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.

Newsletter: Another Incredible Year Planned for 2015!

With the start of a new season, it is time for our annual newsletter!

A few weeks ago we held our AGM and had a very productive brain storming session with those in attendance. Finding that member participation can often be low, we have decided to make amendments to our membership structure by creating an active and inactive membership status. 

We will be working on the structure over the next few month, but some ideas of how this would work are that everyone would be required to attend at least 3 meetings per year and volunteer a certain amount of hours during events to maintain an active membership. Artists who build up hours will benefit from certain perks like being awarded free rental of our workspace at the museum to conduct workshops, lessons or provide lectures. Other benefits would include free ad space on our websites and discounts with various art supply stores. Anyone interested in providing input on this new structure and how to increase member participation, please feel free to join us at our next board meeting.

Our meetings take place the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7pm. In an attempt to make our meetings more accessible we have decided to hold them in the upper studio of the Bread Gallery (7778 Highway 14 in Brooklyn). Going forward members will receive monthly reminders with a copy of the agenda. Members are welcome to submit items for discussion under "New Business" on the agenda.

Since many of us still haven't had the opportunity to meet, let alone get to know each other, a discussion began about the idea of using some of our open studio time at the Bread Gallery to host a "Meet the Members" series. Each week a different member of the council would have the opportunity to share their own personal history in the arts. In the cozy setting of the studio we can sit together and chat freely, learning about each others backgrounds and artistic practices.

We've maintained such a great momentum over the last few years and we hope to see our membership continue to grow and become more involved as we approach our 10th anniversary.

In the meanwhile we have another incredible year planned for 2015! The latest edition of our Arts Digest is being distributed throughout the Annapolis and Avon Valley as I type - and another 2000 copies will be making their way to HRM and beyond next week! Look for advance copies in this week's issue of the Grapevine.

This year's directory is full of important dates and info on all of our 2015 activities, like...

The 17th annual Great Little Art Show

Organized by the Hants County Arts Council, the Great Little Art Show is a major attraction in our community and is a significant fundraiser for the Avon River Heritage Museum and Avon Spirit Shipyard. For 2015 we have extended the length of the show from 3 days to every weekend throughout the month of May.

The opening will take place Friday, May 8th, from 7pm to 9pm with a keynote address from impasto painter Kelly Mitchelmore. During the  reception we will open the silent auction for a rug hooking created by local artists Rose Marie MacDonald and Tacha Reed. Proceeds from the auction of the framed hooking, which depicts the “Old Stone House” in Poplar Grove that was built in 1699 by the early French settlers, will go towards supplies and programming for the arts council’s Artists Landing Gallery. Auction closes May 31st at 5pm.


Artist Landing Studio & Gallery

Last spring we began a collaboration with the ARHS Museum in Newport Landing, which saw them graciously donating to us the use of the majority of the upper area of the museum. We now have an open workspace for our members to gather. In what has become nicknamed the lounge, we are slowly building a collection of art supplies and reference books. Members are welcome to book the space for a low fee to host their own workshops or lectures.

We have also taken over half of the open space, which hosts the Great Little Art Show each May. Here we operate the Artists Landing Gallery June through September, which features artwork by our members.

If you are interested in showing your artwork, contact us at hcacinfo@gmail.com before May 15th, 2015.

 

 Open Studio Days at the Bread Gallery

We are happy to announce the re-launch of our weekly open studio drop-in sessions, a collaboration made possible through support from the ArtsVest program.

Taking place in the upper studio of The Bread Gallery every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 2pm, these sessions are open to the public and there is no fee to participate. 

Follow us on Facebook for updates!




Artisans in Action

Our annual summer series Artisans in Action takes place the first Sunday of the Month, June trough October at the Avon River Heritage museum. These live demonstrations provide a great opportunity for local artisans who work in historical trades, crafts, and art forms done in both traditional and contemporary manners, to introduce themselves and their craft to a wider audience.

This year we kick-off our Artisans in Action series with a special showcase at the Art & Craft in Agriculture Festival taking place May 23rd & 24th at the O’Brien building, Hants County Exhibition Park in Windsor. In honour of Canada’s first agricultural fair held May 21, 1765, the Art & Craft in Agriculture Festival will feature a market, workshops and activities relating to art, craft and agriculture.  A painting by Susan Sweet to commemorate the 250th anniversary will be unveiled at a reception Saturday May 23rd. For more information visit www.hantscountyex.com

 

Paint Avondale

Part of our Artisans in Action series, our 2nd annual Paint Avondale will see visual artists set-up throughout the historic hamlet of Avondale, creating live on-site. Starting at noon on September 6th, 2015,  visitors can begin their tour at the Avon Spirit Shipyard in Newport Landing, located along the scenic shores of the Avon River 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 River Heritage Museum now sits in Newport Landing was once the location of the Harvie and Mosher shipyards. Between them, they built and launched 165 sailing ships during the “Golden Age of Sail”.  Artist locations include many of the original ship builders homes built in the 1860’s.

Artists interested in participating in Paint Avondale should contact us by July 25th, 2015. Open to all visual artists, register online at www.hantscountyartscouncil.com



Annual End of Winter Show

This past winter the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn, Hants County, hosted our 4th annual End of Winter Showcase. Our first ever juried show featured a selection of recent works by members of the Hants County Arts Council, which included a variety of paintings, sculpture, fibre art, carvings and folk art.

Artists interested in participating in our 5th annual End of Winter group showcase should contact us by October 30th, 2015. Register at hantscountyartscouncil.com

 

Festival of Art

Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of our Festival of Art. In these past 10 years our council has evolved a great deal. We have formed many long lasting bonds with other arts and culture groups in the community, which has allowed us to increase our activities and  grow from a membership of just 28 artists to 54 and counting in the past 5 years!

To celebrate our achievements we have decided to take the Festival of Art back to the drawing board. We want to make it a true festival that celebrates local artists working in all mediums. We want to incorporate performances, demonstrations and hands-on workshops. To make this a true success we need your help.

A planning committee for the 10th annual Festival of Art will be formed during our monthly board meeting, taking place at 7pm on Wednesday May 20th in the Upper Studio of the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn. Anyone who is interested in volunteering, performing or organizing a workshop is welcome to join us.


For more information on our regular activities, or to become a member, please visit www.hantscountyartscouncil.com or email us at hcacinfo@gmail.com. You can also reach us by snail mail at P.O. Box 905, Windsor, Hants County, NS, B0N 2T0

Weekly Painting & Knitting Circle!

Taking place in the upper studio of the Bread Gallery every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 2pm, the Hants County Arts Council is happy announce the relaunch of our weekly Painting and Fibre/Knitting Circles, a collaboration made possible through support from the ArtsVest program.

These drop-in sessions are open to the public and there is no fee to participate.

Please feel free to share this information with anyone who you think may be interested.

Activities begin February 10th with our first Painting Circle of the year, hopefully we will see some of you out to take part!

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

(902) 757-3377

hcacinfo@gmail.com

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/

FAQs for artists about our 4th Annual Group Show

Reminder to all local artists that the deadline to enter the Hants County Arts Council's 4th annual group show at the Bread Gallery is this Sunday at Midnight!

We've had a very nice variety of work submitted so far, but we still have lots of room to include much, much more!

For those of you who have been on the fence as to whether you should submit something, here are a few FAQs that might help motivate you to enter:

 

Q) Can I show artwork that was previously shown at the Harvest show?

A) Yes, artists are welcome to submit any work that has been created within the last year and that has not already been displayed at the Bread Gallery.

 

 

Q) I don't have the best camera, will my photos be good enough?

A) Ideally we would like to see images measuring at least 6 inches at a DPI of 300. We will accept images taken on a tablet if the image is sharp and the colours are accurate, however these images will not be considered for the handbill and advertising because the image quality is too poor for print.

 

 

Q) How many pieces can I submit?

 

A) Each member is encouraged to submit up to 7 pieces; please include titles, medium and sizes with your attached images.

 

Q) Who makes up the jury?

 

A) Gallery owner Joan McKenzie has invited establish artists from the area and a curator from another reputable gallery to join her in curating this year's showcase. The process will be moderated by HCAC president Tacha Reed.

 

Q) I'm still not quite finished a few pieces, can I still apply to be in the show?

A) Yes, for any work that is still in mid-production, please send us an image of the in-progress work with a brief description of your intent and we will include the work for consideration.

 

 

Q) My work is really different than many of the other members, do you think it will fit in?

A) Yes, we want to show off the full spectrum of the arts community here in Hants County and there are many of us who don't fit into the box, and that is something to be celebrated!

 

 

More information on the Hants County Arts Council's 4th annual group show at the Bread Gallery HERE

 

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.

A Look Back at the 16th Annual Great Little Art Show!

On May 9th through 11th of 2014, the Avon River Heritage Society hosted this year’s Great Little Art Show in Newport Landing; a major attraction in the community and a significant fundraiser for the museum.

This year's reception was introduced by Brandt Eisner, owner and director of Swoon Fine Art and Antiques. Brandt gave an inspirational talk encouraging artist to place less emphasis on the anticipation of the sale and comparing our success against our peers. He suggested that instead we should really delve into our passion to create and express ourselves visually, creating to satisfy our own selves instead of a perceived customer. Many artists commented that his talk really spoke to them and was exactly the encouragement they were needing!

We had a great menu for the evening including refreshments by Avondale Sky Winery, sweets from the Bread Gallery and wonderful hors d'eouvres from the Flying Apron Cookery Inn.


                              2014 Participating Artists:

                                Sandra Aucoin
                                Mary Lou Bennett
                                David Brooks
                                Barbara Cain
                                Andrew Fisher
                                Brian Fraser
                                Terrie Greencorn
                                Ken Greer
                                G.A. Jank
                                Lynn Johnson
                                Robin Jones
                                Rose Marie MacDonald
                                Angela MacKay
                                Alison F. MacNeil
                                Ian MacNeil
                                Kelly Mitchelmore
                                Jeannine Meehan
                                Raymond Meehan
                                Sumaya Moore
                                Carol Morrison
                                Tacha Reed
                                Mary Ritchie
                                Liz Robinson
                                Sue Robinson
                                Jo-Ann Shaw
                                Al Simm
                                Jim Tracey
                                Avery Vaughan


 

 

Fibre art by Tacha Reed

Clockwise L-R Carol Morrison, Tacha Reed, Lynn Johnson, Kelly Mitchelmore, Angela MacKay



 

Metal Sculpture by Al Simm

Clockwise L-R Angela MacKay, Avery Vaughan, Barbara Cain, Liz Robinson, Mary Ritchie, Carol Morrison

Sculpture by Alison F. MacNeil

Clockwise L-R Sue Robinson, Lynn Johnson Kelly Mitchelmore,, Tacha Reed,
Lynn Johnson, Barbara Cain, Kelly Mitchelmore, Barbara Cain

Top row: Robin Jones, Sue Robinson, Avery Vaughan, Liz Robinson
Bottom row: Rose Marie MacDonald, Sandra Aucoin, Terrie Greencorn (x2), Andrew Fisher

L-R Sue Robinson, Mary Ritchie, Kelly Mitchelmore, Brian Fraser, Mary Ritchie

Folk art by Jim Tracey

Painted silk scarf by Mary Lou Bennett

Jewellery by Mary Lou Bennett

Metal work by G.A. Jank

Metal work by Al Simm

Folk art by Jim Tracey

Meta work by G.A. Jank

Bronze sculpture by Jo-Ann Shaw

Jewellery by Ian MacNeil

Soapstone Sculpture by David J. Brooks

Bronze sculpture by Jo-Ann Shaw

Wood wok by Raymond Meehan

 For more information visit www.avonriver.ca


Avon River Heritage Museum, 17 Belmont Road, Newport Landing, Hants Co., NS

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.

Calling all Artists!

* The cost is $20 per member to participate. This fee goes towards advertising costs, including an ad in the Hants Journal, an ad in The Grapevine (distributed throughout the Annapolis Valley) and posters distributed throughout Windsor and nearby communities. (Handbills will be provided by the Bread Gallery). New members are welcome to participate, membership forms can be found on our website: www.hantscountyartscouncil.ca

* Each member may display between 4-7 pieces depending on the size [4 larger pieces (over 24”) or up to 7 smaller pieces]. We also have several shelves available for artists displaying smaller items like pottery or jewellery (one - two shelves per artist/artisan)

* Each artists is asked to provide a high resolution photograph of a piece that they plan to display. This image will be used for advertising purposes. Please email images to tacha.reed@gmail.com by January 25th

* The Bread Gallery receives 35% of the sales, please keep this in mind when pricing your work. A consignment contract will be provided to participating artists.

Artwork may be dropped off at the Bread Gallery the weekend of February 8th and 9th during business hours; Saturday 8am - 5pm andSunday 10am - 4pm.

Take-down will be the afternoon of March 30th. 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 15th from 2-5pm.

For those interested in taking part please contact Tacha before January 20th at tacha.reed@gmail.com  to book your spot!

Annual HCAC Group Showcase at the Bread Gallery,

February 15^th – March 30^th 2014

HCAC 2nd Annual Spring Showcase

All are welcome to join the Hants County Arts Council next Friday March 15th from 6-8pm at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn as we celebrate the opening of our 2nd Annual Spring Showcase and the launch of our 2013 Arts Digest. 

Show continues until April 28th.


This year's participating artists are:

Sandra Aucoin, Pastels

Mary Lou Bennet, Jewellery

Jaki Durocher, Pottery

Sylvia Fullerton, Painted Furniture

Susan Geddes, Paintings

Terrie Greencorn, Paintings

Karen Harvie, Paintings

G.A. Jank, Metal Sculpture

Kelly Mitchelmore, Paintings

Tacha Reed, Feltscapes

Elizabeth Robinson, Paintings

Sue Robinson, Paintings
Naomi Slater, Photography

Jim Tracey, Folk Art

Dora Warren Davis, Paintings

Bread Gallery
7778 Hwy #14
Brooklyn, Hants County

Call to Artists: Spring Group Show at the Bread Gallery

Now that production of the Arts Digest is in full swing, it is time to start pulling together for our next event; our second annual spring show at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn which will take place March 15th to April 28th.

Last year a dozen artists participated in our very successful inaugural event, so it was no surprise when we started receiving letters of interest from several members looking to take part this time around. A big welcome to newcomers Naomi Slater and Sylvia Fullerton. Naomi will be displaying examples of her photography and Sylvia will have a selection of her painted, reclaimed furniture. 

We are also very happy to have Sandra Aucoin back with more of her remarkable pastel portraits and Mary Lou Bennet with her gorgeous line of  jewellery. We are hoping to put together a very diverse show this year and we would love to have as many of our members participate as possible.


Here are the details:


* The cost is $20 per member to participate. This fee goes towards advertising costs, including an ad in the 2013 Arts Digest (15 000 copies distributed locally), an ad in The Grapevine (distributed throughout the Annapolis Valley) and posters distributed throughout Windsor and nearby communities. (Handbills will be provided by the Bread Gallery)

* Each member may display between 5-7 pieces depending on the size (5 larger pieces or 7 smaller pieces). We also have 3 shelves available for artists displaying smaller items like pottery or jewellery (one shelf per artist/artisan)
* Each artists is asked to provide a high resolution photograph of a piece that they plan to display. This image will be used for advertising purposes. Please email images to tacha.reed@gmail.com by February 20th.
* The Bread Gallery receives 35% of the sales, keep this in mind when pricing your work. A consignment contract will be provided.

Artwork may be dropped off at the Bread Gallery the weekend of March 9th & 10th during business hours; Saturday 8am - 5pm and Sunday 10am - 4pm.

Take-down will be the afternoon of April the 28th. 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 Friday March 15th from 6-8pm


For those interested in taking part please contact Tacha before February 20th at tacha.reed@gmail.com  to book your spot!

Welcome Winter!

 As we welcome in winter, the HCAC looks back fondly on the year that has just passed. 

The fall is always busy time for us here at the HCAC as we put together our biggest group show of the year, the Harvest Festival of Art. This past October 14th-16th we once again took over the Vaughan Shand Centre in Windsor for a weekend of art appreciation. 

 

Dr Avery Vaughan receiving his "Hall of Fame" award

Twenty of our members displayed over 150 unique art pieces and we were pleased that several members were able to provide artist demonstrations throughout the event. 

This year's event was very well attended thanks to the crowds from the Pumpkin Festival and sales were at an all time high, leaving everyone who participated eagerly anticipating next years event!
 

Even though today is just the first day of winter we are already looking ahead to the spring and our next group show. This will be a more intimate affair, taking place at the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn next March. 

If you are a member who has yet to participate in a group show, but would like to, then please contact us and reserve your space. There is limited space for this particular showcase so I encourage you to act quickly to ensure inclusion.
Another big project that will be taking up our time over the next few months is the publication of our 2013 Arts Digest. Inclusion in the digest is free for all members and includes a 40 word biography. With 15 000 copies printed, 14 000 of which are delivered directly to homes in Hants County, the Arts Digests has proven itself to be a very valuable promotional tool. 

Additional advertising space is also available at very a reasonable price allowing you to increase the visibility of your work and show your support of the arts and culture of our local community. Look for full details on our next edition of the Arts Digest coming this January.

 

With the holidays now here, we at the HCAC wish you all a lovely season filled with warmth, comfort and good cheer and we look forward to your continuing support in 2013!

HCAC Fall Newsletter

Since fall is now upon us it seems like the perfect time to reflect on some of the happenings over the past year and look ahead to what is next for the HCAC.

We kicked off the year by delivering our revamped Arts Digest directly to 17 000 homes in Hants County. Expanding the distribution of our arts digest proved to be a risk well worth taking and we quickly saw the results through our continually growing membership and increased community support.

Last spring we were approached by Joan Mckenzie of the Bread Gallery in Brooklyn, and this past March we hosted our first of hopefully many annual spring group shows. Joan truly appreciates the creative talent that resides here in Hants County and we are looking forward to working with her as we continue to promote and support our local artists.

In June we participated in the first annual Avondale Art Fair which drew an incredibly large crowd to the normally quiet historic seaside hamlet. Our board of directors were very impressed with the organization put into the event by Kathy Munroe and we look forward to taking part again next year!

Over the summer we have been busy planning our own annual arts festival which we have rescheduled to coincide with the annual Pumpkin Festival. Now in it’s 6th year the Harvest Festival of Art opens with a reception running from 7-9pm this Friday, October the 12th at the Vaughan Shand Centre in Windsor .

Taking over both the upper and lower floor of the centre, there will be approximately 150 original pieces on display. Throughout the weekend several artists will be on hand providing demonstrations in oils, acrylics, pastels as well as rug hooking and felt work.

We will even have a little something special for the kids on Sunday in the form of face painting and balloon animals!

We are still accepting nominations for this year's Hall of Fame
recipient. We ask that you all take a few minutes to fill out our
brief survey and nominate one person who stands out as a
representative of our local arts community by either their work as an
artist or their commitment to the growth and support of our local arts
and culture http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B2SNKLB

We are really happy to be back at the Vaughan Shand Centre again this year and we are overwhelmed by the support we have received from local businesses to help make the event truly special. We send a huge thank you to Tan Coffee, The Spitfire Arms Pub, Blossom Shop, Daniels Flower Shop, The Bread Gallery, Flying Cloud Boutique, Sobeys, Gaspereau Winery, What’s Going On and Platypus Medical Exercise Therapy for all of their generous donations.

 

I’m sure this years event is going to be one to remember!

Even though fall has only just begun we are already looking towards 2013 and the continual growth of the HCAC. Recently our president Tacha Reed met with Susan Jeffries and Meghan Hallet from the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to discuss future plans for the HCAC and the other arts councils and associations across the province. They are very interested in providing as much support as possible to help us in taking that next step towards becoming an even stronger support system that truly represents the creative community here in Hants County. Over the next few months they plan to develop a series of workshops aimed towards our particular needs so that over time we will be able to see all of our dreams for the HCAC come through to fruition.

For the HCAC our year started with the publication of our most recent Arts Digest and it will end with the production of the next edition! We are now actively looking for support from members and advertisers alike to help make this a reality. With such a large distribution our arts digest is a very affordable form of advertising that boldly states your dedication to strengthening our local arts community. Your ongoing support continually propels us forward, and for that we are thankful!

We look forward to seeing you all this Friday evening as we celebrate our fellow artists.