PAINTS offers workshops from practicing professional visual artists, delivered to students in Nova Scotian schools in grades primary through 12.

PAINTS artists have self-selected to be part of the program and have been approved by the Visual Arts Nova Scotia committee. PAINTs artists are excited about working with children and youth!
 

Once approved, artists create workshops that range from 3 hours to 12 hours, and we post those on our website. Educators can select the workshops that they want to request, and PAINTS will advise you within two weeks of the deadline if you’ve been approved.
 

PAINTS offers workshops to schools in both online and in-person formats. Best of both worlds! For an artist to come to a school in person, they’ll need to be based within a reasonable radius. Within the HRM, that’s anything up to a 45-minute drive. In other parts of the province, up to 75 minutes. These times are for one-way travel. More may be possible on approval. 

Glass and Light Project, Island View School, Grades 9–12
 

PAINTS is a matching funds program. Artists are paid $80/hour for their time working with students. Schools are responsible for 50%, $40 per hour. Some subsidies are available for schools that aren’t able to support the full matching funds. This can be requested at the time of application.
 

PAINTS also provides support for materials. Schools can apply for materials grants up to the total cost of supplies in $25 increments from $25 to $125 per project.
 

While there are detailed workshop descriptions, teachers should always feel free to approach an artist with a special project, or a new idea. 
 

Deadlines for schools to request workshops are September 30th and January 30th.



About Art Recess

Art Recess is a series of online workshops made to be quick—about 15–20 minutes—and use materials that most people in Nova Scotia would have around the house or classroom. Part of the PAINTS program, these workshops can happen in class or at home. We’ve commissioned a series of these fast, fun workshops that will be available on the PAINTS YouTube Channel through to June 2027. Check them out! 


Questions? Contact Andrea:

Phone: 902-423-4694
Email: paints@visualarts.ns.ca