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.

Where do Artists Come From? Visit Artist for a Day on May 12

Photo: Centre for Craft Nova Scotia

How do artists get their start? Does it begin in childhood? Do they come from artistic families?

Maybe they stumble upon their creative passions in high school, if they're fortunate enough to attend a school with a thriving art program.

Sometimes it happens later on, after the kids are grown and it's time to trade in the day job for a committed creative practice.

Whatever your age or artistic ability, there's an event on May 12 on the Halifax waterfront: Artist for a Day. It gives everyone a chance to see and even try various art-making media.

Activities take place at NSCAD University's Port Campus and at the Centre for Craft Nova Scotia, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's free to attend, no registration is required, and the weather promises to be friendly.

For more information, see the Centre for Craft online newsletter and NSCAD's website. (And if you catch the art-making bug, you can come talk to us at the Talent Trust about scholarships.)

Weekend Plans: Apply for a Talent Trust Scholarship

May 1, 2018. 5:00 p.m. Atlantic Daylight Time.

Take the weekend, gather your materials, fire up Google Chrome, and apply for a Talent Trust scholarship.

(We know. We've been reminding people for a couple of weeks now. But we also know this is way better than someone reminding you to eat your broccoli.)

We want to help emerging artists across Nova Scotia, and across disciplines, achieve their creative dreams. We want to hear from you!

Here's the link for all the information: nstalenttrust.ns.ca/Scholarships/Apply

Don't wait! Apply now!