Opening Postponed to Feb 12th!

Due to the snowstorm our opening reception for our 5th annual group showcase has been rescheduled for Friday, February 12th, from 6 until 8pm.

Hants County Arts Council 5th annual Group Showcase

All are welcome to join the Hants County Arts Council on Friday February 5th from 6pm - 8pm at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn as we celebrate the opening of our 5th Annual Group Showcase, which features work by our members including paintings, metal sculpture, fibre art, leather work and folk art.

Support the Arts in Hants County by attending our Annual General Meeting

Are you an artist or crafter living or working in Hants County who would like to contribute more to your local arts community? If so we currently have several seats opening up on our board of directors and we are looking for someone just like you to join our team!

As they say, many hands make light work, and we are specifically looking for volunteers skilled in the areas of event planning, web design, photography, public relations, sponsorship, funding development and/or social media management.

If you happen to have a passion for any of these areas, or simply feel that you have something valuable to contribute, then we'd love to have you on board!

All are welcome to join us on April 22nd at 7pm in the community room of the Windsor Superstore for our Annual General Meeting - come on out and support the arts in your community!

Save the Date: Artisans in Action!

This summer we are happy to once again present Artisans in Action, taking place at the Avon River Heritage Museum and Avon Spirit Shipyard in Newport Landing, nestled along the scenic shores of the Avon River.

 

Located on the site where Planter sloops, The Lydia and Sally, landed in 1760, the Avon River area became one of the great square-rigged wooden shipbuilding centers in Nova Scotia in the 19th Century. Where the Avon Spirit Shipyard now sits was the location of the Harvie and Mosher shipyards. Between them, they built and launched 165 sailing ships during the “Golden Age of Sail”.  Artisans in Action aims to celebrate the hardworking creative people of past and present whose work shapes our culture.

 

This interactive series provides an opportunity for Nova Scotian artists and artisans who focus on historical trades, crafts, and art forms done in both traditional and contemporary manners to share their skills with a wider audience. This craft centered group of events is an opportunity for artists to present informative and engaging demonstrations of their craft, while offering their products for sale. 

 Artisans in Action takes place the first Sunday of the month, June – October, Noon until 4pm.

 

We are currently accepting artists for this year's series, thanks to the ArtsVest program and support from the Bread Gallery, we are able to lower the entry fee for this year’s series to $20 per person/per event.

 

June 7th, Wood/Leather/Stone



 July 5th, Metal/Glass/Jewellery



August 2nd, Fibre/Pottery/Textiles
 



 September 6th, Paint Avondale

 



 

 October 4th, Traditional Nova Scotian Crafts and Techniques

 

 

Applicants are accepted on a first come first serve basis, with a limit of 3 artists per medium (with the exception of Paint Avondale, which is unlimited). The first 10 artists to reserve a spot before April 15th are also invited to participate in our Artisans in Action showcase at the Hants County Exhibition’s 250th anniversary “Art in Agriculture Festival” taking place May 23rd and 24th in Windsor. There is no additional fee to participate in this special event. Participating artists are encouraged to demonstrate interactive projects so visitors can partake.To book your spot please contact us by Email: infoavonriver@gmail.com
or Telephone: 757-2233

 



Support the Arts in Nova Scotia by Advertising in our 2015 Arts Digest

We are once again seeking local artists, artisans, designers, musicians, galleries, studios and culture & heritage related organizations and businesses to be featured in our 2015 Arts Digest.

We aim for this to be an affordable way to promote cultural activities taking place in our community. Thanks to the ArtsVest program we are now able to lower our advertising rates to better server our members. The Hants County Arts Council is open to all who work in or support the arts and is not exclusive to artists residing in Hants County.
 
As HCAC members your listing will appear for free. Membership runs annually from the date of purchase and costs $25. You may add a square image or logo to your listing for an additional cost of $12.
 
Each listing includes your name, phone/email and website, as well as your civic address if you have a business or studio. Also included is space for a 40-word write-up to describe your artistic practice or business.
 
If you know of someone who you think would benefit by becoming a member then please feel free to forward this information.  Membership forms and details on the perks of being a member are available on our website   www.hantscountyartscouncil.ca
 
This year we are collaborating with the Grapevine, an independent community and culture related publication, to help spread the word about the council and our talented members. Over 5000 copies of our directory of members, events and arts related businesses will be delivered to homes, businesses, galleries, studios, museums, tourist bureaus, hotels, the airport and other local attractions in the Annapolis Valley, Hants County and throughout HRM.
 
If you have an event planned for 2015 or 2016 that you would like included in our Calendar of Events, then please send along all relevant information and we will include it at no extra cost. This is a great opportunity to help spread the word about your event, performance or festival. Please include event name, date, location and a brief description.
 
You may also choose to increase your visibility by purchasing an advertisement. Ad space is limited and will be filled on a first come first serve basis.

 
Please mail payments to Hants County Arts Council, Box 905, Windsor, NS, B0N 2T0
 
Up to date contact information, biographies and any artwork, ads or event listings may be emailed to hcacartsdigest@gmail.com
 

Please contact us by March 30th to book your space; all ads must be received by 5pm on April 3rd.

Now Accepting artists for the 17th annual Great Little Art Show

The Avon River Heritage Society (ARHS) invites you to once again attend this year’s Great Little Art Show at their museum in Newport Landing.

Organized by the Hants County Arts Council, the Great Little Art Show is a major attraction in the community and is a significant fundraiser for the Avon River Heritage Museum and Avon Spirit Shipyard. This year we have extended the length of the show from 3 brief days to every Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of May.

The opening will take place Friday, May 8th, from7pm to 9pm with a wine and cheese reception where we will open the silent auction for a rug hooking depicting the “Old Stone House” in Poplar Grove, which was built in 1699 by the early french settlers. Proceeds from the auction will go towards supplies and programming for the arts council's Artists Landing Studio & Gallery.

Viewing times throughout the rest of month are from 10 am to 5pm, every Saturday & Sunday.

Visit hantscountyartscouncil.ca to download a copy of the 2015 EntryGuidelines and an Entry Form.

4th Annual End of Winter Group Show

 

 

Opening Saturday February 7th at 2pm, our 4th annual End of Winter Showcase is a juried selection of recent works by members of the Hants County Arts Council.

 

Continuing at the Bread Gallery until March 29th, this showcase features a variety of paintings, sculpture, fibre art, carvings and folk art.

2015 Participating Artists:

 

Will Cooper

Gail Davis

Brian Fraser

Terrie Greencorn

Nick Haentjens

Lynn Johnson

Jean Lohnes

Rose Marie MacDonald

Tacha Reed

Elizabeth Robinson

Sue Robinson

Al Simm

Jim Tracey

Dora Warren Davis

Yoko White

The Bread Gallery,

7778 Highway 14, Brooklyn, Hants County

(902) 757-3377

http://www.breadgallery.blogspot.ca/

Save the Date - 2015 Calendar of Events!

In case you missed it, here is our 2015 schedule of events! The call to artists has already gone out for our first show of the year, Feb 7th through to March 29th, at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn, NS. You can find more info on that show here. Next month we will be opening up registration for the 17th annual Great Little Art Show and our summer series Artisans in Action. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for updates.

In the meanwhile here is our schedule of events for 2015, be sure to add all of your favourites to your calendar so that you don't miss out!


Feb 7th - March 29th, 2015
HCAC Annual Group Showcase
Bread Gallery, 7778 Highway 14, Brooklyn.

April 29, 7pm-9pm, 2015
Hants County Arts Council's AGM
Community Room, Windsor Superstore, 11 Cole Drive, Windsor

May 8th - 10th, 2015
17th Annual Great Little Art Show
Avon River Heritage Society Museum, 17 Belmont Road, Newport Landing

Sunday, June 7th, 2015
Artisans in Action : Wood/Leather/Stone
Avon River Heritage Society Museum, 17 Belmont Road, Newport Landing

Sunday, July 5th, 2015
Artisans in Action : Metal/Glass/Jewellery
Avon River Heritage Society Museum, 17 Belmont Road, Newport Landing

Sunday, August 2nd, 2015
Artisans in Action : Fibre/Pottery/Textiles
Avon River Heritage Society Museum, 17 Belmont Road, Newport Landing

Sunday, September 6th, 2015
Artisans in Action : Paint Avondale
Avon River Heritage Society Museum, 17 Belmont Road, Newport Landing

Sunday, October 4th, 2015
Artisans in Action : Traditional Nova Scotian Crafts and Techniques (Mi’kmaq, Acadian and Planters)
Avon River Heritage Society Museum, 17 Belmont Road, Newport Landing




The Avon River Heritage Society Museum,
now home to the Hants County Arts Council
and our Artist's Landing Studio and Gallery.

Call to artists: 4th Annual HCAC Group Showcase at the Bread Gallery

With winter only just begun the arts council is back to work planning for our first event of 2015, our annual end of winter group show at the beautiful Bread Gallery in Brooklyn! 

 

Now in it's fourth year this group showcase has become so popular among members that we have decided to make it our first ever juried event. For this show we are looking to represent as many different mediums as possible, showing off the best of our best from 2014! 

 

A look back at our 2014 showcase including work by Will Cooper, Carlos DaRosa, Brian Fraser and Sandra Aucoin.

 

 

In an effort to avoid overcrowding the space we have limited the number of spots available, by doing so we hope not to discourage anyone from  participating, but rather we encourage all of our artists to submit the works you are most proud of for consideration.

 

 

* The cost is $20 per member to participate. This fee goes towards advertising costs, which includes an ad in the Hants Journal, an ad in The Grapevine (distributed throughout the Annapolis Valley) and posters distributed throughout Windsor and nearby communities. Additional handbills will be provided by the Bread Gallery.  New members are welcome to participate; there is no additional fee to apply for the showcase.

 

* Each artists is asked to submit a high resolution photograph for each of the proposed works that they would like to display. If selected these images will be used for advertising purposes.

 

* Consideration will be given to new works that have not yet already been displayed. Please read over consignment contract for all conditions.

 

 

 

Dates and Times:

 

Artwork may be dropped off at the Bread Gallery the weekend of January 31st and February 1st during business hours; Saturday 8am - 5pm and Sunday 10am - 4pm.

 

Take-down will be the afternoon of March 29th between 3pm & 4pm. Please contact us if you need to make alternate arrangements for drop off or pick-up.

  

An opening reception will be hosted by the Bread Gallery on Saturday February 7th from 2-5pm.

 

To apply please email images to tacha.reed@gmail.com before January 18th.

 

Selected artists will be notified of accepted works by email on January 20th.

Call to Artists: Artisans in Action, Aug 3rd

The Hants County Arts Council is still accepting Pottery, Ceramic and Metal Artists for our Fibre/Textiles/Pottery/Metal Artisan in Action event taking place August 3rd, from noon until 4pm at the Avon River Heritage Society Museum in Newport Landing.


This live demonstration and sale is a part of Avon River Days and we expect it to be well attended.

To register please email arts@avonriver.ca before July 14th at 5pm.

Making ourselves right at home...

Now that we are into June, I wanted to give you a quick update on our recent activities. In May we were happy to begin our community collaboration with the Avon River Heritage Society to produce their 16th annual Great Little Art Show. Brandt Eisner of Swoon Fine Art and Antiques joined us as our guest speaker, opening the show with a few encouraging words about creating art not to suit a perceived audience but because it is meaningful to ourselves, the creator. The show proved to be a successful fund-raiser for the museum, raising over $1100.

 

In May we officially took over the front room upstairs in the museum in Newport Landing, which now serves as a drop-in studio space for our members and guests. Thanks to donations from our members, including a great deal of reference books from Dr Avery Vaughan, we have the beginnings of a cozy resource centre/communal studio space.

Every Wednesday we now host a fibre circle for those who felt, knit, hook, spin or weave, and every Thursday we host a painting circle. Stop in between 2 and 5 to take part, these circles are open to the public and there is no charge to participate! This space is also available to rent out at a low cost for our members looking to host workshops and lectures. Please contact us if you have an idea for a course or talk that you would like to lead.

We are continually looking for more donations of supplies and reference material for our drop-in space, so if you are looking to destash, then we will be more than happy to take those art supplies off your hands!

 On the first of June the museum officially opened for the season and we kicked off our first event in our Artisans in Action series, which was devoted to Wood and Leather. We were very happy with the attendance and we are looking forward to our next event in the series on July 6th, devoted to Metal and Glass. We are still accepting artists for this and all other upcoming Artisans in Action events. If you or anyone you know is interested in participating please contact us at HCACinfo@gmail.com or arts@avonriver.ca to register.



Ellen Murphy of Mule Mother Books









Tim Connolly of Back Home Woodcarving

Every second and fourth Saturday wood carver and heritage gardener Alfred Carter has been joining us on location as our Artist in Residence, cultivating a M'ikmaq, Acadian and New England Planter inspired garden. Now that the soil has been prepared he will begin transplanting local edible and medicinal plants this Saturday between noon and 4pm, and he will be back again next weekend for the Full Circle Music Festival, June 20th -22nd, to help promote his project.

Alfred Carter carving his marker for one
of the edible plants in the new garden

In addition to our studio space we have also taken over the majority of the main room upstairs at the museum, which is now known as the HCAC's Artist's Landing Gallery. We currently have artwork on display by a handful of our members, but we are still looking to add more work. Art is sold on a consignment basis with a small portion of the sales going back to the museum. If you are interested in showing your work please contact us at HCACinfo@gmail.com.

Artist's Landing Gallery

If anyone was wondering "just how do I get to the Avon River Heritage Society Museum?" well then visit their website www.avonriver.ca and enter your address on their "Find Us" page, Google will do the rest! There is so much to see along the shoreline of the Avon River, I guarantee it will be worth the drive. When you get near the Avondale Peninsula keep an eye out for one of ours or the museum's many signs... just follow the arrows, you're almost there!



Save the Date! Artisans in Action Wood and Leather!

Save the date! Next Saturday the Avon River Heritage Society Museum and Artist's Landing officially open for the season and we are celebrating by hosting our first Artisans in Action event of the year!

Taking place the first Sunday of the month until October, June 1st kicks off the season with a demonstration and sale featuring Ellen Murphy of Mule Mother Books and our Artist in Residence for the summer, Alfred Carter! See you next weekend!

Call to Artists! Heritage Artisans in Action!

 

Heritage Artisans in Action provides an opportunity for Nova Scotian artists and artisans whose focus is on historical trades, crafts, and art forms done in both traditional and contemporary manners.

Participants will have a chance to present informative and engaging demonstrations, displaying their skills and a selection of their products for sale.

Heritage Artisans in Action takes place the first Sunday of the month, June – October, Noon until 4 p.m.

June 1st, Wood and Leather

July 6th,  Metal and Glass

August 3rd,  Fibre and Pottery

September 7th,  Paint Avondale (a collaboration with Paint Windsor and Paint Hantsport)

October 5th,  Traditional Mi’kmaq, Acadian and Planter Crafts & Techniques

These events have a limit of 5 artists per medium and we will be accepting applicants on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in participating, or know of any other artists or artisans who may be, please contact us at least 3-4 weeks prior to the event to book your spot.

There is a $30 entry fee to participate, snacks and refreshments will be provided to participants by the Lydia and Sally Cafe.

Last year's revival of the popular event proved to be a valuable networking experience for the participating artists and we hope to continue to grow the series into an annual tradition. This year's series is partially funded through the department of Communities, Culture and Heritage through Support4Culture and is being heavily promoted locally. In the weeks and days leading up to the event we will profile each artist individually as well as providing live coverage the day of via social media.

Please see our facebook page for a look back at the 2013 season. www.facebook.com/pages/Avon-River-Heritage-Society-Museum/127599430612690


In addition, this year we will also be recording interviews with interested artist. These "mini documentaries" will be added to an online "Heritage Artisans in Acton" archive on both the www.avonriver.ca site and www.hantscountyartscouncil.ca, and each listing will link back to the artist own person page/site. This will provide each artists with a marketing tool that lives on after the initial event.


We are currently still accepting artists for all themed events, contact us ASAP at arts@avonriver.ca. to book your spot! 

Spring Newsletter, 2014

Spring is in the air and the Hants County Arts Council is itching to get growing!

2013 proved itself to be an incredibly exciting year for our group, seeing us participate in the most events to date; 14 if anyone is counting!

2nd Annual HCAC Group Show at Bread Gallery,  March - April,  2013

We kicked off the year with our second annual, end of winter show at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn. In April we joined forces with the Avon River Heritage Society to bring you the 15th annual Great Little Art Show in Newport Landing, which turned out to be the first of many collaborations with this group throughout the summer.

15th Annual Great Little Art show,  April 26th - 28th, 2013

Together we applied for funding from the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to revive the museum’s Heritage Artisans in Action, extending the event into a series of themed demonstrations.  

Heritage Artisans in Action: Metal,  July 28th with G.A. Jank and Steve Veinot

In July we were invited by the Hantsport Area Revitalization Committee to help revive the town's event, Paint the Port, a plein air painting event. 

Carol Morrison on location at Paint the Port in Hantsport on July 20th, 2013

In September, many members came out again to create art on-site in Windsor in support of the 6th annual, Paint Windsor.

Jessica Uhlman onsite at the Spitfire Arms pub as a part of Paint Windsor,  Sept 8th, 2013

October saw our 7th annual Harvest Festival of Art and the awarding of the 2013 Hall of Fame award to Pat Gould-Thorpe, presented by Dr. Avery Vaughan. Sponsor T.A.N. Coffee in Windsor also invited our members to participate in a month-long exhibition held in their Water Street location as an additional means of promoting the weekend-long festival at 69 Cedar St.

Hall of Fame Awards at the Harvest Festival of Art, Oct 11th,  2013 

We were barely into the new year before we began planning for our 3rd annual group showcase at the Bread Gallery which opened on February 15th and continued until March 30th. This highly anticipated show welcomed over 20 artists to participate, showcasing a wide variety of mediums and styles. The end result was a very lively and colourful showcase, introducing many new artists from our ever-growing membership.

Opening night at the HCAC's 3rd annual end of winter group show at the Bread Gallery,  Feb 15th,  2014

Thanks to the continuing surge of local support, we have decided to devote this year to building on our community collaborations. We recently received approval for funding through Support4Culture to facilitate a creative cultural collaboration with the Avon River Heritage Society, who will in turn be providing the council with a permanent home, which will act as a venue to host cultural events and activities.

We will be kicking off this collaboration on May 9th with the opening of the 16th annual Great Little Art Show, which will also coincide with the reveal of our communal studio space and the launch of our Artist in Residence program.

We will once again be presenting the Heritage Artisans in Action series by hosting five themed events throughout the summer, which will focus on artists and artisans who work in traditional and contemporary styles.

This September we will officially be adding Paint Windsor to our event roster. This annual passion project, now in it’s 6th year, has previously been organized by beloved local painter Kelly Mitchelmore. With Kelly’s upcoming departure from the community, our group hopes to continue on in her footsteps. We plan to build on the strong foundation she has created with this annual celebration of our artistic community and the people who together make it a unique and special place to both live and visit. We wish Kelly the best of luck in Montreal and we will definitely miss her valuable contribution to the local arts community.

We have once again aligned our Harvest Festival of Art to take place during Culture Days, September 26th - 28th,  and this year we are inviting our members to devise creative ways to interact with the viewing public throughout the weekend-long event. 

For example, a group of local fibre artists will be on site, creating a hooked rug depicting a local historic building. Visitors will learn the basics of rug hooking and they will be encouraged to join in and contribute to the creation of the piece. Artists with ideas for other interactive activities are encouraged to contact us.

The Avon River Heritage Society and The Hants County Arts Council recognize the support of the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Communities, Culture & Heritage. We recognize funding from the Support4Culture, a designated lottery program of the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Culture Division to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

It is through the support of our members, community and volunteers that we are able to provide this ongoing programming and we are grateful for everyone’s time and effort to make our events so successful!

In 2015 we hope to be able to continue building on our collaborations and events, creating annual traditions that we as a community can depend on. 

If you would like to play a part in the ongoing growth of the HCAC then please join us at our Annual General Meeting on April 30th at 7pm at  the Superstore at 11 Cole Drive in Windsor or contact us by email at: tacha.reed@gmail.com

    

www.hantscountyartscouncil.ca

Call to Artists: 16th Annual Great Little Art Show

The Avon River Heritage Society (ARHS) invites you once again to attend this year’s Great Little Art Show in Newport Landing.

 

For our 16th year, the flagship show at the ARHS will be entirely organized by the Hants County Arts Council. We are thrilled to expand our on-going relationship with one of our long-standing community partners fostering local art talent of all ages, right here at home.

The Great Little Art Show is a major attraction in the community and is a significant fundraiser for the Avon River Heritage Museum.

The opening is Friday, May 9th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception and an introduction from guest speaker Brandt Eisner, the owner and director of one of the hottest galleries in HRM, Swoon Fine Art and Antiques, located in Hammonds Plains.

 

Viewing times throughout the weekend are:   

Saturday, May 10th        10 a.m.   -   5:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 11th          11 a.m.   -   3:00 p.m.

Artists are currently being accepted and you can register and pay securely online at http://www.avonriver.ca or by mailing in the attached form. Registration closes April 18th, 2014

 

On behalf of the Avon River Heritage Society and the Hants County Arts Council's Board of Directors and our dedicated team of volunteers, we look forward to seeing the artists of Hants County's latest creations!


Best regards,

Ken Greer,
ARHS President

Tacha Reed
HCAC President

Meet the Artists!

Join us in the gallery as HCAC artists discuss their work and demonstrate their craft as a part of the 3rd annual Hants County Arts Council Group Showcase; featuring the work of over 20 members. Showcase continues until March 30th.

Saturday March 15th, 10am - 2pm, abstract painter Brian Fraser and wood carver Andrew Harvie.

Saturday March 22nd, 10am - 2pm, painters Liz Robinson & Carol Morrison, and folk artist Jim Tracey.

 The Bread Gallery, 7778 Highway #14, Brooklyn, Hants County

Open Tuesday - Saturday 8am - 5pm and Sunday 10am - 4pm.

HCAC Member's Group Showcase at the Bread Gallery, Feb 15th - March 30th, 2014

 

All are welcome to join the Hants County Arts Council on Saturday February 15th from 2pm - 5pm at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn as we celebrate the opening of our 3rd Annual Group Showcase featuring work by 20 of our members. 

 

 

Show continues February 15th - March 30th, 2014 

 

Participating Artists:

Sandra Aucoin
William Cooper
Claudia Dobson
Jaki Durocher
Phil Durocher
Brian Fraser
Terrie Greencorn
Andrew Harvie
Karen Harvie
G.A. Jank
Dawn Josey
Diane Lamonthe
Rose Marie MacDonald
Kelly Mitchelmore
Carol Morrison
Tacha Reed
Liz Robinson
Sue Robinson
Cara Sawka
Jim Tracey

Please visit www.hantscountyarts.blogspot.com for more information.

The Bread Gallery, 7778 Highway #14, Brooklyn, Hants County

Open Tuesday - Saturday 8am - 5pm and Sunday 10am - 4pm.