Uncertain Future

Due to the recent funding cuts, the future of the Visual Connection Project is uncertain. If I can secure more permanent employment through my recent searches, then the VCP will be dissolved. As I previously mentioned there is also a chance that I will try to find another non-profit organization to host the project. Given the recent funding cuts, however I am not sure this will work. If the VCP is dissolved this blog site will also be deleted as well. A decision will be made by March 28th.

Worst News

I have just learned that Veith Street Gallery Studio Association will not even receive a cessation grant from the United Way of Halifax. Unfortunately this may mean the end of the road for Veith Street Galley.

SAD NEWS

Unfortunately Veith Street Gallery Studio Association received bad news from its primary funder, the United Way of Halifax, that neither the proposed VSG programs nor the Education and Outreach Programs (Visual Connections Project) fit their new funding criteria. As a result of this, funding has been cut and the organization is awaiting word on a cessation grant that may allow the gallery programs to remain in operation, but not the Education and Outreach programs (Visual Connections Project).

This means that my position with Veith Street Gallery Studio Association as the Education and Outreach Curator will end on March 28th. I am not sure what will happen to the Visual Connections Project, as I am pursuing other employment opportunities. It may show up as a program in another non –profit organization or it may just fade away.

For me the past five and half years with Veith Street Gallery Studio Association has been both challenging and rewarding. I feel I have grown as an educator and artist. I will miss the artist of Creative Spirit East and working with the other community service providers in HRM.

Changes

In our last post we said that after a review of the programs and services we would begin to implement  a number of changes. The first of these changes is the elimination of the professional development programs. Even though we said that we would not change these programs, we felt that these programs should be offered through another service in Halifax.

The second major change in programming is the expansion and renaming of the Creative Start Open Studio Program. The new name for the program will be the Visual Connections Open Studio program, which will be expanded from a ten week program to thirty week long program. This newly expanded program will also have an employment component, in which program participants will also do a work placement within the visual cultural industry. Of course this expansion will only happen if the funding come through.

Changes are Coming

Over the next couple of months there will be a review and redevelopment of the programs offered through the Visual Connections Project – Community Education Programs. Some programs will be transformed while other programs will be replaced by new programs.

The Visual Connections Project – Professional Development Programs will not change, and we hope to offer the MIX: Integrating the Visual Arts into Adult Education in the fall. There are also plans in the works to develop a brand new social enterprise.

Some of these changes will take place in September, while others will be more long term.

ART AT APSEA

The images below are samples of artworks by students at APSEA (Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority). I had the students do giant artist trading cards.

CSOSP Final Exhibition

Here are some images from the final exhibition for the Creative Start Open Studio Program held the Bloomfield Centre, Halifax June 1st, 2012.

Time Frames Program Final Exhibition

Here are some images from the final exhibition for the Time Frames Program held at the Alderney library on May 31st, 2012.