Black Artists Network of
Nova Scotia
Who We Are
The Black Artists Network of Nova Scotia (BANNS) is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary arts association that seeks to develop the African Nova Scotian arts community. BANNS works with African Nova Scotian communities around the province to document and present their art and culture stories and to initiate important community arts projects.
It was founded in 1991 and has helped to increase the representation of African Nova Scotian artistry within Nova Scotia and in Canada’s mainstream public arts and cultural institutions. One of our major goals includes fostering programs and providing visibility for art collections.
Our Projects
In This Place
The remarkable, thought-provoking exhibition of artwork from 26 living and deceased African Nova Scotian artists.
Secret Codes
The Secret Codes, a major new exhibition of contemporary quilts by African-Nova Scotian quilters. It includes a series of narrative.
African Nova Scotian Quiltmakers Initiative
In 1998, we mounted the exhibition In This Place – Black Art in Nova Scotia. It was the first collective art exhibition to present the artwork of African Nova Scotians
Get Involved
Our efforts to build the network of Black Artists can not be effective without the collective effort of people like you. You can show your support by volunteering in any of our events or by donating to fund our projects
Upcoming Events
Sep 4 – 10: Fringe Festival
10am – 4pm Daily
Workshops, readings, and project publication
Extraordinary Acts
Dec 4 – 10
African Nova Scotian experiences in the 1917 Halifax Explosion
Staged reading performance
Voices Storytellers
Feb 4 – 10 | 10am – 4pm
Recruitment and workshop
Workshops, readings and project publication
Mommay’s Patches
Feb 4 – 10 | 10am Daily
Graduation show
Letita Fraser, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
Preston Quilts Exhibitions
Feb 4 – 10 | 10am – 4pm
Chase Gallery, Public Archives of NS Building
University Ave
Project Launch I
Feb 4 – 10 | 10am – 4pm
Nova Scotia Young artist expression on identity & culture
Workshops, readings, project publication
FEATURED ARTIST
Justin Augustine
Justin Augustine was born in Dominica, W.I., in 1974 and emigrated to Toronto, Ontario in 1985 at the age of 11. He came to Halifax in 1994 to study at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and after completing his studies (BFA, 1999) remained in the city.
In the News
Casting Call: The Monkeyhouse
Play SynopsisA fictional province (based on Nova Scotia) has fallen under the control of a right...