Update about Elizabeth Bishop Exhibit and Art Gallery: Fund-raising

The Elizabeth Bishop Society of Nova Scotia has accomplished quite a lot since it formed in 1994. We have produced annual newsletters, without interruption (you can read all the back issues on our website). We helped ensure that a significant collection of Bishop family material was preserved (it is housed at Acadia University Archives: http://openarchive.acadiau.ca/cdm/landingpage/collection/BBHS). We have produced a number of pamphlets, booklets and books. We collaborated with the Great Village Historical Society to build a pergola in Great Village on which are eight large panels about the history of the village, including two about Bishop.

(Pergola in 2007 with its first two (Bishop) panels.

Since then, six more panels, about the history of Great Village,
have been added. Photo by Brenda Barry.)

We have hosted nearly yearly special day-long or multi-day events (talks, concerts, workshops, festivals, Annual General Meetings). This kind of steady activity reached a peak in 2011 when the EBSNS was a principal force behind the celebration of Elizabeth Bishop’s Centenary (EB100). After this incredible year, the society worked on several major legacy projects, including supporting Suzie LeBlanc’s “I am in need of music,” a Juno-award-winning CD of settings of Bishop poems by Canadian composers. Ms LeBlanc is the EBSNS’s Honorary Patron.

All of this activity came about because of the strong support of the volunteer board and community volunteers. The EBSNS has also raised tens of thousands of dollars during the past two decades for all of these projects and events. One thing that the EBSNS is especially proud of is how much support we have given to artists in Great Village, Colchester County and Nova Scotia in general. The society has also brought in guest speakers from near and far.

The “Elizabeth Bishop’s Beginnings” exhibit and the “Echoes of Elizabeth Bishop” art gallery bring together two of the primary missions of the EBSNS. The first is to celebrate and educate Nova Scotians about Bishop’s connection to Great Village and her place in our cultural history. The second is to support local artists. With this project, the EBSNS is collaborating with the St. James Church Preservation Society. This kind of collaboration has been a hall-mark of the EBSNS presence in the village throughout its existence.

The EBSNS is relying again on the generous support of its volunteer board. In addition, of course, the society has fund-raised for this big project. Our first fund-raiser, which we call “Patron of the Exhibit,” started in October of 2016. As of 9 April 2017, we have raised $2,300.00 from 26 patrons. We will create a plaque listing all our patrons, which will be included with the exhibit. This fund-raiser will remain active until 30 May 2017. If you are interested in becoming a patron, you can write to the EBSNS at contactus@elizabethbishopns.org. The EBSNS extends heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported the project in this way.

As successful as the “Patron of the Exhibit” is, the society still needed to raise more money. Ontario artist Alfred Villeneuve generously donated one of his en plein air paintings of Algonquin Park for a raffle.

(Summer Zeppelins over Lake of Two Rivers, 9”x12” — Value $800.00)

The winning ticket will be drawn at our Annual General Meeting on 17 June 2017, in St. James Church, Great Village, N.S., at 3:30 p.m.

Because of the lottery license regulations in Nova Scotia, we are allowed to sell tickets only to Nova Scotians. Tickets will be on sale until the day of the AGM. If you are a Nova Scotian and would like to buy tickets email: contactus@elizabethbishopns.org.

Stay tuned for more update about all these activities.