Application Guidelines

To print Application Guidelines from a PDF, click here.

Value of Scholarships:

The scholarship amounts awarded are affected by the resources available, the number of applicants, and other considerations at the time of selection.  Generally, the value of scholarships awarded for summer and short-term study has ranged from $300 to $1,100. The value of scholarships awarded for fall/winter and full-term study has ranged from $500 to $2,000.  However, this should not inhibit applicants to make a request for what they need.  The largest awards are most often given to applicants from the June 1 deadline who are beginning 8 to 10 months of study in September.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION:

1)  While applicants are invited to make application for both the April 15 and June 1 deadlines, a separate Application Form must be completed for each application period.  Please read the application form carefully and follow all instructions. 

Completed applications must be postmarked no later than the appropriate deadline.  Late applications will not be reviewed.

Applicants will be contacted upon receipt of their application materials and informed of any missing components.  It is the responsibility of each applicant to follow up and ensure that their application is complete well in advance of each application deadline.  Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

2)  For applicants planning to study at a university, school, or other recognized institution, a copy of the course outline or program description must accompany the application.  For applicants planning to study with a private teacher, the following must be submitted by the teacher:

             a)  A formal course outline, including proposed repertoire/curricular goals;

             b)  A statement of interest in working with you and why s/he thinks that this course of study would be beneficial;

             c)   The final curricular outcome anticipated as a result of your successful completion of the study program;

             d)  A current résumé of the teacher.

3)  A sample of visual and/or audio work must accompany the application in accordance with the Guidelines for Support Material.  This submission is vital in assessing an applicant's ability and potential for development. Submissions of poor quality make it difficult for the Scholarship Selection Committee to assess an applicant’s potential and can result in an application being rejected.  At an applicant’s request, the Trust may make use of the submission of work received for the April 15 deadline as part of a second application to the June 1 deadline, as long as the support materials are assessed as being equally applicable to both programs.

All submissions become the property of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust and will not be returned.

4)  Applicants must advise the Trust of any changes of address, changes in study plans, or new developments in their careers pertinent to their application.

REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS:

Scholarship Program Applications are reviewed twice per year in a competitive setting against all other applicants.  Applications are reviewed by the Trust's Scholarship Selection Committee whose members are professional artists and/or teachers active in Nova Scotia’s arts community.  Applicants are judged on the contents of the application forms, referees' assessments, and submissions of work.  Please keep in mind that each applicant is in competition with other well-qualified candidates, not only from the applicant's own artistic discipline, but from other disciplines as well. The committee assesses an applicant’s commitment and potential, in part, based on the nature and amount of training they have undertaken in the past and on the apparent value of the proposed program of study to the applicant’s continued artistic development.  The decisions of the Scholarship Selection Committee meetings are final.

Applicants normally are advised of the results of their application six weeks after the deadline.

Applicants may apply to the Trust more than once a calendar year; however, the program of study proposed, and/or the term of the program, must be different in each application.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS:

1)  Before any portion of a scholarship is paid, successful applicants must advise the Trust by letter or e-mail that they have started, or will be starting, the program of study proposed in their applications. In addition, they must provide confirmation of enrolment from their institution of study or private teacher.

2)  Successful applicants who wish to be considered for scholarship assistance in any subsequent application period must re-apply.

3)  Although there is no prescribed limit to the number of scholarships the Trust will provide to one applicant, the Committee reviews the history of assistance to a previously supported applicant in making its decision. Those applicants who have made considerable progress in their artistic development with the Trust’s support over a period of time may be passed over in favour of other applicants who are in earlier stages of development.

4)  Successful applicants are asked to acknowledge the support of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust in all publicity materials.

Completed applications and support materials should be mailed to:

Nova Scotia Talent Trust

P. O. Box 575

Halifax  NS  B3J 2R7

Click here to see a list of recent scholarship recipients.

For further information, phone (902) 492-6801 or e-mail scholarship@nstalenttrust.ns.ca