September 2024

Dear Masterworks Stakeholders,

We wanted to advise you that there are major changes happening to the Masterworks Award and the charitable foundation that administers the award, the Nova Scotia Masterworks Awards Foundation.

As a result of many factors – COVID, board changes, staff changes and challenges with board engagement – it has become clear that the Nova Scotia Masterworks Awards Foundation no longer has the capacity to effectively administrate this important award. As board members, we are all committed to ensuring “a bright future for this unique opportunity for Nova Scotian artists of all disciplines.” To that end, the Board passed a special resolution on March 14 of this year to dissolve the Foundation and its charitable status and move all assets to Arts Nova Scotia.  

Over the past months, we have been working diligently with a legal and accounting team to understand the necessary process which has enabled this all to happen relatively smoothly and, happily, we are coming to the final stretch.  

We are grateful to Arts Nova Scotia for agreeing to this transition. during which the Arts Nova Scotia Board will determine the best course of action for continuing the award’s legacy. This will include community input and consultation.

We want to thank every member of the arts community and especially to the Lieutenant Governor who has supported the award and the Foundation, as we look forward to this new chapter.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, 

Fiona Diamond

Vice-chair, Masterworks Foundation