Artists selected by the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund will receive structured educational support, including instruction in professional practices, guidance on preparing funding applications as an educational skill, and access to ongoing, no-cost learning opportunities focused on capacity-building in the arts.

These supports are delivered for educational purposes and are designed to improve participants’ knowledge, skills, and understanding of sustainable creative practices. All services are provided within supervised programs that emphasize learning outcomes, public benefit, and the advancement of education in the arts.

JL Arts Capacity Program

  • Music - Abby McCartney

    Abby McCartney (she/her) began to teach herself guitar in early 2021. She published her first demo Pretty When I Cry in 2022, winning the Jane LeBlanc Music Award in August of that year. In 2023, she released her first self-produced single Tired in collaboration with the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund, showcased at the 2023 ECMAs, filmed an artist spotlight with Nancy Regan for Roger’s TV, and released her debut EP Everything At Once. Abby’s main influences are artists such as Leith Ross and Lizzy McAlpine. Tired was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2023 Prix Music New Brunswick Awards. Everything At Once was nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 2024 Prix Music New Brunswick Awards.

  • Film - Jeremy Murray

    Jeremy Murray (he/him) is a University of New Brunswick graduate with a focus in media arts and cultures (2017) and film production (2011-2018), specializing in film editing. Jeremy is a wheelchair user and has limited access to creative opportunities.

  • Music - Justine Richardson

    Justine Richardson, from Deer Island, New Brunswick, is an emerging artist recognized for her soulful acoustic music and socially conscious songwriting. Her singles "Independence" and "Better Run"—accompanied by a new music video, have quickly established her as a notable voice in the provincial music scene. Justine is committed to using her platform to inspire conversation and inclusivity through her art.

  • Theatre - Hannah Crothers

    Hannah Crothers is a Saint John playwright and performer. Her character-driven dramas explore intergenerational trauma, grief, and the importance of human connection. She is currently developing her one-act play, "Twelve Steps Forward, Twelve Steps Back," which employs a dual timeline to explore a father’s struggle with alcoholism and his son’s path forward. Hannah is dedicated to telling authentic, local stories that blur the line between theater and lived experience.

  • Film - Jon Wiseman

    Jonathan Wiseman is a passionate filmmaker and entrepreneur with a deep love for New Brunswick. He owns and operates his own video production and marketing company, "Wiseman Media Productions," where he serves as Director, Cinematographer, and Editor on numerous projects for businesses throughout Saint John and the province. Jonathan is driven, hardworking, positive, friendly, creative, and collaborative. He aspires to direct short films, episodic series, and feature films within New Brunswick.