The Guysborough Antigonish Pictou County Arts Council (GAPACC) supports local artists in all creative media. One GAPACC initiative, Culture Alive!, has supported GAPACC members’ book and musical recording launches, exhibits, concerts, film screenings and other public events since 1999. In an attempt to reach out to all local artists, GAPACC expanded the reach of Culture Alive! in 2009 to offer support to non-GAPACC members via the Emerging Artist Series. Read more to find the Culture Alive Application form.

Like Culture Alive!, the Emerging Artist Series offers organizational and financial support to musicians, performing artists, writers, visual artists of all media, and all other creators based in the Guysborough, Antigonish and Pictou County region. Last year Culture Alive! sponsored a book launch by local author Pam MacLean; a concert with Tanya Davis and the Smokin’ Contra Band in collaboration with Nicholas Johnson; an exhibit reception for potter Teresa Dunnigan; a film screening by Director Tim Wilson, in collaboration with Tiiu Poder and the Antigonish Palliative Care Society; and continued sponsorship of films for the Antigonish International Film Festival.

GAPACC recognizes the tremendous artistic talent in the region and wants local artists to recognize GAPACC’s eagerness to support them. So that they might learn firsthand the benefits of belonging to an Arts Council, the Emerging Artist Series also provides successful applicants with a one-year membership to GAPACC. Molly Thomason was the first recipient of the Emerging Artist sponsorship for her CD launch in 2009.

Applicants are requested to provide a minimum of two weeks notice prior to their event. A GAPACC board member will be present at all Culture Alive! and Emerging Artist Series events. GAPACC wishes to stress that the Emerging Artist Series is only awarded once per individual applicant.

GAPACC encourages interested parties to complete an Emerging Artist Series application form. The application form is easy and quick to complete.

Click here to download an application form.

Sarah O’Toole