Congratulations to the 6 schools who have been selected to receive our art grants! Please enjoy the beautiful art they have made below!

We have a beautiful little school of almost 200 elementary students at the end of the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board. The name of our school (Champlain) and the life-size statue of the explorer in our lobby herald to a different time, with a Euro-centric focus. We are looking to change that by adding some murals throughout our school to represent the other cultures that reside in our building every day - our Mi'kmaq, African Nova Scotian, and immigrated students. 

To ensure our murals are culturally appropriate and authentic, we will consult with both our Native Support Worker and our African NS Support Worker in the planning process. We will have teachers nominate students in their grades 3-5 classrooms who show an interest in the arts, who would like to participate in the painting of these murals in an enrichment / after-school type model. We will use overhead transparencies and a projector to combine their images/ ideas and transfer them to the walls throughout our hallways - each student getting to be a piece of the larger picture. We will focus on our Mi'kmaq and African Nova Scotian murals first, and if funds and time allow, we would like to include some Acadian, Gaelic, Ukrainian, and Spanish touches as well. 

Our school was a P3 building and has a very "hospital" feel with light mint green/yellow walls. We are hoping that these mural enhancements throughout the hallways will create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with our staff, students, and community members seeing themselves in the imagery as representation matters- truly equal and valued members of our tapestry. We will respect and preserve the history of the school within the name and statue - but with the murals, it won't be the only culture that you see upon entry. We know better, so now we must do better, and bring our school's aesthetic up to par for 2024.

Stitch by Stitch in Grade 1

Introducing embroidery into my Grade 1 art curriculum will provide a unique, enriching and hopefully relaxing experience for my young and active learners. Embroidery requires precise hand movements, helping students develop better hand-eye coordination and dexterity. (Too many kids are growing up on devices and these fine motor skills are severely lacking in many). The repetitive nature of stitching encourages students to concentrate and practice mindfulness, contributing to emotional regulation and calming effects that we ALL can benefit from! I recently attended an embroidery workshop during the ATA Oct conference and was instantly filled with a sense of relaxation as I worked on my own project. I'm hoping to share this same experience with my class. 

Students will design and create their own embroidery projects, allowing them to express their individuality and creative ideas. Through embroidery, students may decide to explore different cultural patterns and techniques, fostering an appreciation for others.The project will be integrated throughout the school year, with special focus during holidays.

Our school is grade 6-8. Our grade 6s receive limited in class art experiences and the grade 7 and 8 only have access to art instruction for one term. I run an extra-curricular art club during lunch to provide students with additional opportunities to work with a variety of art materials. We received a grant a few years ago to purchase supplies for this group but those supplies are needing replacement. This grant would also allow us to expand the variety of supplies that are available. Additionally, we have been asked to create some murals in the hallways of the school. This grant would allow the group to take on that challenge.

Some of my grade 12 students recently participated in some jelly plate printing at NSCAD. They absolutely loved it and had great results. I would like to work with my grade 9,11's and 12's on a jelly printing project using a variety of plant form stencils and leaves to create botanical images. 

I need printing plates and  brayers. We have acrylic paint to complete projects. The printing plates will become part of our supplies so all the art teachers at the West will be able to use them for all their art classes. Unlike linoleum they are reusable!!

Bear Art Projects

This year we are focusing on the sacred teachings. Each month there is a theme that has an animal and a virtue. Our school mascot is the bear so we would like to do a project that represents the bear. In the Seven Sacred Teachings the bear represents courage.

Here is a link to the video for the bear that we would like to use in association with this art project. Teachers will also include a grade appropriate discussion on the importance art has in cultural identity, retaining cultural identity, and self expression.

1. Modeling Clay ART Representation 

For this project, teachers will be given modeling clay in multiple colours where they can use Barbara Reid as an inspiration where we can create our bear character in the school setting.  We could have them eating lunch, playing in the gym, in the library or anywhere in the school!  This could also be a close up of the bear’s face similar to our school logo. 

We would look to create a close up for the Bear that is in our school logo.

2. Canvas Bear Painting Project

Listen to your heart.  It takes courage to do what is right.

The second project will be completed by students in grades 1-5 (gr. 1, 3, 4/5 classes). Teachers will be given 8x10 canvases (boards), acrylic paint, paint brushes and painting tray. Teachers will share the works of local Mi’kmaq artists with students, discussing the teachings and significance of the bear. Teachers will be given some creative freedom to meet the needs of their students. They will however, be required to focus on the styles and techniques of the selected artists. Teachers will be provided a slideshow that shows where in our communities the artist's works can be found. Student art will be displayed in various community centers.  

I am requesting funding to create an opportunity to work with artist Melissa Marr to stimulate ideas for my middle school visual arts program, with a focus on printmaking. This collaboration will rejuvenate my own practice as both an artist and an educator. Beyond discussing classroom opportunities, we will explore budget-conscious plans and sustainable practices, ensuring that this experience benefits my teaching and aligns with environmental considerations.

Time spent collaborating with artists and educators is invaluable. It equips teachers with fresh ideas, practical supports, and renewed inspiration, while fostering critical conversations about evolving curricula. Such opportunities bring new perspectives and concepts into the classroom, helping educators adapt to the needs of an ever-changing learning environment.

As the sole art educator in a school with hundreds of students, I understand the challenges of isolation in my field. Professional development opportunities tailored specifically to visual arts teachers in public schools are scarce, and this initiative aims to address that gap.

During the ATA conference this past fall, Melissa Marr’s workshop, Screen Printing & the Curriculum, introduced educators to the transformative potential of silk screen printing – a versatile and accessible art form. Workshop participants learned techniques adaptable to classroom settings that foster creativity and engagement for diverse learners. Highlights of her workshop included:

• Building DIY screens and sourcing affordable materials.

• Exploring multi-color printing techniques.

• Selecting inks and stencils suitable for various age groups and abilities.

• Strategies for managing classrooms during hands-on activities.

Having the opportunity to work directly with Melissa Marr for a day will allow me to further develop printmaking ideas tailored to the unique needs of my school community. This collaboration will provide breathing room and inspiration for my curriculum, opening doors to new possibilities in my teaching practice.

My vision is to share the outcomes of this experience with the NSTU, ATA, and HRCE, and to establish a pilot program for future professional development opportunities for visual arts teachers in public schools. Such a program would offer teachers practical tools, materials, and techniques, empowering them to implement innovative ideas in their classrooms with confidence.

Funding will cover Melissa Marr’s fees, classroom materials (perhaps screens, geli plates, and inks), and other resources necessary to ensure the success of this project. By investing in this initiative, we aim to create a sustainable framework for ongoing professional development that refreshes educators, enriches student learning, and strengthens visual arts programs across schools.