“The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS) is delighted to announce the Canaccord Free Access School Program. The program will enhance the Gallery’s Docent and School Guide program by funding new training for an increased number of volunteer docents and eliminating all entrance fees for students coming to the Gallery on school visits. Effective immediately all school tours will be offered free access to the Gallery and its extensive exhibitions and collections, as a result of this important sponsorship by Canaccord Wealth Management.

Barry Mosher, Senior Investment Advisor with Canaccord Wealth Management, announced the sponsorship at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia today, surrounded by students, volunteers from the Docent program and Canaccord Wealth Management advisors.  The sponsorship is the first of its kind for the AGNS and will run for an initial period of one year.

“Providing young people with the opportunity to experience art in all its many forms is key to a well-rounded education,” said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister David Wilson. “I want to congratulate the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Canaccord Wealth Management on this excellent partnership.”

“Canaccord Wealth Management believes in the youth of our province and the importance that the arts play in their education,” said Barry Mosher, Senior Investment Advisor. “Our next generation will need to be complex problem solvers. Arts education is a wonderful tool that will enable students to respond to their complex and ever-changing world in creative and transformational ways. We are confident that our support of the AGNS will increase access and directly benefit more young people across Nova Scotia that will help them through their academic life and beyond,” he added.

“The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is committed to learning and places it at the heart of what we do,” said Ray Cronin, Director and CEO of the AGNS. “The Gallery’s vision is all about bringing art to life for all children, perhaps for a moment’s inspiration, but more often as the beginning of a longer voyage of discovery.  We are thrilled to see a corporate white knight such as Canaccord Wealth Management step forward to support arts education for all children and youth in Nova Scotia.”

“Our Gallery is diverse and makes for a fabulous teaching and learning resource for teachers,” said Dale Sheppard, Curator of Education and Public Programs. “The art on view in the Gallery provides a window into other times and places. Artworks ignite discussion, spark the imagination and are a powerful starting point for school projects across a variety of curriculum areas. We invite schools across the province to come and explore the AGNS collection where a team of skilled volunteer docents will help support and expand classroom learning.”

To make a school booking please contact Laura Carmichael, Assistant Curator of Education at 902-424-6314 carmiclm@gov.ns.ca at least three weeks in advance. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer docent at the Gallery you may also contact Laura Carmichael.

About Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is the largest art museum in Atlantic Canada. With locations in downtown Halifax and downtown Yarmouth, the Gallery houses the Province’s art collection and offers a range of exhibitions and programming. For information: www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca
About Canaccord Wealth Management
As one of Canada’s largest independent investment dealers with an office in Halifax and 36 other Wealth Management offices across Canada, Canaccord Wealth Management is a national financial services firm that offers a wide range of investment products, services and client-focused solutions. Canaccord’s commitment to meeting the needs of its clients continues to be the cornerstone of its success. Canaccord Wealth Management is a division of Canaccord Genuity Corp., Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.”

-posted with permission from Art Gallery of Nova Scotia