Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Music is my life and this will help me get to the next level.”
- Kye Clayton, Rap & Music Production
“Thank you for your continued scholarship support in recognition of my achievements in piano performance. I am deeply grateful and honoured for the generous support of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust.”
- Devin Huang, Piano
“My dream is to be an exhibiting artist and your generous gift will enable me to focus on building a strong body of works that can support and promote my career as I come out of college. Thank you again for your generous support.”
- Naomi Zamir, Metalsmithing & Jewellery
“Thank you to the funders, jury, and board members of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust for granting me this funding. I am so grateful for the support and look forward to beginning my Master of Fine Arts at NSCAD!”
- Devon Pennick-Reilly, Screenwriting
Thank you for your generous scholarship and your continued support of my studies. The financial assistance will allow me to focus my time exploring, creating, and growing. It is a great weight off not only my shoulders but my family's as well. We all thank you.”
- Andi Syme, Drawing & Painting
Empowering Nova Scotia's Artists Since 1944
The Nova Scotia Talent Trust (NSTT) was established in 1944 to support contralto Portia White, who became the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international acclaim. Recognizing the impact of this support, the NSTT was founded to assist other emerging artists in Nova Scotia. Since then, the organization has awarded over $2.5 million in scholarships and special awards to more than 1,500 recipients across various disciplines, including music, dance, film, theatre, literary, and visual arts. The NSTT has evolved from a government-supported entity to an independent organization, continually adapting to meet the needs of Nova Scotia's artistic community.
We're proud to have supported the following past recipients
Scholarship recipients have come from a wide range of media within the disciplines of dance, music, circus arts, theatre, visual arts, literary arts, and media arts. They have studied in a variety of settings including summer festivals and instructional programs, professional arts training institutions, university training programs, and private instruction.
These programs take place in Canada, the United States, and Europe, in settings such as the National Ballet School of Canada, the National Theatre School of Canada, the Art Institute of Chicago, NSCAD Universite, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the New England Conservatory of Music, the McGill University Conservatory, and more.
Many of the recipients have gone on to successful careers in the arts at home and abroad. From the Talent Trust's first 40 years come names like:
- Harpsichordist: Gordon Murray
- Organist: John Grew
- Actor: Don Allison
- Singer/actress: Peggy Mahon
- Painter: Jean Edmonds Hancock
- Textile Artist: Sandra Brownlee
- Photographer: Sherman Hines
- Classical Guitarist: Dale Kavanagh
- French Horn Player: David Parker
- Soprano: Sue Doran
- Actress: Sarah Orenstein
More recently, artists receiving Talent Trust scholarships have included:
- Dancer: Sara Coffin
- Soprano: Jane Archibald
- Actor: Anne Marie Woods
- Poet: Maureen Hull
- Cellist: Denise Djokic
- Soprano: Barbara Hannigan
- Visual Artist: Colleen Wolstenholme
Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Music is my life and this will help me get to the next level.”
- Kye Clayton, Rap & Music Production
“Thank you for your continued scholarship support in recognition of my achievements in piano performance. I am deeply grateful and honoured for the generous support of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust.”
- Devin Huang, Piano
“My dream is to be an exhibiting artist and your generous gift will enable me to focus on building a strong body of works that can support and promote my career as I come out of college. Thank you again for your generous support.”
- Naomi Zamir, Metalsmithing & Jewellery
“Thank you to the funders, jury, and board members of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust for granting me this funding. I am so grateful for the support and look forward to beginning my Master of Fine Arts at NSCAD!”
- Devon Pennick-Reilly, Screenwriting
Thank you for your generous scholarship and your continued support of my studies. The financial assistance will allow me to focus my time exploring, creating, and growing. It is a great weight off not only my shoulders but my family's as well. We all thank you.”
- Andi Syme, Drawing & Painting
