2018 JRG INAUGURAL AWARD WINNER,
WY JOUNG KOU

about.
JRG Society for the Arts is a registered Canadian charity devoted to making a difference in the lives of artists with disabilities in memory of Justin Robin Grant, who passed on July 12, 2015. JRG assists Deaf, Disabled and MAD artists to create beautiful art, pursue their goals and share their talent with the world.In 2018, JRG’s inaugural year we provided a grant of $3,500 to artist Wy Joung Kou, to assist in the creation of Kou’s mosaic art, which otherwise may never have been achieved. JRG also assisted filmmaker, Alex Kronstein, to help him produce the work of his dreams, a documentary that focuses on autism. READ MORE.

apply.
JRG is dedicated to offering this grant. We are a small board of volunteers and we are hoping to have a call for this grant again in late 2024 or early 2025. Please follow us on social media for updates.
2023 JRG Emerging Artist Award
Read all guidelines and find the application form here (Deadline for applications: May 31, 2023):


















































![All events that are part of DAAS 2024 will be mask mandatory to keep our community healthy and safe. We are thrilled to offer free masks at the venue thanks to the generous support of @eyelevel_arc ‘s “Free Mask Bank”! 😷
Registration is free for all keynotes and panels (closed spaces to disability identified-artists) and tickets to the Cabaret are PWYC (open to the public). Space is limited, so please visit the links in our bio and register today (all events have livestream option)! 🌻
HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Masks: To protect our community, the cabaret in addition to all other DAAS programming will be mask mandatory. There will be free respirator masks available at the Bus Stop Theatre for all events, generously provided by Eyeleve’s Free Mask Bank. Masks may be lowered temporarily while actively eating/drinking. Cabaret performers will maintain physical distance from the audience if unmasked.
Distancing: We are filling the theatre to a partial audience capacity to encourage physical distancing. This means tickets will be limited- so order yours soon!
Cleaning: There will be diligent cleaning protocols put in place during the event to ensure high touch surfaces are regularly disinfected.
Air: The Bus Stop Theatre was recently renovated, which includes a new up to code filtered ventilation system for air quality/circulation.
More: We encourage all artists and audience members who are able to self administer a rapid covid-19 text before attending any large gathering event to reduce the risk of spread and to stay home to watch the live stream if any symptoms are present. All food offered will be individually wrapped/portioned to reduce the risk of contamination and spread.
[Image Description: A graphic with a yellow and beige background with a checkboard border in the same colors. In the centre, there is black text that reads ‘Eyelevel’s Free Mask Bank.’ There is a yellow oval and some small shapes around an aqua N95 respirator.]](https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/468780955_18287821738209407_8176363650529392429_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=etjHC8uCZWEQ7kNvwEGs0Of&_nc_oc=Admirrsz-vuKAdVlHZD80mnZoXff9xkKKe8Z8Y9TrK29NIQvVUNyQi-x85BgWk7tS88&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=IYwq2-iDPjulj5xuvY8-6g&oh=00_AffOoCHqcMBbljYU7H6zQ1fyjwFikUt-ETfq6hkBvTJ73w&oe=69058ABA)
![The team behind the “Claim your Space: Essential Advocacy Tools for Artists with Disabilities” panel are looking for community questions/topics of discussion around the theme of advocacy. Please feel free to comment on this post or send us a DM to share your thoughts! ✨
This panel will be happening in person and virtually at 1:30pm on March 31st at The Bus Stop Theatre Co-op.
Registration is free for all keynotes and panels (closed spaces to disability identified-artists) and tickets to the Cabaret are PWYC (open to the public). Space is limited, so please visit the link in our bio and register today (all events have livestream option)! 🌻
[Image Description: There is a bright green rectangle at the top of the frame with purple text reading “Claim your Space: Essential Advocacy Tools for Artists with Disabilities”. Below is a blue rectangle with green text reading “SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS”. Below is a photo of a person in a brown sweater at a desk typing in a laptop keyboard. At the bottom fi the graphic is a dark purple sphere emerging from the bottom. There is a “Theatre New Brunswick” logo on the bottom left and a “JRG Society for the Arts logo” on the bottom right. Both logos are designed in turquoise and white. There is text at the bottom of the first slide reading “Moderated by Kaitlyn Adair- March 31st at 1:30pm”]](https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/468646302_18287821477209407_3931848405748517059_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=bjGTQhmHN0cQ7kNvwHrcmnU&_nc_oc=AdleUN1QXClEDa8gW_QG_mkdsUEzqhi6NRjF8NAdi1_pZhKP3RL9fF3yO_Hmd51i9AU&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=IYwq2-iDPjulj5xuvY8-6g&oh=00_AfeyoyrDGpszLxA2OgjT9CN5Gh0Hb2hdkqLLuAsWPqO0cA&oe=69058C7C)





![Save the date!! JRG is thrilled to announce that the 2024 Disability Atlantic Arts Symposium will bring together disability-identified artists from across Atlantic Canada for a three-day event March 29th-31st. Both the DAAS and a Cabaret will be taking place at The Bus Stop Theatre Co-op in Kjipuktuk (Halifax, NS). Produced with @theatrenewbrunswick Theatre New Brunswick, DAAS provides accessible and equitable professional development opportunities to artists with disabilities.
Please stay posted for exciting updates about panelists, registration, and opportunities to be involved! Thank you to Canadian Heritage and Canada Council for the Arts.
Please feel free to direct any questions, curiosities, or media inquiries to producer, Logan Robins, at: loganedwardrobins@gmail.com
Image Description:
[A rich purple background is overlaid with a deep blue triangle in the bottom left corner and a mauve circle in the top right. All shapes have a warm grainy quality to them. Over the colors is text in bright green and white which reads “DAAS Disability Atlantic Arts Symposium- March 29-31, 2024”. In the bottom of the image is the Theatre New Brunswick logo and JRG Society for the Arts logo.]](https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/419051934_1109475720335387_5052094771292154289_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=hFyw2QZDvc4Q7kNvwGGIvql&_nc_oc=Adn0mY0ovhCaMxIMVpcD3RcyX0SPAwvmSivYv26gFDtpxLcClwK-P5YA5oLbbhxUd0o&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=IYwq2-iDPjulj5xuvY8-6g&oh=00_Afc16a4ROXyfxD-KUsaDER3efohTFj7iv7n5Y5uNyOx3SA&oe=690598A6)







![Last but not least in our lineup is Paul Vieanneau!
Halifax photographer Paul Vienneau formally trained as a musician at St Francis Xavier and the University of Toronto, where he studied jazz bass. He is from a musical family. After a life spent in music, or as he calls it, “The First Half”, Paul switched his focus to photography. Music had always been the job, photography the hobby. Now photography is his job, and music is his hobby.
Paul is fascinated with all genres of photography. After years of only photographing landscapes and urban details, Paul began to photograph people a few years ago. He finds it to be a great way to meet and get to know people, and he strives to reveal the Real Person behind the cliched “say cheese”. Paul finds this moment similar to musical rhythm, where the unguarded Real Person is “between the beats” and an ideal portrait session will be a conversation and a collaboration between photographer and subject.
Paul has been a member of Halifax co-operative ViewPoint Gallery since 2004(except for a short hiatus), and has a professional studio at Brian Larter’s Aperture Studios, on Barrington Street, Halifax NS.
Join us tonight to hear Paul speak about his process! See you at 7 pm at the Bus Stop Theatre!
[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Paul, an Acadian man and left leg amputee, is in his wheelchair on a Halifax street. In the background we can see a slushy grey sidewalks, small piles of snow, grey and brown apartments, and the top of a bus. Paul is looking to his right, wearing a black beanie. He wears a black t-shirt with obscured white text, over a grey long-sleeve top. He is also wearing jeans and a red and blue striped scarf. There is a pile of plaid blue fabric on his lap. His wheelchair is black and grey with red accents.]](https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/332108344_663407642461787_7019000973458962873_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=_nPMTbxafsYQ7kNvwF4Bwoq&_nc_oc=Adm_YSY4gNDIJNRkrDC1pImt2tAF1av1i82UdutvEzXWWtRHytedeaynaCDsvkv8iiI&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=IYwq2-iDPjulj5xuvY8-6g&oh=00_AfeiTnhb42ZMT2dQckwS9bDTjx5E1UFdvvXR_wUc3vBWMw&oe=69058CB7)
