Resources for Commercial & Visual Artists in Nova Scotia
The Creative Kick keeps you supported in your art making between events. Should something be on here that we missed? Drop us a line!
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Organizations For Artists In Nova Scotia
Visual Arts Nova Scotia (VANS)
VANS is a goldmine for artists who want to take their practice to the next level. Workshops, mentorship, business advice and more. Memberships start at $50/year. They also have an amazing newsletter packed full of grant and job opportunities.
Digital Nova Scotia
Perfect for designers, illustrators, game industry folk, photographers and anyone else associated with the tech sector in Nova Scotia. Benefits include promotion of members, skills-building events and grants, job portal, networking and exclusive discounts. Membership starts at $290/year.
Centre for Women in Business
The CWB invites all women in business in Nova Scotia to connect with them for business support. Complimentary programs open to all include Coffee Talk, a virtual networking program, one-on-one business advisory sessions, and more. Memberships start at $99/year and include a listing in the CWB Business Directory, access to a members-only Facebook group, complimentary certificate training programs, exclusive discounts, and more.
Craft Alliance ~ Alliance Métiers d’art
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Tools & Training
The Forum
Online networking, mentoring and business development platform that helps Canadian women entrepreneurs access the resources & community they need to thrive in business.
Brioka
Brioka is an online learning platform for creatives, by creatives. With zero startup or monthly fees, we work in partnership with you to bring your course to life, helping you build a more profitable, sustainable, and rewarding creative business. Founded by two Nova Scotian locals, no less!
Sparkles N' Stardust Art Center
Offers a variety of art classes and workshops, exclusively for adults. Ranging from beginner to advanced. Whether you area hobbyist, student, skeptic of creatively curious - they have something for everyone. Also offers affordable classroom rental, private/group events and small gift boutique. Located at 1574 Argyle Street, second floor.
Linda.com For FREE
Did you know that you can access the FULL Linda.com learning platform for FREE... with your Halifax Regional Library card? Totally true. Learn a new Adobe Creative program, brush up on your website design skills or take a leadership course.
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Listings & Opportunities
You Got This Gigs
It’s hard to grow your talents without constantly being on the hunt for work. @you.got.this.gigs is an Instagram page connecting creatives to encouragement, opportunities, work and each other across Canada! They share opportunities to connect you with businesses and organizations from across the country.
Maritime Art Info
A listings website for the Maritime Provinces. If you’re interested in finding out about art events, gallery shows, classes and workshops, calls for artists and more check out their listings. You can also subscribe to a daily email.
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Other Great Meetups, Groups and Gatherings
Youth Art Connection
Make art. Make money. Make change. Holds a variety of programing and events for young artists up to age 30. Weekly meetup on Wednesday nights called HUBHFX. More info on their website.
3rd Wednesdays
As the name suggestions, this tech and digital marketing meetup is held every 3rd Thursday of the month. Meet other designers and developers, and find out about job opportunities during the 'open mic' segment. More info on their Facebook group.
Plein Air Artists Annapolis Valley and Plein Air Artists HRM
Sharing a plein air art map that includes location, time, and details of weekly paint-outs. All levels. All media. Free. Map link: http://tinyurl.com/PleinAirMap
Click on map pins or the map legend for details.
Halifax Drawing Club (formally Life Drawing at Plan B)
Runs every Wednesday night, 7pm at Radstorm (2177 Gottingen Street). Doors lock at 6:58pm so we advise you go early. The event consists of drawing a nude model for 2 hours in a relaxed, respectful atmosphere. Instruction is not provided. The cost is $5. Invitations to artists and models to join the group are welcome. Learn more on their Facebook group.
Making Comics Meetup
A group for anyone who wants to make comics or is already making comics and wants to make them with other people around sometimes. Bring stuff to draw, collaborate if you want to, share advice, or just sit quietly and absorb the energy. Open to all ages, all skill levels. Learn more on their website.
Maritime Con-Artists Facebook Group
A group for artists from the Maritimes who sell at local conventions. Be it Hal-Con, Animartime, Sci-Fi on the Rock, Geequinox, DCAF, and all of the other small cons that are around. It's a Facebook group where you can talk about upcoming events that you are selling at. Post work in progress pieces, get feed back. Ask questions, post your facebook, deviantart, tumblr accounts. In an art slump? Post about it! Get encouraged by other artists. New to selling your work, need help trying to figure out pricing and everything? Ask away!
WordPress Halifax Meetup
Do you design, develop or use WordPress? There's a monthly meetup that brings all skill levels together for a night of learning and free beer! Beginner users all the way up to plugin developers are welcome to participate. Run by the Creative Kick steering member Alison, you can learn more on their Meetup page.
Life Drawing Drop-In at Argyle Fine Art- 3rd Wednesdays
All invited, held every 3rd Wednesday at the Argyle Fine Art Gallery.
Radstorm
"Radstorm is a collectively-run not-for-profit events and art space. Under Radstorm’s umbrella are 3 separate collectives: SADRAD music collective, The Anchor Archive Regional Zine Library, and Inkstorm Screenprinting Studio." This space is amazing, and we recommend you check them out.
Halifax Makerspace
"Many of us don’t have multiple workshops populated with all kinds of tools. A Makerspace gives you that. Plus you get access to community of like-minded people that love to make stuff. Your project could be as simple as an LED name tag or as complex as a larger-than-life art installation. This is the place to learn how and get it done. It’s kind of like a gym for your brain."
The Halifax Game Collective (HGC)
Have a passion for creating video games? HGC is open to professional and amateur game developers alike, this event is a great place to meet new local talent in the games industry. Free, 19+. More information on their Facebook page.
UX Salon Halifax
UX Salon Halifax is a group that gathers to inspire and entertain one another. Join us if you're interested in collaborating with others and contributing to ideas on User Experience and Design. What is a Salon? A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held once a month to increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation.
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We help connect commercial and visual artists across Nova Scotia.
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