SHMF is proud to announce a $30,000 grant to support a unique collaboration of New Brunswick arts centres to showcase and mentor young visual artists throughout the province. Nine provincial arts centres, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery and the Neqotkuk Art Studio, Tobique First Nation will receive funding to allow each centre to host high school students in a wide variety of visual art experiences throughout 2023 and 2024. Under the title of ‘Jeunesse creative; NB Artful Youth’, this initiative will provide specialized training and exposure for youth and will culminate in an exhibition of the student work at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in 2024.
Aberdeen Cultural Centre, Moncton; Centre des Arts et de la Culture de Dieppe; Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Fredericton; Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton; Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre, St Andrews; Ax Art Centre, Sussex; Société Culturelle Kent-Sud, Bouctouche; Saint John Arts Centre; Centre des arts d’Edmundston; Andrew & Laura McCain Gallery, Florenceville-Bristol and the Neqotkuk Art Studio, Tobique First Nation will each select students and instructors to best address the needs and aspirations of youth in their communities. Spokesperson for the centres, Andrew Kierstead says “the interaction with professional mentors and the provincial networking opportunities for youth are exciting elements of this project”. Details about the individual programs are available from Andrew Kierstead (director@sjartscentre.ca) and Adda Mihailescu (adda@beaverbrookartgallery.org).
In 2024, a joint exhibition and professional critique will cap this pilot project. SHMF eagerly awaits the work that will result from this province-wide focus on youth, our creators of the future.