Celebrating the 2026 Spring/Summer Arts Grant Recipients

The City of Saint John recently hosted a reception celebrating our 2026 Spring/Summer Arts Grant recipients through the Saint John Community Arts Board. Our community is home to an incredible range of organizations working year‑round to create opportunities for residents and visitors to experience, participate in, and enjoy arts, culture, and community. It is always a joy to recognize and support this work.

The Community Arts Funding Program provides financial support in two categories:

• Project/Activity Funding – Arts-related projects, activities, events, or initiatives that are primarily participatory, actively engage the public, are educational in nature, or that develop the arts in the community.
• Arts Festival Funding – Preparation and presentation of one-day or multi-day arts festivals, major arts events, or arts celebrations.

This round, seven organizations received funding to continue delivering high‑impact programming across the city. Congratulations to:

Atlantic Canada Palestinian Society of Saint John | Saint John Palestinian Film Festival

A curated festival presenting feature films, documentaries, and shorts that explore Palestinian culture, history, identity, and contemporary issues. Through accessible screenings and community dialogue, the festival promotes cross‑cultural understanding and highlights both emerging and established Palestinian filmmakers.

Symphonette by the Sea – Sur Mer | 2026 Concert Season

Symphonette by the Sea will present two concerts on September 13 and November 29, featuring a professional conductor and skilled musicians performing chamber and popular music. The series offers accessible, high‑quality performances, showcases regional composers, and fills a unique musical niche in the city.

Portland United Church | Music at Portland 2026

The fifth season of Music at Portland will offer ten weeks of free Tuesday evening concerts throughout June, July, and August. Featuring a diverse lineup of local performers, including a multicultural evening, the series provides an inclusive space for neighbours to gather, connect, and enjoy live music in Saint John’s North End.

Connection Dance Works | Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival

Taking place July 18–24, the 2026 festival will bring contemporary dance to Uptown Saint John through site‑specific performances, Main Stage shows, a cabaret event at Haven Music Hall, and the Community Movement Project offering free workshops and a public performance. The festival expands access to professional dance and strengthens the city’s summer arts season.

Industrial Parks Collective Inc. | The Yellow Door Community Gallery

The Yellow Door Community Gallery is a new initiative designed to address the shortage of contemporary gallery and presentation space for local artists, arts organizations, and diverse communities in Saint John.

This bright, flexible 1,200 sq ft harbour‑view space will expand the city’s contemporary arts infrastructure by offering a welcoming venue for exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, performances, screenings, and community arts events. It will also serve as a hub for creative production and collaboration, supporting artists and community groups in developing and sharing new work.

Third Space Gallery | THIRD SHIFT 2026

THIRD SHIFT returns August 14–16 with nighttime installations, performances, projections, workshops, and artist talks throughout Uptown Saint John. Free and open to the public, the festival invites audiences to experience contemporary art in unexpected urban spaces and supports both emerging and established artists.

Saint John Horticultural Association | Violet Festival & Concert

Held at the Saint John Public Gardens, the Violet Festival is a free, family‑friendly celebration of spring featuring live music, floral activities, artisan vendors, local food, and children’s programming. The event supports local musicians and artisans while creating a colourful, welcoming community experience.

Thank you to each of these organizations for the work you do to make Saint John a vibrant, creative, and welcoming place to be.