Visual Arts Nova Scotia Announces Susan Wood Award, to be Distributed by the Talent Trust

Artist, teacher, mentor Susan Wood.
Photo: Visual Arts Nova Scotia.

Visual Arts Nova Scotia has announced the establishment of the Susan Wood Award, to be distributed by the Nova Scotia Talent Trust. 

The award will go to an emerging Nova Scotian visual artist who shows exceptional commitment and ability.

This new award, which will be granted beginning in December 2019, honours Susan's legacy as an artist, teacher, and valued member of the artistic community.

Susan was an instructor at NSCAD University for almost 20 years and was a mentor in the VANS Mentorship Program, which was established in 2006. She was a member of VANS for many years and served on their Board of Directors from 2014 until her death earlier this year.

Susan was born in New Brunswick and grew up in Nova Scotia. She received her BFA from Mount Allison University, and graduated with her MFA from the University of Calgary in 1981.

She began her nearly two decades of teaching at NSCAD in 1990.

Susan was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and received grants from the Canada Council, the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, and the Nova Scotia Arts Council. Her work can be found in private, corporate, and public collections in Canada, the US, and the UK.

This new award is a welcome addition to the support available to emerging Nova Scotian artists. We're honoured to be part of it.

To learn more about the Susan Wood Award, visit the VANS website.

Becka Barker and Stacey Cornelius Lead Professional Development Workshops for Visual Arts Nova Scotia

Becka Barker and Stacey Cornelius lead professional development workshops at Visual Arts Nova Scotia (VANS) in October and November.

Becka Barker leads VANS grant writing
workshop October 17 & 20

Becka Barker’s Grant Writing workshop focuses on improving grant and proposal writing skills. 

Participants will learn how to write convincing project descriptions for Arts Nova Scotia and Canada Council creation grants as well as other applications. 

There will be two sessions: October 17 in Halifax, and October 20 in Sydney.

Becka received Talent Trust scholarships for film studies. Her work has been supported by the National Film Board of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, and the Halifax Regional Municipality. 

Becka’s films have been shown at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Seoul’s EXiS (winner 2007, Best International Film), Images Festival (Toronto), Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (Montreal), KunstDoc Art Gallery (Seoul), Echo Park Film Centre (Los Angeles), Toronto Animated Images Society, WNDX (Winnipeg), and Struts Gallery (Sackville, NB). 

She's been on the faculty at NSCAD University since 2005 and was visiting foreign faculty in the Film and Animation Department at SoonChunHyang University in South Korea from 2008-2012. To learn more about Becka, visit her website at beckabarker.info.

Grant Writing workshop

Wednesday, October 17, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

VANS boardroom
1113 Marginal Road
, Halifax
Registration Deadline: October 11



Saturday, October 20, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design
322 Charlotte Street
, Sydney
Registration Deadline: October 13

For a full workshop description and to register, visit the VANS website.

Stacey Cornelius teaches technology & social
media workshop for VANS Oct 20 and Nov 3

Stacey Cornelius’s Websites, Social Media & Technology: Creating your Brand workshop takes a no-nonsense look at website building tools, email marketing and newsletter services, search engines, and social media. 

The three-hour session focuses on building a professional brand using the tools that work best for you, and knowing how to use those tools well. Participants will learn concepts and skills they can use with multiple tools and across platforms so they can work smarter, not harder.

Stacey received a Talent Trust scholarship to support her studies in visual arts. Her work has been in shows at the AGNS, Mary Black Gallery, and Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery. Stacey’s used her experience as a jewellery designer and maker to help other artists build their own professional creative practices. 

She currently works at the Talent Trust as Communications Coordinator, Scholarship Program Coordinator, and Events Coordinator for our 75th anniversary celebrations in 2019. To learn more about Stacey, visit agencyofwords.com.

Websites, Social Media & Technology: Creating your Brand
Saturday, October 20, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

Halifax: Visual Arts Nova Scotia
1113 Marginal Road

Registration Deadline: October 22



Saturday, November 3, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Parrsboro: Main & Station
168 Main Street

Registration Deadline: October 29

For a full workshop description and to register, visit the VANS website.