Creative Pictou County is thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Coastal NS/Destination Eastern and Northern Shore (DEANS) to give an Award to an Artist Collective at the 2026 Buoy Awards.
The Artist Collective Award will celebrate a group whose mandate is to support their members through learning and various opportunities (workshops, exhibitions, special projects etc) for the advancement of art practices in Pictou County.
The DEANS Buoy Awards celebrate tourism excellence found on the northern and eastern shores of the province. Tourism and the arts and culture sector go hand in hand, encouraging visitors to explore the county and making it an exciting place to live by promoting and celebrating artists.
Nominators must complete an official nomination package with the following:
- Collective/group mandate including how long they have been operating
- Activities for the past two years
- Testimonials from 2-3 past or current members that describes how being a part of this collective has improved/expanded their practice
- Pertinent links to social media profiles, websites or press articles (articles can be included as photos within document)
These answers should be compiled into a single document and sent as a PDF. Up to 10 JPEGS will be accepted as supplemental material (images of group outings, exhibitions etc).
Collectives must operate and present programming in Pictou County (excursions to other counties can be listed in programming if applicable)
Selection Process
Nominees are assessed and a recipient is selected by a jury comprised of Creative Pictou County staff, board members and a community member.
The jury will evaluate based on the following criteria:
- Quality & scope of opportunities
- Demonstrates a clear mandate of supporting members and their creative needs
- Sustainability & long-term contribution to the arts in Pictou County
Please send completed nominations by 4pm on Friday March 20 to Carissa@creativepictoucounty.com with the subject line “Artist Collective Award”
Everyone will be notified by March 30th, the awards ceremony is April 16 at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
