Talent Trust Welcomes New Executive Director Andrea Urquhart

 

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Andrea Urquhart was selected as the new Executive Director for Nova Scotia Talent Trust. “Andrea joined our team on January 10, 2022, and we could not be more excited and grateful for her devotion to leading our organization.” - Victoria Hines, Acting Chair, Nova Scotia Talent Trust.  Andrea joins NSTT with over ten years of experience in charity and non-profit management. Her knowledge and expertise in sponsorship, fundraising and strategic planning will support NSTT’s mission to expand its capacity to offer financial support to Nova Scotia’s emerging artists.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Nova Scotia Talent Trust and looking forward to leading this amazing organization to meet and exceed its goals for growth. I feel deeply connected to the Arts, having studied piano through the Royal Conservatory of Music in my younger years and seeing my sister develop and grow her career as a professional artist in the fields of Visual Arts and Theatre. Having worked in the non-profit sector

throughout my entire career, I understand the challenges and barriers that can prevent emerging artists from pursuing their dreams. Support from an organization such as NSTT not only provides a level of financial relief but also a vote of confidence that can make all the difference in an artist’s path to success. I believe that the pandemic challenges of the past two years have emphasized the significance of Arts and Culture in all of our lives. Supporting the creativity of Nova Scotians is more important now than ever. Thank you to Jacqueline and the Board of Directors for the warm welcome, and I look forward to connecting with the NSTT community in the near future,” states Andrea Urquhart, Executive Director NSTT Please join us in giving Andrea Urquhart a warm welcome! 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)

Invitation to the 2021 Special Awards Ceremony December 12, at 2 p.m. (AST)

 

Join us on 

Sunday, December 12, 2021

2:00 - 3:15 p.m. (AST)

on our Facebook page at 

facebook.com/nstalenttrust

For everyone that has no access to Facebook, the Awards Ceremony will also stream on our YouTube channel

Youtube.com/nstalenttrust

We will recognize our 2021 Scholarship and Special Awards recipients at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 12, 2021, online in a ceremony with video greetings by The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, QC, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and Honorary Chair of the NSTT.

We are proud to present a new award. The Nova Scotia Talent Trust and RBC Foundation are collaborating to launch the RBC Emerging BIPOC Artist Award. This new $2,500 Special Award will be presented annually to a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color who shows exceptional commitment and professional potential as an artist. Preference will be given to emerging artists in the areas of film, visual arts and music.

Janissa Browne, RBC Branch Manager, will bring greetings and announce the award winner.

You will hear from all eighteen Special Award winners where they are studying and how they have adjusted to their new realities. The performances will make you smile and uplift your heart. 

J.P. Deveau, Chair 2011 Canada Games Board, will bring his greetings and remind us of the fantastic legacy the 2011 Canada Games have created with the two 2011 Canada Games Young Artist of Excellence Awards of $10,000 each. Join us to find out who the winning artists are.

Amani, aka Anne-Marie Woods, will lead you through the program as our Emcee. She is the 2013 Winner of the BBPA Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in Entertainment, the Bob Marley Day Award and an East Coast Music Award. She is a Creative Consultant and multi-disciplinary artist known for her spoken word, arts education outreach, producing, directing, and plays. Amani is a proud Nova Scotia Talent Trust Alumna.

Andrew Terris, videographer and long-time supporter of the Talent Trust, brought all the pieces beautifully together for your enjoyment.

Music Side by Each composed and performed by Ellen Gibling. Ellen is an established harpist, sought after harp instructor, and a former scholarship recipient.

Please join us from the safety of your home to celebrate 

these talented Nova Scotian artists and their achievements.

facebook.com/nstalenttrust

or

Youtube.com/nstalenttrust

If you're early, you might have to refresh the page on 

December 12, at 2 p.m. AST, to see it when it starts.

If you have a Facebook account, please let us know in the comments under the ceremony video that you're present and tag your friends so that they can watch with you.

The 18 Special Award winners were chosen from a field of 55 scholarship recipients from across the province representing the artistic disciplines of music, literary arts, visual arts, film, dance, circus arts, and theatre.

For the last 77 years, the NSTT has continued to support emerging Nova Scotian artists as they pursue their studies towards the ultimate goal of establishing professional careers in the arts.

Want to hear more? Please sign up for our newsletter

Want to support the next generation of Nova Scotia artists? Donate today!

RBC Foundation creates new RBC Emerging BIPOC Artist Award

RBC Foundation and Nova Scotia Talent Trust are collaborating to launch the new RBC Emerging BIPOC Artist Award.

The new $2,500 Special Award will be presented annually to a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color who shows exceptional commitment and professional potential as an artist. Preference will be given to emerging artists in the areas of film, visual arts and music. The 2021 award winner will be announced at the virtual Special Awards Ceremony on December 12, at 2 p.m. 

“The arts play a critical role in building vibrant communities and strong economies. But despite their incredibly hard work, many artists – and especially those from BIPOC communities – find it hard to reach broader, diverse audiences, which can sometimes hold back their careers,” said Michelle Clare, Regional Vice President, RBC Metro Halifax. “That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with the Nova Scotia Talent Trust to support emerging artists as they advance on their career journey, with the goal of helping them receive national recognition.”

RBC’s $15,000 donation is divided among three initiatives: $2,500 to the new RBC Emerging BIPOC Artist Award, $2,500 to the existing RBC Emerging Artists Award and $10,000 to the Talent Trust Scholarship Program. 

“We are thrilled about the new RBC Emerging BIPOC Artist Award – it is the first of its kind for the Talent Trust and something we’ve wanted to do for a long time. Not only will the support help the recipients lessen the monetary burden of their studies, but it also reaffirms their hard work to become established artists in their discipline. We thank RBC Foundation for their continued support and for believing in our Nova Scotia artists,” states NSTT Executive Director Jacqueline Steudler. 

The Talent Trust and RBC Foundation’s partnership dates back to 1944 when the Talent Trust was founded. RBC has supported the Talent Trust scholarship program since 2009 and established its first Emerging Artists Program with the Talent Trust in 2012.

The RBC Emerging BIPOC Artist Award and RBC Emerging Artist Award will be given to Talent Trust scholarship recipients of that given year, selected by the Scholarship Selection Committee comprised of twelve professional artists.


About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 88,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

About Nova Scotia Talent Trust
Since 1944, the Talent Trust has provided more than $2 million to over 1,000 Nova Scotians, primarily young people, who have demonstrated talent and potential to become professional artists in theatre, dance, fine craft and design, music, circus arts, media, film, literary, and visual arts. There is no other comparable organization in the country. In 2019, the Talent Trust celebrated its 75th anniversary year featuring former scholarship recipients with a travelling art exhibition, pop-up events in theatre, music, dance, film screenings and more.  

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)

FIN Atlantic Int'l Film Fest Filled with Talent Trust Alumni.

In addition to our special partnership program: Then, Now, Change: Visions of Nova Scotia featuring a retrospective with works by Gwyneth Christoffel, Chris Spencer-Lowe, Bretten Hannam, Ann Verrall, and Becka Barker, which include music scores by Lukas Pearce (Deep End and Transfer) and performance by Gharrett Paon (Deep End) screening on September 19 at 9:10 p.m., FIN showcases several other NSTT alumni. 

Reeny Smith bringing her musical and song-writing prowess to FIN’s Festival Music House Atlantic:

Saturday, September 14 at 9 p.m.
The Marquee Ballroom 

2037 Gottingen Street

Katerina Bakolias, one of the four selected writers participating in the FIN Makers Script Lab competes with her screenplay for Junkyard Girls for a cash prize at the Script Pitch:

Sunday, September 15 at 2 p.m.
Admiral Room Nelson Hotel and Suites
1515 South Park Street 

Co-writer/director Ariella Pahlke, along with collaborators Nance Akerman and Teresa Macinnes bring their Hot Docs premiered feature length documentary Conviction in FIN’s Gala Presentation:

September 16 at 6:30 pm
Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane,
5657 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax

Reception to follow
Dalhousie School of Architecture
5410 Spring Garden Road

Regular working duo writer/director Bretten Hannam and producer Gharrett Paon screen Wildfire in the Reel East Coast Shorts Gala:

September 18 at 6:30 p.m. 

Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane,
5657 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax

Then, Now, Change: Visions of Nova Scotia, in partnership with FIN, closing the festival with a short program curated by Shannon Brownlee. Short films included are:

Transfer by Chris Spencer-Lowe
Assembled & BUOY & And When Alone, Repeat by Becka Barker
E’sekati & Deep End by Bretten Hannam
Torture by Sound by Gwyneth Christoffel
Rain by Ann Verrall


September 19 at 9:10 p.m.
Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane,
5657 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax 

Want to hear more? Please sign up for our newsletter

Want to support the next generation of Nova Scotia artists? Donate today!

In 2019, the Talent Trust is celebrating its 75th  anniversary featuring former scholarship recipients with a travelling art exhibition, pop-up events in theatre, music, and dance, film screenings and more.


The 75th anniversary activities are supported by the province of Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality, The Craig Foundation, Canadian Federation of Musicians, and Margaret and David Fountain.