December 31, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has selected Fredericton-based music artist Evan Cooper to participate in its 2026 JL Arts Capacity Program following a competitive application process that received more than 40 submissions.

The JL Arts Capacity Program is a structured educational initiative designed to advance public education in the creative and performing arts. The program supports emerging artists by providing skills-based training, guided mentorship, and access to learning resources that enhance artistic knowledge, professional capacity, and long-term participation in the arts sector.

Through the program, participants engage in structured learning activities focused on topics such as artist development, professional practices, grant literacy, and sustainable career planning within the arts. These educational components are intended to build transferable skills and increase participants’ understanding of the creative industries in Canada.

Evan Cooper joins the 2026 cohort alongside artists working in film, music, and theatre, reflecting the Fund’s commitment to inclusive, multidisciplinary arts education.

“Participation in the JL Arts Capacity Program provides a valuable opportunity to learn from experienced arts professionals and to strengthen my understanding of artistic practice and career development,” said Cooper.

Evan Cooper is an emerging singer-songwriter from Fredericton whose work explores themes of adolescence and self-expression through acoustic, lyric-driven compositions. His artistic practice reflects early-stage creative development and draws from pop and alternative folk traditions.

As part of his ongoing learning, Evan has participated in songwriting camps and collaborative educational environments across multiple provinces. These experiences have supported his artistic growth through peer learning, mentorship, and exposure to professional arts contexts. He has also taken part in regional performances and media interviews, contributing to his understanding of the Canadian music ecosystem.

As a participant in the JL Arts Capacity Program, Evan will engage in structured educational activities intended to strengthen his artistic skills, expand his knowledge of the arts sector, and support his capacity to pursue future learning and creative opportunities.

December 19, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund reports that filmmaker Jeremy Murray, a participant in the Fund’s JL Arts Capacity Program has been awarded a $20,000 project grant from artsnb.

The grant will support the production of Out of Order, a short film project funded by the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture and Telefilm Canada.

As a filmmaker with a disability, Jeremy brings lived experience to his creative practice and has spoken publicly about accessibility considerations within film production. The external project funding he has received from arms-length organizations supports production-related expenses, including accessibility requirements determined by the administering bodies.

In 2026, Media NB will host a publicly accessible Q&A webinar with Jeremy, offering audiences insight into his creative process and perspectives on representation and storytelling. This educational event contributes to a broader public understanding of inclusive practices in media arts.

“Jeremy has participated in multiple structured learning and mentorship opportunities within the arts community, and it is encouraging to see his continued engagement with publicly supported creative programs,” said Cat LeBlanc, President of the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund. “We congratulate him on this independently awarded funding and acknowledge the role of public arts agencies in supporting Canadian filmmakers.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is a non-profit organization established to advance education through the delivery of learning-focused programs, bursaries, scholarships, and public educational initiatives that benefit creative communities in New Brunswick and the Atlantic region.

December 17, 2025

With support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund invites emerging creative practitioners in New Brunswick to apply for the 2026 edition of the JL Mentorship Engagement Program.

The JL Mentorship Engagement Program is a structured educational initiative designed to advance learning and professional skill development in the creative and performing arts. The program supports participants through guided mentorship, instructional workshops, and facilitated learning activities that strengthen knowledge of artistic practice and the Canadian arts sector.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2026

Program Information: bit.ly/3KBrooz

Questions: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com

Program Overview

The JL Mentorship Engagement Program brings together a cohort of emerging creatives working in film, visual art, craft, writing, photography, music, and theatre with experienced arts professionals who provide structured, skills-based guidance. Mentorship activities focus on learning, knowledge transfer, and informed engagement with professional arts practices.

The program is designed to increase access to educational mentorship opportunities, with particular attention to supporting participation by women and individuals from equity-seeking communities.

Mentorship is delivered through scheduled in-person meetings and/or digital sessions and follows a defined learning framework established by the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund.

Program Structure

Duration: March 2026 – November 30, 2026 (9 months)

Mentorship Commitment: Approximately four hours per month of structured one-on-one learning sessions

Additional Learning Activities:

Facilitated virtual workshops on topics such as health and wellness in creative practice

Instructional sessions addressing professional practices and sector literacy

Participants are encouraged to apply with clearly defined learning objectives and specific challenges they wish to explore through mentorship and educational programming.

November 25, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has selected participants for its 2026 JL Arts Capacity Program following a competitive application process.

The program supports learning and skill development through structured educational activities, including guided mentorship, instructional support, and supervised learning opportunities related to creative practice. Selected participants for 2026 include Jon Wiseman (Film), Jeremy Murray (Film), Abby McCartney (Music), Justine Richardson (Music), and Hannah Crothers (Theatre).

The program is designed to advance education by supporting participants as they develop knowledge, skills, and understanding related to their chosen creative disciplines within a structured learning environment.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to take part in this educational program and to continue developing my skills through guided learning and mentorship,” said Jon Wiseman.

Jon Wiseman is a Saint John–based creative practitioner engaged in filmmaking and screen-based media. His learning background includes hands-on experience with visual storytelling, technical production processes, and collaborative project development. Through participation in the 2026 program, Jon will focus on building skills, exploring creative approaches, and engaging in supervised educational activities related to filmmaking.

All programming delivered by the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is offered for educational purposes and is administered in accordance with the organization’s charitable mandate.

November 14, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has selected Seham Nasser as the recipient of the 2025 JL Jon Collicott Film Scholarship, following an application and review process.

The scholarship was established in memory of Jon Collicott, a New Brunswick filmmaker, and is administered by the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for educational purposes. The scholarship provides restricted educational funding in the amount of $1,000 to support learning, training, and skill development related to filmmaking.

The scholarship is open to New Brunswick–based individuals engaged in film-related learning and creative study.

Seham Nasser is a New Brunswick–based creative practitioner engaged in writing and film-related learning. As the 2025 recipient, she will use the scholarship to support continued learning and participation in structured educational and creative development activities related to film practice.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is a non-profit organization established to advance education through the delivery of learning-focused programs, bursaries, scholarships, and public educational initiatives that benefit creative communities in New Brunswick and the Atlantic region.