News

The Canadian Network for Arts & Learning is delighted to partner with ArtsLink NB on an Eduarts Hub that will be available both in-person at the Sanctuary Theatre in Saint John and virtually, on Wednesday, April 26, from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Learn from professionals working in the field of arts and wellness from both the artistic and therapeutic/medical sides. Share your experiences and join in the conversation. Refreshments will be provided.

Can’t make it in person?

Learn from artistic facilitators and support organizations providing wellbeing initiatives to schools and the community
Share your thoughts and experiences on wellbeing and the role of the arts in addressing 
Discover opportunities for artistic collaboration in a variety of settings throughout the community
Be Inspired by creative projects and opportunities for growth in New Brunswick and beyond

Event Schedule

4:00 pm – Welcome and opening remarks by the Canadian Network for Arts & Learning and ArtsLink NB
4:10 pm – Presentation by artist Deanna Musgrave
4:30 pm – Presentation by Chroma
4:50 pm – Networking with refreshments (opportunities to speak with arts therapist Patricia Harrity, representatives from VanGo! and NB Copes and others) 
5:10 pm – Roundtable discussions
6:00 pm – Wrap-up

Presenters

Deanna Musgrave is well-known for her work as an artist creating colourful mural-sized paintings across New Brunswick; however, she is also devoted to researching connections between art and healing. She completed her thesis titled “Connecting Crossmodal Interactions in Visual Music to create ‘Mindful’ Experiences” as part of her Master of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of New Brunswick. Through her part-time position as artist-teacher of CollectionARTNB’s “VanGo!” program, she visits schools across the province to share the art collection and leads students in workshops focused on what she terms “Mindful Guided Art.” She is certified in Hypnotherapy, Akashic Field Therapy™, Cognitive Energy Healing™ and holds a Reiki Masters, which she utilizes to assist clients and create art. She also has a monthly “Astrology for Creators” column in “The Artful Mind” Magazine, an arts publication in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, USA. She is currently completing a Counselling Skills Diploma from the Orca Institute in British Columbia, CA.

Chroma: Pride, Inclusion, Equality Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides support for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the Saint John Region. Chroma commits to advocating for and collaborating with our community, as well as providing 2SLGBTQIA+ education to all. We promote positive initiatives for the community and conduct research to highlight gaps in services and policy to encourage positive change.

Mariah Darling They/He/She, Education Coordinator at Chroma NB
Born and raised in Saint John, Mariah received their Bachelor of Science from UNBSJ. A proudly Queer and Trans young professional with a background in medical research who is an analytical, collaborative, information-based thinker with knowledge and passion for issues facing the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

Other Arts and Wellness Practitioners in Attendance

Patricia Harrity: Working as a creative arts therapist, Patricia’s practice is grounded a strong belief in creative processes as inherently therapeutic. Patricia’s clinical experience includes facilitating creative arts therapy with children between the ages of 4-13 at KV Psychology & Wellness Clinic, as well working alongside the NB Social Pediatrics Team to provide services to children in the uptown Saint John area. Prior to relocating to Saint John, she conducted therapy with children (4-8) in the Child Psychiatry Unit (Early Childhood Disorders Program) at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, and with children (6-12) attending after school programming at the community center Maison Saint Columba house. She has also facilitated community based group creative arts therapy with older adults with diverse/ varied abilities.

NB COPES: is a registered charity that provide creative and holistic supports for children, youth and families experiencing the loss of a close family member. Our team is led by licensed professionals who are specifically trained in grief support and creative approaches. Art therapy and music therapy form the foundation of our programs. We provide retreats, workshops and programs across the province.

VanGo!: is an exhibition of artworks in the New Brunswick Art Bank on tour to anglophone schools. A partnership of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, the exhibition helps to familiarize students with the language of the visual arts and with original works of art by professional New Brunswick artists.

Presented in partnership with ArtsLink NB.

ArtsLink NB is a member-based arts service organization, founded in 2009 to advance the arts in New Brunswick by linking and unifying artists and arts organizations and promoting their value. We represent New Brunswick artists of all disciplines from across the province.

The Canadian Network for Arts & Learning gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts – Digital Strategy Fund.

We had such a wonderful time on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at the CATAPULT Arts Accelerator Pitch Day for the Winter 2023 cohort! Thanks to everyone who joined us for the pitches, networking, community building, and snacks! This was the first time we’d held a pitch day in person since 2019.

Arts Link NB is proud to have brought together an amazing group of supporters to celebrate CATAPULT artists as they embark on their career journeys with all the new skills they’ve learned in the CATAPULT Arts Accelerator.

It also marked a major milestone for the CATAPULT, as we passed 100 graduates and there are now 103 alumni of the program!

Here are some preview photos from Pitch Day that were taken by Tim Lingley.

Check out the work of our Winter 2023 Grads:

Kelly Baker
Melissa Kennedy
Amber Carter
Joëlle Martin
Erin Goodine
Jill McNair
Helen Hillis
Laura Boudreau

It’s tax time! 😲

But no need to worry, ArtsLink NB is here to help!

Tax time is extremely daunting for artists. Our next One 2 One session on taxes will help you de-stress and file your taxes confidently with tax tips and advice. Bring your questions to this 50-minute one-on-one consultation with professional business, finance, and management consultant Gary Belding.

These One 2 One sessions will cover everything   you need to know about HST and income tax, what you can claim, what the difference is between sole proprietorship and incorporation, and what it means to register your business.

How to Register

Registration is now full. However, due to a cancellation there is one spot remaining on Thursday, April 13th, at 2pm. Email jessica@artslinknb.com to claim the spot.

About Gary Belding

Gary Belding graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1977. Gary has in excess of 40 years experience in both the private and public sectors, including management, business, and financial consulting as well as economic development encompassing business development and lending. 

From June 1998 until his retirement in April 2011, Gary was the Manager of Business Financial Support with the provincial department of Business New Brunswick. Gary currently operates his own business, Belding Business Financing Solutions, raising capital for business start up and expansions. 

Since April 2012, Gary has published a number of articles in Risk & Business magazine. His business website is www.beldingsolutions.com Gary is a past director of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, River Front Development Steering Committee, Head Coach with Fredericton South Minor Baseball Association, and has championed a number of fundraising activities for the Fredericton Area United Way Campaign, Salvation Army Red

Shield Appeal, Sky is the Limit Snow Challenge, the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Chalmers Hospital Foundation. Gary is a past Area Governor and District Treasurer with District 45 Toastmasters and has achieved his Distinguished Toastmaster designation from Toastmasters International, the highest educational award. 

In his leisure time, Gary has been an actor in over 25 short and feature films along with being a production accountant and a film producer.

March 22, 2023 – Saint John, NB – On behalf of the ArtsLink NB membership, we wish to express our disappointment that further investment in the film industry was omitted from the 2023-24 budget presented on March 21, 2023.

Last year’s budget increase of $2.5 million to support the film, television, and new media industries, was a step forward after many years of stagnation. However, the stated intention to increase the annual investment to $20 million by the year 2026 has not been upheld.

The film industry is an integral part of New Brunswick’s cultural fabric and contributes significantly to the economy. The industry provides jobs and stimulates economic growth while showcasing the unique culture and heritage of our province to audiences around the world. It is disheartening to see the provincial government not prioritize the clear value of this industry.

Other provinces across Canada have recognized the significance of the film industry and have implemented robust funding and tax credit programs. These programs have attracted major productions to their regions, creating jobs and economic opportunities for local communities. New Brunswick is missing out on these opportunities and risks falling further behind.

We urge the provincial government to respect its original commitment to the film industry and prioritize financial support and industry incentives in future budgets. Doing so will ensure that New Brunswick remains competitive and that this important sector can thrive once again.

About ArtsLink NB:

ArtsLink NB is a member-based arts service organization, founded in 2009 to advance the arts in New Brunswick by linking and unifying artists and arts organizations and promoting their value. We represent New Brunswick artists of all disciplines from across the province.

Press Contact:

Julie Whitenect, Executive Director, ArtsLink NB
julie@artslinknb.com

ArtsLink NB is now accepting applications for our mentorship pilot program. Artists of all disciplines who live in Atlantic Canada face the unique challenge of pursuing their practice from a marginalized area of the country. Building networks through lifelong engagement in peer-to-peer and mentor-to-mentee discourse is vital to pursuing a career for any arts professional, but the need is especially high in New Brunswick. 

In response to this, ArtsLink NB is now launching an intensive 12-month mentorship pilot program that connects artists who wish to share their professional experience and guidance with other artists. This pilot program will build on the traditional mentorship model, with an open door to lateral and cross-disciplinary collaborations between mentor and mentee.

Each participant (mentee) will be paired with a mentor for a year-long mentorship. 10 artists will be selected for a mentorship with a mentor whose experience and knowledge can enhance that of the mentee. Mentorship candidates will be practicing arts professionals who aspire to gain knowledge and skills to expand their current practice. The mentor’s role is to advise on professional activities and guide the mentee in a career-building process through peer-to-peer dialogue. 

Application Criteria:

• Successful candidates must be a member of ArtsLink whose primary residence is in New Brunswick. Mentors may reside anywhere in Canada. 
• Artists at any stage of their career are encouraged to apply.
• Applicants must have the time over the next year to commit three to four hours a month to this mentorship.
• Applicants must detail how a year-long mentorship would positively impact their practice.
• Applicants do not need to have a mentor in mind, but are encouraged to make suggestions.

If Selected:

• Each of the 10 mentees in the initial cohort will complete a pre-mentorship survey detailing their goals and expectations for the mentorship.
• Based on each survey, potential mentors will be proposed by ArtsLink.
• Mentors are contacted to determine their interest.
• Available mentors are contracted by ArtsLink NB
• Mentors receive remuneration of $1,500 to be disbursed in two installments to help ensure satisfactory performance throughout the program. 
• An additional $500 is available as a discretionary fund for travel, materials, or to attend workshops together, etc. This will be paid by mentor or mentee upfront, and reimbursed upon submission of receipt.
• Mentors and mentees will meet virtually or in person, for an average of 3 to 4 hours per month.
•  At the 6-month mark, mentors and mentees will each complete a short report detailing the work they have done, whether they feel they are progressing to their stated goal; and comment on the success/challenges of the mentor-mentee relationship. 
• At the conclusion of the 12-month period, a final report will be submitted by both mentor and mentee to gauge the success of the mentorship program. These reports will detail the progress made on the goals established at the outset.

Timeline: 

• Friday, March 17, 2023: Call out for participants announced
• Friday, March 31, 2023: Deadline for application submission
• Wednesday, April 5, 2023: Mentees will hear back on the status of their application
• April 15, 2023: Mentorships begin, mentors are paid 1st installment
• October 15, 2023: 6 month progress reports submitted (by both mentor and mentee), mentors are paid second installment
• April 15, 2024: Mentorship ends, final reports and expense reports submitted

To Apply:

• Fill out the application form.
• Send your artist CV to jessica@artslinknb.com with the subject line Mentorship Application.

We are excited to announce that the Experts on Call pilot program has officially launched!

Whether you want to improve your understanding of Google Analytics, get actionable tips for digital marketing, optimize your SEO strategies, enhance your online presence, or even learn about UX and accessibility best practices, our Experts on Call pilot program is here to help you reach your goals!

You can book a training appointment now with one of our experts! Experts On Call is designed to provide artists and arts organizations with resources and access to digital experts by booking online training appointments with them.

There are four experts on our Experts on Call network, with expertise in areas such as Digital Marketing, SEO, UX and Web Accessibility, Google Analytics, etc. Each organization is given an allowance of two training appointments per calendar month, which you can use however you wish.

Each training appointment is one hour. To book a training appointment, go to this link and click the “Book Now” button.