Attica Furnishings, The Loop, Breakhouse Design, Inkwell Boutique,
Gallery Page & Strange, Spectacle Group, Kula Partners, Spider Video
… the list goes on and on. Some of the most innovative businesses in
Halifax have been created by NSCAD University alumni.
To draw
attention to the entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity of art and design
graduates, the NSCAD Alumni Association is launching the I AM NSCAD
campaign.
“What we want to show is the incredible contributions
that NSCAD University graduates make as artistic drivers to the economy
of our downtown,” says Linda Hutchison, director of University Relations
at NSCAD University. “And this is true not just of Halifax’s downtown,
but along main streets throughout Nova Scotia. Think of Jim Smith
Pottery in Chester, Birdsall-Worthington in Mahone Bay, Dots & Loops
in Lunenburg, Lucky Rabbit in Annapolis Royal or Coastal Adventures
along the eastern shore … there are so many examples.”
The I AM
NSCAD campaign will be launched on Thursday, April 18, 6 p.m. at Attica
Furnishings, 1566 Barrington Street. A perennial award winner in The
Coast's Best of Halifax survey, Attica Furnishings was created in 1995
by husband-and-wife team Christopher Joyce, a furniture designer, and
Suzanne Saul, a savvy business woman. Both have Bachelor of Fine Art
degrees from NSCAD University.
“My husband and
I are both proud NSCAD alum,” says Suzanne. “We moved to Halifax from
other provinces to go to NSCAD, which has the reputation of being the
best art college in the country. We can honestly say that Attica
wouldn’t exist here if it wasn’t for NSCAD; it’s a beacon, attracting
creative individuals from across Canada and abroad. Exciting things
happen here in Halifax because of NSCAD’s presence.”
To boost
awareness of the contributions of NSCAD and its alumni, grads will be
asked to display an “I AM NSCAD” decal in their shop, studio, booth or
office. The buttons and decals were designed by current NSCAD student
Sebastian Tory-Pratt using the “Granville” font designed especially for
NSCAD by typeface designer Rod McDonald.
As “Canada’s most
illustrious art school,” NSCAD offers the highest quality arts and
design education available, teaching students to think and do in an
ever-changing job market. NSCAD alumni are leaders in their fields,
impacting everything from craft-kit design for kids (The Orb Factory) to
Disney animation (Oscar winner John Kahrs) and the perfect, handmade
ceramic mug for your morning cuppa (Bread and Butter Pottery).
A
2011 survey of NSCAD alumni by Corporate Research Associates revealed a
high level of satisfaction among graduates for their educational
experience at NSCAD. The same survey showed that 40 per cent of
graduates identified themselves as entrepreneurs (self employed or
employing others) in the creative economy. Another important conclusion
of the survey is that students who are drawn to NSCAD from across Canada
and around the world often decide to stay in Nova Scotia and set up
businesses. Those enrolled in NSCAD’s craft programs (ceramics, jewelry
and metalsmithing, textiles and fashion) are more likely to stay than
those in other disciplines.
The creative economy, which includes
film, visual arts, crafts, architecture, photography, design, museums,
galleries, libraries, fashion, video games and software, broadcasting,
advertising, sound recording and the performing arts, is estimated at
$84.6 billion in Canada (2007 figures) and $950 million in Nova Scotia
(2008 figures). Looking at direct, indirect and induced contributions to
employment, the Conference Board of Canada estimates that the culture
sector accounts for 1.1 million jobs—employing as many people as the
agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, oil, gas and utilities sectors
combined.
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