celebrate Portia White's 110th birthday and remember a fantastic Nova Scotia talent.
Internationally recognized in her day and now revered as part of Canadian heritage, Portia White’s legacy is infused with many meanings. For the Nova Scotia Talent Trust, which celebrated 77 years of supporting aspiring artists of all disciplines on May 2, 2021, Portia White represents its catalyst.
In 1944, members of the Halifax Ladies Club, along with voice teacher Dr. Ernesto Vinci, successfully advocated the city of Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia for unparalleled financial support towards her studies in New York. Portia White ascended to become one of the best singers of the 20th century. The Talent Trust, with the help of the Dalhousie Music in Medicine HEALS Program, supports her legacy through the Portia White Award for a Nova Scotia voice student.
The province recognized the difference their support made in Portia White’s career and founded the Nova Scotia Talent Trust in 1944, to help other deserving and talented Nova Scotians succeed.
More about Portia White:
On March 13, 1944, Portia White delivered her breakthrough concert that changed her own life and many more. Portia White became the first Canadian ever to perform at the New York Town Hall.
The concert initiated her ascent to become one of the best singers of the 20th century, a particularly incredible triumph considering the systemic racism of segregation.
Internationally recognized in her day, Portia White is now revered as part of Canadian heritage. Her legacy represents the catalyst for the Talent Trust and its 77-year commitment to aspiring artists across the province. Since 1985, many deserving vocalists have been awarded the Talent Trust’s Portia White Award, including Shanice Skinner and Reeny Smith.
Read the Talent Trust editorial “Celebrate Portia White’s Legacy,” published in The Coast in 2019.
You can also here Portia White speaking about life in Toronto in 1958 here. And listen to her here: https://youtu.be/Ibk3DZF-CtY
In 2011, Reeny Smith helped us celebrate Portia's 100th Birthday by singing "Think on Me" at the annual Portia White Award Concert in front of the Honorable Myann E. Francis Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Portia's family members and a packed church. A special moment! Reeny's rendition can be found here:
https://youtu.be/Kl49LMLvM8o
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Want to support the next generation of Nova Scotian artists? Donate today! (smile)
Our board members play a significant role in executing our vision to support the development of talented Nova Scotians to pursue a professional career in the arts. They dedicate countless hours and support the mission of the Talent Trust with their funds. We're very proud to say that we have a 100% giving Board.
Today, we bid farewell to some of them. We extend our most sincere thanks to these members for their perseverance and the critical level of insight into issues that guide the Talent Trust forward. We will never forget your work. Thank you!Want to hear more about the Talent Trust? Please sign up for our newsletter.
Want to support the next generation of Nova Scotian artists? Donate today! (smile)
Congratulations to former Talent Trust scholarship recipient Amanda Peters for being named one of the Writers' Trust of Canada Raising Stars!
From Amanda:
“I’m honoured and humbled to be chosen to participate in this year’s Writers Trust Rising Stars Program. To be among such talent is very exciting and to get to work with Katherena Vermette, a writer I admire so much, is truly amazing.”
More about Amanda:
Amanda Peters is a mixed-race woman of Mi’kmaq and European ancestry, born and raised in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. In 2016, while working full time for her home community of Glooscap First Nation, she completed the Certificate in Creative Writing at the University of Toronto. That same year, Amanda was a finalist for the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia Short Fiction Award.
In 2017, she won the short fiction award for her story Crows. Also, in 2017 the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia awarded Amanda the Alistair MacLeod Mentorship, where she worked with writer and mentor Stephanie Domet. Amanda was a finalist in 2018 for the Indigenous Voices Award for her short story, “Pejipug.” Also in 2018, Amanda received the RBC Emerging Artist bursary to attend the Emerging Writers Intensive at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
In 2020, Amanda was awarded the 2011 Canada Games Young Artist of Excellence Award by the Nova Scotia Talent Trust. Amanda is currently enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing at the Institute of American Indians Arts (IAIA) in New Mexico. She has recently been shortlisted for the 2021 Indigenous Voices Award for her work of short fiction Waiting for the Long Night Moon.
Amanda was also selected to participate in the 2021 Writers Trust of Canada Rising Stars Program by Metis poet and novelist, Katherena Vermette. Her short fiction has been published in The Antigonish Review, Grain Magazine and The Alaska Quarterly Review.
Want to hear more about the Talent Trust? Please sign up for our newsletter.
Want to support the next generation of Nova Scotian artists? Donate today! (smile)
You might wonder how the scholarship recipients are coping with the changed study situation. You'll be amazed to see how they continue to train, study, practice, exercise with online courses or self-study programs that they invented for themselves. They are dedicated to their craft.