Celebrating Arts Education in Newfoundland & Labrador

I’m honoured to share that I’ve been long-listed for ArtsNL’s Arts Educator of the Year Award. This recognition means so much, not only on a personal level, but as an affirmation of the work happening every day in our province’s arts education community.

Newfoundland and Labrador is home to an extraordinary group of arts educators, people who give their time, their care, their expertise, and their hearts to teaching. To everyone who joined me on the long list: congratulations. I’m proud to be in your company. Your commitment to young people and your dedication to the arts are felt in every class, rehearsal, and workshop you lead.

Every day, I see how arts education helps build confidence, creativity, leadership, and connection. The arts shape how people understand themselves and the world around them. When students step into our studio at Lynn Panting Dance they’re building trust with one another, learning to express themselves, taking healthy risks, and discovering their own voices in motion.

Being recognized for this work is a reminder of the meaningful, often unseen labour of arts educators across the province. Much of what we do happens quietly: the careful lesson planning, the conversations after class, the encouragement to try something again, the gentle guidance that helps a student stand a little taller. These are the moments that shape a dancer’s experience. They are also the moments that shape humans.

I’m grateful to ArtsNL for acknowledging arts educators and shining a light on the value of creative education. And I’m grateful to our LPD students and families, who make our studio community a place where creativity and care thrive.

To all the educators on the long list, thank you for the work you do. Our arts community is stronger, richer, and more vibrant because of your impact.