Writer in Residence 2025-2026
At Eyelevel, we are excited to announce this year’s Writer in Residence mentees! Please give a warm welcome to Norman Ho and Katherine Diemert, who have been selected to take part in this year-long program. These two selected participants will work under the mentorship of local curator and arts writer, Amanda Shore, for a period of six months each. Norman will work from November 2025 to April 2026, and Katherine from May to October 2026.
Residents will be commissioned to write 3 pieces of writing (1000 words each): two that respond critically to Eyelevel’s programming and one written response to a project/exhibition/artist profile outside of Eyelevel’s programming. Their completed and edited works will be published in Eyelevel’s annual publication (a small printed book) and Billie Magazine.
This program aims to support emerging critical arts writers. The participants will develop the skills to write exhibition reviews, artist profiles, and critical essays. More updates are to come as the mentees produce new pieces of writing with the support of Amanda Shore and Eyelevel.
More info about the participants:
Norman Ho is a writer and emerging director from Hong Kong, now based in Nova Scotia. Recognized as a ReelWorld Emerging 20, RBC YFF Mentorship, and DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program alum, he directed his debut short Spud Island?, which was nominated at the Yorkton Film Festival. His feature screenplay The Dodo won the Grand Jury Prize in the 2025 ScreenCraft Family Screenplay Competition. He also received the IRSA Newcomers to Canada Award for his short story I Beg Your Pardon at the 2022 Island Literary Awards.
Katherine Rae Diemert is a visual artist and educator from Dundas ON, based in Dartmouth NS. She researches, writes, and makes artwork about the entangled relationship between technology, nature, and people. Katherine completed her BA Illustration in 2015 at Sheridan College and her MFA in Expanded Media at NSCAD University in 2025.
Amanda Shore is a white-settler arts worker, critic, and curator based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia). She has written for Canadian Art, Studio Magazine, Billie Magazine, Visual Arts News, and C Magazine. Her writing has tracked gentrification in the arts, racial plagiarism, and craft-based actions of solidarity. She is currently writing about the history of risk mitigation in art and beauty. She is a full-time Art Manager at IOTA Studios and teaches part-time in the Foundation department at NSCAD University.
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[ID IMG Two: An infographic with cutouts from magazines and newspapers collaged in the background. In the foreground at the top is a ripped piece of brown paper with a piece of yellow tape featuring Eyelevel's black logo. to the right are cutout letters that read "Writer In Residence". In the centre, surrounded by folded paper is a portrait photograph of Man Long “Norman” Ho in front of a black background. Underneath, on a ripped piece of tape in black text reads, "Norman Ho". Photographer credit: Liam at Applehead Studio Photography]
[ID IMG Three: An infographic with cutouts from magazines and newspapers collaged in the background. In the foreground at the top is a ripped piece of brown paper with a piece of yellow tape featuring Eyelevel's black logo. to the right are cutout letters that read "Writer In Residence". In the centre, surrounded by folded paper is a portrait photograph of Katherine Diemert wearing yellow overalls, holding a metal sculpture out of frame. Underneath, on a ripped piece of tape in black text reads, "Katherine Diemert". Photographer credit: Riley Smith Photography]
