RELEASE: ArtsNL and Equinor Announce 2024 & 2025 ArtsSmarts Scholarship Recipients; ArtsNL Unveils One-Time 45th Anniversary Scholarship
May 8, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ArtsNL and Equinor Announce 2024 & 2025 ArtsSmarts Scholarship Recipients; ArtsNL Unveils One-Time 45th Anniversary Scholarship
May 8, 2026 (St. John’s, NL) – ArtsNL and Equinor Canada are proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 and 2025 Equinor ArtsSmarts Scholarships, as well as ArtsNL’s one-time 45th Anniversary Scholarship. Each scholarship provides $2,500 to a Newfoundland and Labrador high school student who enrolls full-time in a degree or diploma program at a recognized publicly funded Canadian university, college, or post-secondary institution specific to education in the arts. The Equinor ArtsSmarts Scholarship was established as part of Equinor’s partnership with ArtsSmarts and its ongoing commitment to arts and cultural development in the province.
2024 Equinor ArtsSmarts Scholarship Recipient: Daniel Burton
Daniel Burton is a student, novelist, and short story writer from Petty Harbour, NL. He is an active member and Youth Committee member of WritersNL and has written four completed novels and a collection of short stories. He graduated from Holy Heart of Mary High School with an IB certificate in English Literature and is a University of New Brunswick Currie Scholar. Daniel also revived the Holy Heart Heartbeat newspaper, creating space for emerging student writers to share their work. He is currently attending the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing.
2025 Equinor ArtsSmarts Scholarship Recipient: Lauren Patten
Lauren Patten is an actor and singer from St John’s, NL. She is currently pursuing her BFA in Theatre and Performance Creation at York University. Her previous credits include Legally Blonde (Majestic Theatre’s Young People’s Company), I Forgive You (Artistic Fraud), and When the Angel of Death Says How Are You (RCA Theatre). Recently, Lauren made her York theatre debut at playGround, the university’s student-run theatre festival, acting in Luscinia, an original folk musical. This summer, she will be making her Edinburgh Fringe debut with the same show.
“We are pleased to recognize the 2024 and 2025 recipients of the Equinor ArtsSmarts Scholarship,” said Melanie Martin, Executive Director of ArtsNL. “Daniel Burton and Lauren Patten each demonstrate outstanding artistic commitment, and this support will help them continue to grow as they pursue post-secondary studies in the arts. We applaud Equinor’s ongoing commitment to foster the arts through this scholarship as part of our larger ArtsSmarts partnership with them.
“It’s great to see the strength of Newfoundland and Labrador’s arts community reflected in students like Daniel and Lauren,” said Tore Løseth, Country Manager for Equinor Canada. “We’re proud to support them as they continue their path in the arts.”
ArtsNL’s One-Time 45th Anniversary Scholarship
In recognition of its 45th anniversary, ArtsNL introduced a one-time 45th Anniversary Scholarship, awarded in 2025 to celebrate and support the next generation of Newfoundland and Labrador artists.
45th Anniversary Scholarship Recipient: Summer Bennett
Summer Bennett is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Paradise, NL, whose lifelong passion for music has led to a growing body of original work and recognition across the province and beyond. The Mount Pearl Senior High graduate released her debut EP, One Thousand Fahrenheit, produced by multi-Grammy Award winner Greg Wells, and has since continued developing her first full-length album with him. Her songwriting and performance have earned honours including MusicNL Indigenous Artist of the Year (2024), ECMA Dance Release of the Year (2025), and the Teen category award in the 2024 International Songwriting Competition. Summer is attending the Music Arts program at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), where she plans to further her training and pursue a career as a professional musician.
“The 45th Anniversary Scholarship acknowledges the important role young artists play in shaping our cultural future,” said Melanie Martin, Executive Director of ArtsNL. “Summer Bennett exemplifies the dedication, creativity, and ambition we strive to uplift through our support programs, and we are pleased to recognize her with this milestone award.”
“Arts education gives young artists the space to discover and develop their creative voice,” said David Brown, Chair of ArtsNL. “As a former arts educator, I’ve seen how powerful it can be when artists are supported as they refine their craft. ArtsNL is proud to recognize Summer Bennett’s accomplishments and celebrate the next stage of her artistic journey through this 45th Anniversary Scholarship.”
Applications for the 2026 Equinor ArtsSmarts scholarship will be accepted starting Monday, May 11, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. NT.
Further information on the ArtsSmarts program, the Equinor ArtsSmarts Scholarship, and all other ArtsNL programs can be found at www.artsnl.ca.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Charlene Jackson
Communications Officer, ArtsNL
Phone: (709) 726-2212 ext. 3
charlene@artsnl.ca
Erika Kelland
Communications Manager, Equinor Canada
(709) 726-9091
erka@equinor.com
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The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (ArtsNL) is a non-profit Crown agency created in 1980 by The Arts Council Act. Its mission is to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Council is governed by a volunteer board of no fewer than 9 and no more than 11 members appointed by Government. At least 7 members must be artists or arts administrators, and one member is appointed to represent the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation (non-voting). ArtsNL receives an annual allocation of $5.3 million from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to support a variety of granting programs, program delivery, office administration, and communications. It also seeks support from the public and private sectors. It supports the following artistic disciplines: dance, film and video, Indigenous arts and practices, literary arts, multidisciplinary arts, music and sound, theatre and performing arts, visual arts, and other similar creative and interpretative works or activities.
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