Top Spotlights of 2024
The past year has been a busy one for Business & Arts NL. Between the (Un)Common Threads Creativity & Innovation Summit, the (Un)Common Threads speaker series, the Our Creative Home initiative (in partnership with Municipalities Newfoundland & Labrador), the launch of EDI Moments: Art as a Catalyst for Change, the launch of our 2024 Local Holiday Gift Guide, and our Business Workshops for Artists series, 2024 was filled with many inspiring moments, stimulating conversations, and wonderful collaborations. Of course, there were plenty of supportive partnerships between the arts and business communities to highlight, too.
If you've been keeping up with our Spotlight on Partnerships blog (where we published 45 stories over the past year), you're likely familiar with some of these partnerships and initiatives. Here's a rundown of some of our most popular Spotlights from 2024.
The 2024 Local Holiday Gift Guide, with cover art by Katie Hardy.
2024 Local Holiday Gift Guide
The Local Holiday Gift Guide has become a beloved tradition of ours and a much anticipated annual offering. This year, we proudly launched the 8th edition of the guide, which featured over 230 items from 78 local artists and creative entrepreneurs across seven categories.
As usual, the local artisans and groups included did not disappoint. Featuring handcrafted jewellery and pottery, traditional rope art, stained glass, local music and books, performances, workshops and more, there was something for everyone.
Our gift guide also comes in handy throughout the year for those looking for unique gifts for other special occasions, or corporate events or gift bags. Make sure to bookmark the page so you can return to it easily! (Click here to read the Spotlight on the 2024 Local Holiday Gift Guide.)
Jillian Keiley
Jillian Keiley: (Un)Common Threads Creativity & Innovation Summit Featured Speaker
For those familiar with the local or national arts scene, Jillian Keiley needs no introduction. An award-winning director, Founding Artistic Director of Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, former Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and a teaching artist in the Directing Program at the National Theatre School in Montreal, we were thrilled to have Jillian as a featured speaker at our (Un)Common Threads Creativity & Innovation Summit, held back in November.
Prior to the summit, Jillian chatted with Business & Arts NL about how Newfoundland and Labrador influenced her own creative path, how she deals with creative blocks, what makes for a successful collaboration, and much more. (Click here to read our inspiring interview with Jillian.)
Jane Walker
Jane Walker: Public Art Consultant, Quidi Vidi Art Search
Ever wonder what goes into choosing the perfect piece of public art for a space? Last year, we chatted with public art consultant Jane Walker, who worked with us on choosing artworks for the Quidi Vidi Art Search, the St. John’s International Airport, and the new adult mental health and addictions facility. She’s also worked with individuals and community groups to bring art into their spaces.
"I think art can sometimes be an intimidating thing to talk about. If you're not in that world and you don't have that language, it can make people feel uncomfortable. But I love breaking down those walls and talking to people about, ‘What do you imagine here? What do you love?’" Jane said. (To find out more about Jane's work, click here to read our Spotlight.)
Katie Hardy
Katie Hardy: 2024 Local Holiday Gift Guide Illustrator
One of the best parts about putting together our annual Local Holiday Gift Guide is working with talented local artists, graphic designers and illustrators to make it come to life.
For our 2024 edition, we were lucky to have Katie Hardy create the bright and lively illustrations, which call to mind vintage Christmas cards, tasty treats and the coziness associated with the holiday season.
A couple of months back, we chatted with Katie about her style, from where she draws her inspiration, the artists who influence her, and her creative process. (Click here to read our Spotlight on Katie Hardy.)
Elaine Dunphy (right, in a long, white sweater) with some of her Ageless Grace participants.
Elaine Dunphy of Ageless Grace on the Rock
Whether you work in an office or elsewhere, we understand how important it is to get up and move regularly. Elaine Dunphy of Nia on the Rock has been helping people get in tune with their bodies and find joy through movement for about a decade now.
Through the Ageless Grace program, she's also been working with senior participants or "wellderlies" to help stimulate their brains and bodies, working with clients including the St. John's Retired Citizens Association, Anglican Homes Inc., Manuels River, and Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador.
Earlier this year, we chatted with Elaine about how her movement practice can benefit those in the corporate world, too. (Click here to read the Spotlight on Elaine Dunphy.)
A group shot of local artists featured on The Women of the Land NL website.
Women of the Land NL
Partnerships really do make the world go 'round, and thanks to a wonderful collaboration between Empowering Indigenous Women for Stronger Communities and the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE), it's easier than ever to support local Indigenous artists.
Women of the Land NL is an online platform that showcases products and services from Indigenous women artists all across the province. Rather than being an e-commerce site where potential customers can purchase products directly, the website includes profiles for each artist and their emails/social media links for customers to get in touch.
Last year, we chatted with NLOWE's Carolyn Wakeham to learn more about it. (Click here to read our Spotlight on Women of the Land NL.)
Artist Kelly McMichael speaks to budding musicians during a workshop at 62 Broadway.
62 Broadway & NL Venues
Over on the west coast of the island, Nigel Jenkins, Founder of Laughing Heart Music (LHM), has been keeping busy.
In the spring of 2023, he and his team officially opened the doors to 62 Broadway in Corner Brook - an arts hub that connects established and emerging artists to programming, resources and support (including paid mentorship opportunities and internship programs), while growing local support and appreciation for the arts.
“There's so many incredible artists out here, and there’s a lot of young people just really interested and excited in the arts generally. And so (we’re) trying to create opportunities for them and create pipelines into artistic and artist support-type careers,” Jenkins said.
Earlier this year, through LHM, Jenkins also launched NLVenues.com, a searchable database of performing arts venues in the province. (To learn more about these initiatives, click here to read our Spotlight.)
From left: Spencer FitzGerald, Sarah Newell, Matthew Cadigan and Pete of WITH VIOLET.
Innovation Week 2024 & techfest
Our tech industry is booming here in Newfoundland and Labrador (little wonder with all the innovative and creative folks who are collaborating and working together on game-changing ideas).
As part of Innovation Week 2024, the team at techNL decided to turn the spotlight on musicians involved with the local tech industry during the inaugural techfest concert.
"A lot of individuals in the tech sector are extremely creative and extremely talented, and so many of them have their own side hustles and their own endeavours and ventures that they partake in outside of the regular nine to five...I think that's where a lot of the creativity and innovation sparks from in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Hayley Perry, Tech Sector Promotion Coordinator with techNL.
To hear more from Hayley, and the tech workers/musicians who performed at this year's techfest, click here to read our Spotlight.
Have an idea for Spotlight on Partnerships, or a story to share about business and arts partnerships or projects? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us at: projects@businessandartsnl.com