Luciana Fernandes
Luciana received the 2011 Canada Games Young Artist of Excellence Award in 2016. She completed her undergrad at Dalhousie University, then relocated to British Columbia to pursue her MFA in directing at UBC.
Luciana returned to Halifax in 2018 to participate in Neptune Theatre’s Chrysalis Project, which provides practical experience and mentorship to emerging theatre artists.
Devin Huang
Devin began playing piano in 2013 at the age of seven, and has won both awards and competitions since then.
He was the 2017 recipient of the first ever Gordon Murray rising Star Award, and one of the winners of the 2017/18 Chebucto Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, an honour which gave him the opportunity to perform with the Orchestra in the spring of 2018.
Ian Parsons
Ian received Talent Trust scholarships to pursue studies in dance. He trained at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts in Halifax, then attended Canada’s National Ballet School.
Ian began teaching ballet after touring with CATS in 2013, and relocated from London, UK back to Canada three years later.
Charley Young
Born in Alberta, Charley moved to Nova Scotia to pursue her BFA at NSCAD University. She received the Charlotte Wilson-Hammond/Visual Arts Nova Scotia Award and the Lieutenant Governor Award.
Charley is a practing artist who teaches drawing and printmaking at NSCAD University and Mount Allison University in New Brunswick.
Lee Yuen-Rapati
Lee received the Talent Trust 2011 Canada Games Award in 2017, the year he began the MA Typeface Design program at the University of Reading in the UK, which is considered by many in the design industry as the best in the world.
He completed his Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Design at NSCAD University, where he taught as a guest lecturer for two years prior to beginning his MA.
Shanice Skinner
Shanice, a soprano born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2017.
Shanice was Nova Scotia’s alto selection for the 2014 National Youth Choir, and soprano for the 2016 National Youth Choir tour in Alberta. She won the Talent Trust Portia White award in 2016, and received a scholarship in 2018 to continue her voice studies.
Advocacy for the Arts
At the Nova Scotia Talent Trust (NSTT), we believe the arts are essential to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of our communities. For over 80 years, we’ve supported emerging artists who enrich Nova Scotia’s identity and inspire audiences near and far. Today, as we face significant challenges, advocacy for the arts has never been more critical.
Michelle Chawla, Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts, recently issued a call to action, urging us to shift the narrative about the arts. While the challenges in our sector are undeniable, it’s time to change the story—from one of crisis to one of impact. This is a moment to highlight how the arts contribute to our economy, strengthen communities, and bring people together.
Why Advocacy Matters
The arts sector in Canada contributes $60 billion annually to the GDP and employs more than 850,000 people. In Nova Scotia, the arts play a vital role in driving tourism, inspiring creativity, and fostering connection across diverse communities. Public support for the arts is essential to keep this momentum going.
However, without strong, sustained funding, many arts organizations, artists, and cultural workers will struggle to continue their work. Advocacy ensures that decision-makers at every level understand the value of investing in the arts—not just to sustain our sector, but to strengthen and transform it for the future.
How You Can Advocate
Advocacy begins with sharing stories that demonstrate the arts' impact. Here’s how you can join us in advocating for the arts:
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Share Your Impact Story
Reflect on a project, event, or initiative that demonstrates how the arts enrich your community. Did your organization attract visitors to local businesses? Did a performance spark meaningful dialogue? These stories illustrate the arts’ value and inspire action. -
Reach Out to Decision-Makers
Write to your municipal, provincial, or federal representatives to highlight the arts’ economic, social, and cultural contributions. Let them know public funding is vital for the sector’s sustainability and transformation. -
Inspire Your Community
Share your love for the arts with your network. Encourage your audiences, volunteers, and supporters to advocate by writing letters, making calls, or sharing their own stories about how the arts have impacted their lives. -
Collaborate for Greater Impact
Connect with NSTT and other arts organizations to align messaging and advocacy strategies. Together, our collective voice will resonate louder.
NSTT’s Commitment to Advocacy
At NSTT, we are committed to amplifying the voices of emerging artists and the broader arts community. We work to highlight the transformative power of the arts and advocate for sustained public and private investment in our sector.
Join us in ensuring Nova Scotia’s arts community continues to thrive. Let’s tell the impact story of the arts—one that demonstrates their value in every corner of our province and inspires decision-makers to invest in our shared creative future.
Together, we can keep the arts vibrant, resilient, and at the heart of Nova Scotia’s cultural identity.
Luciana Fernandes
Luciana received the 2011 Canada Games Young Artist of Excellence Award in 2016. She completed her undergrad at Dalhousie University, then relocated to British Columbia to pursue her MFA in directing at UBC.
Luciana returned to Halifax in 2018 to participate in Neptune Theatre’s Chrysalis Project, which provides practical experience and mentorship to emerging theatre artists.
Devin Huang
Devin began playing piano in 2013 at the age of seven, and has won both awards and competitions since then.
He was the 2017 recipient of the first ever Gordon Murray rising Star Award, and one of the winners of the 2017/18 Chebucto Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, an honour which gave him the opportunity to perform with the Orchestra in the spring of 2018.
Ian Parsons
Ian received Talent Trust scholarships to pursue studies in dance. He trained at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts in Halifax, then attended Canada’s National Ballet School.
Ian began teaching ballet after touring with CATS in 2013, and relocated from London, UK back to Canada three years later.
Charley Young
Born in Alberta, Charley moved to Nova Scotia to pursue her BFA at NSCAD University. She received the Charlotte Wilson-Hammond/Visual Arts Nova Scotia Award and the Lieutenant Governor Award.
Charley is a practing artist who teaches drawing and printmaking at NSCAD University and Mount Allison University in New Brunswick.
Lee Yuen-Rapati
Lee received the Talent Trust 2011 Canada Games Award in 2017, the year he began the MA Typeface Design program at the University of Reading in the UK, which is considered by many in the design industry as the best in the world.
He completed his Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Design at NSCAD University, where he taught as a guest lecturer for two years prior to beginning his MA.
Shanice Skinner
Shanice, a soprano born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2017.
Shanice was Nova Scotia’s alto selection for the 2014 National Youth Choir, and soprano for the 2016 National Youth Choir tour in Alberta. She won the Talent Trust Portia White award in 2016, and received a scholarship in 2018 to continue her voice studies.
