Black Artists Network of Nova Scotia (BANNS)

The Black Artists Network of Nova Scotia (BANNS) is a professional artist association that seeks to develop African-Nova Scotian professional artists, promote excellence in their art practice and increase the representation of these artists in the province’s (and Canada’s) mainstream public arts and cultural institutions, programming, and collections.  BANNS organizes a variety of activities including art and quilt exhibitions, arts workshops, community festivals, art and literary publications etc.  The organization is known for its pioneering exhibitions exploring African Nova Scotian art and quilts including In This Place: 100 Years of African Nova Scotian Art – the first collective exhibition of African Nova Scotian art (Anna Leonowens Gallery 1998). It also includes When Black Women Useta Fly – the first collective exhibition of African Nova Scotian quilts (Dartmouth heritage museum 2002).  BANNS also organizes arts based cultural festivals such as The Preston Cultural Festival (2001-2004) and Africville House– a multi-disciplinary presentation of the culture and history of Africville (Seaview Park, Halifax 2008). BANNS also serves as an umbrella organization bringing together artists and organizations for projects that explore African Canadian art and culture from across Nova Scotia.  Organizations with which BANNS has partnered in the past include Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Black Cultural Centre, Black History Month Association, Canada Council, National Film Board etc.