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Queer Artisan Market & Resource Fair
June 29 @ 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm
FreeAs part of our Come 2gether celebration, we’re bringing together an array of fabulous queer artisans and local community organizations that provide support for the queer community. Come browse through the booths, pick up some new art, and learn about the resources available to you.
More details to come soon!
Participating Organizations
Shelter Movers Nova Scotia is a volunteer-powered charitable organization providing moving and storage services at no cost to individuals and families fleeing abuse. We operate in Halifax Regional Municipality, South Shore, Annapolis Valley and Colchester-Cumberland serving 77% of the province. We collaborate with local businesses and community agencies to support people, primarily women and children, as they transition to a life free of violence.
The Transformation Closet is a program created by Sexual Health Nova Scotia that provides free gender-affirming gear to anyone of any age throughout the province. The closet has on-site locations sprinkled throughout Nova Scotia where community members can visit to try on gear and take away items that day. We also provide the option to fill out our Google form with requests for gear which can be sent out via mail or picked up at one of our members centres. Our aim is to remove as many barriers as possible to accessing gender-affirming gear.
Find out more through our website shns.ca or reach out to our closet coordinator, Wren, at transformationclosetshns@gmail.com with any questions or requests.
Pflag Canada helps 2slgbtqia+ people and loved ones connect with resources and find a supportive community. In communities all across the country, the Pflag network provides peer support, education and advocacy for all sexualities , genders and gender expressions.
Making the Annapolis Valley a better place for LGBTQ youth and our allies. The Valley Youth Project (VYP) is an Annapolis Valley-based non-profit organization run by local adult volunteers, who are all members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We facilitate twice-monthly drop-ins with time for discussion and activities.
The Red Door is a youth and adolescent sexual health centre that provides confidential and non-judgemental sexual health care.
The ASU’s Sexual Health Resource Centre (SHRC) works to facilitate Acadia students’ advancement, growth, & development of sexual and reproductive health knowledge and practices. We provide education, resources, support and access to sexual and reproductive health products for the Acadia community. While some of our services are limited to Acadia students, we are happy to support the broader community where possible – just ask! We are also proud to be part of Sexual Health Nova Scotia’s Transformation Closet program, offering free gender affirming gear to anyone in Nova Scotia.
Get in touch by emailing shrc.asu@acadiau.ca or checking us out on Instagram @SHRCAcadia, where we post free sexual health, gender, and reproductive health education and information on local services.
Featured Artists
remi rose (he/they) is a trans autistic artist who makes jewelry that celebrates queerness and disability. when he’s not beading with gilmore girls on repeat in the background he’s playing with his dachshund puppy or learning to crochet. his favorite part of running his small business is creating pieces that help folks feel seen and valid in their identities. they love doing custom projects and bringing other folks’ dream pieces to life so don’t hesitate to reach out with your ideas!
My name is Kieran and I’m the artist behind Kief’s Crypt. I specialize in hand painted art and oddities, including but not limited to trinket boxes, magic wands, and abstract incense holders with vibrant colours and patterns. I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember and am so thrilled to have the opportunity to share my art with the community.
My name is Ailise Stillman (she/her) and I am a queer student currently living in Wolfville and attending Acadia University. I grew up in Halifax, but have spent lots of time in the valley throughout my life, and I am proud to call it my second home. I am very passionate about music, travel, people, and everything art, and I love sharing stories with others! I have recently started selling my hand-painted acrylic art postcards at EOS Natural Foods, and I am super excited to be a part of the Queer Artisan Market with Valley Pride this year <3
Hi! My name is Syd, and I make crochet goodies. I started crocheting to get through the lockdown in 2020 and fell in love with the craft. Now, I can’t sit and watch a show without having a project on my hook. My personal favourite item to make currently are beanies but I also love making clothing items, coasters, face cloths, and small plushies. I also take on commission projects if anyone has special requests! Come say ‘Hi’ at the Queer Artisan Market on June 29!
I learned how to chainmaille in 2022 while recovering from hip replacement surgery, and haven’t put my pliers down since. I also do wire wrapped tiaras and jewelry from repurposed material like old forks, knives, and spoons. I am a bisexual mother, and “Mom” to many. I am part nerd, and part geek and if I can make at least one person smile each day of my life then I figure I will have lived a good life.
Remy is my beloved chocolate lab, who was diagnosed with a rare condition that required emergency spinal surgery in New Brunswick last year when he was just 3 years old. Remy is a social butterfly who really missed his doggy friends while he’s been isolated at home during his recovery process. I started to make him various bandanas to help brighten his day and it seemed to help. I then started giving them to friends and family for their pets to wear as a way to help keep them close. From there, Remy’s Friends Pet Wear was inspired with the idea that by purchasing a bandana for your pet, they’ll be becoming one of Remy’s Friends. We currently have a few Pride themed bandanas available as part of our Summer ’24 collection. We are busy behind the scenes making additional Pride themed products to launch exclusively at the Queer Artisan Market, and will have them available year round afterwards!🌈
Hi! I’m Heather (she/her), owner of Heather Clay Creations. I make polymer clay earrings that are fun, funky, lightweight & affordable! Looking forward to sharing my silly creations with you all! ❤️🌈
@heatherclaycreations
My husband and I moved from Kitchener, Ontario to Hillgrove (just outside Digby) in 2019. We built a glass studio in the house where I continue to create fused and stained-glass art.
I began my glass-working journey about 40 years ago and enjoy exploring new techniques –there are endless possibilities, particularly with fused glass. In addition to art pieces, I also enjoy making smaller items including jewellery, dishes, lanterns, candle shelters and suncatchers.
Fun felts by a fun felter, Below the Felt Creations is the passion project of part-person, part-muppet, Lilly Ashdown. From whimsy driven projects to custom pieces, Lilly is just happy to create pieces that inspire joy.
Venus Envy is a queer and trans-centered bookstore and sex shop located in downtown Halifax! Since 1998, we have been providing Halifax with 2SLGBTQ+ centered books, pride gear, and pleasure items. For Valley Pride, we’ll be bringing an assortment of queer/trans books and pride gear. Although we will not be bringing pleasure items to the market, we are always happy to answer questions!
‘Galaxy Overload’ blends cute and nerdy ideas to make unique hand-crafted goods. Ever evolving, there are always new items being created from adorable crocheted toys and keychains, unique ‘Bow’ and ‘Mushroom’ bags, ‘Pokeballs’, and useful home goods, to glittery resin accessories like the ‘Bestie’ and ‘Cursing’ resin keychains, resin ornaments, ‘adorable’ beaded bracelets, and the iconic ‘Pride Bees’ and new ‘Pride Cacti’.’Galaxy Overload’ blends cute and nerdy ideas to make unique hand-crafted goods. Ever evolving, there are always new items being created from adorable crocheted toys and keychains, unique ‘Bow’ and ‘Mushroom’ bags, ‘Pokeballs’, and useful home goods, to glittery resin accessories like the ‘Bestie’ and ‘Cursing’ resin keychains, resin ornaments, ‘adorable’ beaded bracelets, and the iconic ‘Pride Bees’ and new ‘Pride Cacti’.
Radical Cat Creations has been creating geeky and Pride related goodness for over a decade. Focusing mainly on cross stitching, but also using crochet and other embroidery techniques, xe creates accessories and home decor to show your spirit to the world through self expression. Imriel is a non-binary, queer, neurodiverse, and Black/Indigenous person who has been working with Pride focused activism for many years and currently resides in New Minas with their dog, snake and husband. Xe has also recently released the trailer for xer new podcast, Fiber Enby, which will release its first episode June 15th. The podcast highlights non-binary fiber artists living in a gendered fiber arts world.
Accessibility Notes:
- Parking: Accessible parking available in the lot beside Kentville Town Hall off of the south side of Main Street and in Centre Square
- Washrooms: Porta potties (one of which is accessible) behind Kentille Town Hall and gendered wheelchair accessible washrooms inside of The Kings Arms
- ASL: No
- Sensory/noise: Mid-level outdoor crowd noise. If this is a sensitivity for you, we encourage headphones or ear protection to help reduce the sound level. There will be a low-sensory area in the Kentville recreation centre next to Town Hall. Seating, cold water, low lighting, and fidget toys will be provided.
- Masks: Welcome but not required