From Liverpool to North Preston to Cape Breton, 91 young Nova Scotian artists are celebrating this week after receiving scholarships and bursaries worth more than $182,000 from the Nova Scotia Talent Trust.
The awards support emerging talent across music, dance, film, theatre, literary arts, and visual arts—helping students afford everything from university tuition to specialized training programs in cities like London and New York.
For the 81-year-old organization, it’s another milestone in a long tradition of backing Nova Scotia’s creative community. Since giving its first scholarship to renowned contralto Portia White in 1944, the Talent Trust has now supported more than 1,500 artists with over $2.7 million in funding.
“We continue to invest in Nova Scotia’s emerging artists when they need it most,” said Andrea Urquhart, the organization’s executive director.
Something for everyone, including sci-fi fans
This year brought some fresh additions to the mix. William Huneault-Griffin of Beaver Bank became the first recipient of the new Hal-Con Scholarship, which supports artists interested in science fiction and fantasy. He’s studying illustration and UI/UX design.
The scholarship, established last year, reflects the breadth of Nova Scotia’s creative scene—recognizing that artists work in all kinds of genres and mediums.
Music students had particularly strong support this year, with 22 receiving $5,000 bursaries through the Judith A. Grant fund. The bursaries, now in their second year, come from a generous $2.8 million bequest and are available to students studying music at Atlantic Canadian colleges and universities.
Other awards included the 100+ Women Who Care Halifax Scholarships, the CN Halifax Community Fund Scholarship, and scholarships from the Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund.
The work behind the awards
Choosing 91 recipients from 163 applications wasn’t easy. A committee of 12 professional artists—representing all the disciplines the Trust supports—volunteered their time to review applications, assess talent and potential, and make the final selections.
Recipients are pursuing their dreams at schools across Atlantic Canada and beyond. Some are perfecting their craft at local institutions, while others are heading to international programs that will push their skills to new levels.
The Nova Scotia Talent Trust receives funding from Arts Nova Scotia, The Craig Foundation, and individual donors. It’s the only organization of its kind in Canada.
Artists looking to apply for future scholarships can find more information at nstalenttrust.ns.ca.