Sylvia George Elliott Dr. Henry HAMILTON CLARKE BISHOP F I L M M A K E R M U S E U M C U R A T O R , A R T I S T A U T H O R & A U T H O R & A U T H O R

halifaxpubliclibraries.ca halifaxpubliclibraries.ca halifaxpubliclibraries.ca DR. HENRY BISHOP GEORGE ELLIOTT CLARKE SYLVIA HAMILTON Museum Curator, Artist & Author Author & Poet Filmmaker & Author Henry Bishop was born in Weymouth Falls, George Elliott Clarke was born in Windsor, Sylvia Hamilton was born in Beechville, a Digby County. In 1975, Bishop became the first near the Black Loyalist communi- small Black community on the outskirts of Black man to graduate from the Nova Scotia ty of Three Mile Plains. He graduated with an Halifax. She attended where College of Art and Design in Halifax where he Honours BA in English from the University of she obtained a B A in English and Sociology. studied visual communications, photography Waterloo in 1984 and also holds an MA in In the 1980s Hamilton worked as a program and art education. Bishop worked for the English from and a PhD officer with the Federal Department of the Black United Front of Nova Scotia and in 1982 in English from Queens University. Secretary of State where she later advanced to began working as a curator for the Black Throughout his career Clarke has held aca- Regional Director. Hamilton has worked with Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia. demic teaching positions at McGill University, the National Film Board in Halifax, and free- Duke University and The University of lanced with CBC and the NFB Women’s Studio Bishop continued his studies at Dalhousie Toronto. His lyrical writing style and captivat- in Montreal. In 2001 she was appointed University in the areas of African music, histo- ing storytelling powers have earned him top Nancy’s Chair in Women’s Studies at Mount ry and culture and also studied museology at literary honours such as the Governor Saint Vincent University. Hamilton has been Mount Saint Vincent University. He was General’s Literary Award for Poetry and the researching and writing the social and cultural involved in the nationally travelled exhibition Prize, thus solidifying his well- history of Blacks in Nova Scotia for many Africville, a Spirit That Lives On in 1985 and deserved status among Canada’s finest lead- years. Her films have won international co-published two children’s books with Robert ing authors. In addition to his many books, acclaim and awards. Ffrench, Out of the Past and Into the Future Clarke’s work has also been widely published (1994) and In Our Time (1996). In 1996 he in periodicals. Works: presented an original illustration to Poetry - Ambassador Raymond Cretien titled Freedom Works (selected listing) Individual poems have been published in Firewood, Other Voices, Horizon Canada etc. Train to Canada at the Washington DC-based George and Rue: a novel (2004) Contributor and co-editor of We’re Rooted embassy and another copy to the Governor Quebecite (2003) Here and They Can’t Pull Us Up: Essays in General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Blue (2001) African Canadian Women’s History, 1993 Honourable Adrienne Clarkson. Execution Poems (2001) Film - Gold Indigoes (2000) Portia White: Think on Me (2000) Dr. Bishop is currently the chief curator and Drama Productions of Whylah Falls: the No More Secrets (1999) director of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova play (2000) The Bet: A History of Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia. He is also well known for his skills as Beatrice Chancy (1999) Scotia an African drummer, and has travelled the Screenplays of One Heart Broken into Hymn to Freedom. Part II. Against the Tides: province and performed at many events Song (1999) The Jones Family (1994) throughout the community. Fire on the Water: an anthology of Black Speak It: From the Heart of Black Nova Nova Scotian writing (editor, 1992) Scotians (1993) Works: Whylah Falls (1990) Black Mother, Black Daughter (1989) Co-authored A Black Community Album Saltwater Spirituals and Deeper Blues (1983) Before 1930 (1983) Awards (selected listing): Traditional Lifetime Stories: A Collection of Awards (selected listing): - Nova Scotia Community College, Black Memories, Vol. 1. (1987) - Estelle and Ludwig Jus Memorial Honorary Diploma (2002) Traditional Lifetime Stories: A Collection of Human Rights Award (2004) - Dalhousie University, Doctor of Laws Black Memories, Vol. 2. (1990) - Martin Luther King Jr. Award, Black (2000) Theatre Workshop (2004) - Halifax Progress Women of Excellence Awards and Honours - National Magazine Foundation Gold Award, Arts and Culture Category (1996) - Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Award for Poetry (2002) - Baha’i Community of Canada, Race the Nova Scotia College of Art and - Governor General’s Literary Award for Unity Award (1996) - CTV Fellowship Design (2000). Poetry (2001), for Execution Poems Award, for Banff Television Festival Bishop is the first Black Nova Scotian to - Portia White Prize, Nova Scotia Arts (1995) receive this honour. Council (1998) - Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Doctor - Alumni Achievement Award, University of Letters (1995) of Waterloo (1999) - AMTEC Media Festival Award of - Bellagio Centre Fellow, Rockefeller Excellence, Lethbridge, Canada (1994) Foundation, NYC (1998) - Maeda Prize, 21st Japan Prize, - Archibald Lampman Award for Poetry, International Educational Program Ottawa Independent Writers (1991) Contest, Tokyo (1994) - First Prize Atlantic Writing Competition - Atlantic Film Festival, Rex Tasker Award for Best Atlantic Canadian Documentary for Adult Poetry, Writers’ Federation of (1993) Nova Scotia (1981) - Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival, Golden Sheaf Award, Yorkton, Saskatchewan (1990)