FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nova Arts Hub
4489 Viewmont Ave,
Victoria, BC
V8Z 5K8
https://novaartshub.com/

Young Victoria-Based Indigenous Artist recognized by Governor General, Province, as Emerging Leader in Antiracism Work 

December 3, Victoria, BC — Lajah Warren, the 26-year-old Indigenous founder of Nova Arts Hub, has won two distinguished awards this season, celebrating not only her artistic excellence but her dedication to social justice, community-building, and anti-racism work.

Just this week, Warren was recognized at the federal and provincial levels with the B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Emerging Leader Award, from the government of British Columbia, acknowledging her outstanding efforts to build intercultural trust and advance inclusion and equity through arts and community work.

“These award recipients exemplify the values of inclusion and respect that strengthen our province,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “Their leadership and creativity are inspiring. I am proud to honour their exceptional efforts to break down barriers, foster inclusion and build stronger, more equitable communities across British Columbia.”

Warren, from the lək’ʷəniʔən territory, otherwise known as Songhees and Esquimalt Nations on Vancouver Island, is an Artist, social services worker and recently, the founder and creator of Nova Arts Hub, a vibrant, community-driven space in the community of View Royal, where art is a tool for healing, resistance, and cross-cultural solidarity.

Just over a year old, Nova Arts Hub has created numerous projects and partnerships to support marginalized communities. Nova hosts regular monthly events, rental opportunities, and drop-in studio nights, offering a space for creative solace and cultural belonging. 

Using art to uplift marginalized communities through Nova Arts Hub, Warren also earned the Witness Legacy Award for Social Purpose and Responsibility through Art at the 2025 Greater Victoria Regional Arts Awards earlier this fall. 

This dual recognition — both local and provincial — highlights how deeply Warren's work resonates across communities, and the vital role Nova Arts Hub plays in fostering belonging, creative expression, and anti-racist solidarity throughout BC.

Shares Warren, “Creating Nova Arts Hub has been a huge dream. Our communities deserve spaces that centre BIPOC creative voices and remind us that art is not just something we make — it is a tool we live with. I’ve witnessed art become a form of survival, a bridge between people, and a source of empowerment for individuals and entire communities.”

Warren shares, “None of this would be possible without the circles of support that have grown around Nova. həyšxʷq́ə/ Thank you to everyone who has walked through our doors, shared their stories, and helped shape this space into what it is today. I am responsible to the communities I work with, and I hope to continue building this space into a community-driven vision!”

To build on the momentum and sustain Nova Arts Hub’s creative and community outreach, Warren has recently launched the Nova Arts Hub Art Advent Calendar — a unique fundraiser and creative experience for the holiday season.

Participants who purchase the Advent Calendar will receive 15 daily art prompts by email, each inspired by Nova’s past events and by Warren’s own artwork. This fundraiser supports Nova’s ongoing commitment to creating safe, collaborative art spaces for marginalized and intersecting communities: from Indigenous and Two-Spirit folks, to BIPOC, newcomers, queer and trans folks — and all those seeking healing, connection, and strength through art.

For more information about Lajah Warren, to purchase the Art Advent Calendar, or to support Nova Arts Hub’s mission, please visit novaartshub.com or contact novaartshub@gmail.com.

Media Contacts:
Lajah Warren
Nova Arts Hub
Email:  novaartshub@gmail.com

Cell: 250-216-5039

Backgrounder:
Nova Arts Hub: A “New Star” Rising in the Local Arts Community

Nova Arts Hub, located in View Royal, envisioned and founded by Lajah Warren, is more than a gallery — it’s a vibrant, community-driven space where art becomes a tool for healing, resistance, and cross-cultural solidarity.

The name Nova was chosen after a conversation between Lajah and her grandmother, who shared the meaning of a star that suddenly bursts into brilliance after being unseen. To Lajah, Nova symbolizes cultures and stories that were once dimmed by oppression but are now rising, safe to shine brightly again through art.

Just over a year old, Nova Arts Hub has created numerous projects and partnerships to support different communities. With regular monthly events, rental opportunities, drop in studio nights, and more, Nova Arts Hub has become a space for creative solace and cultural belonging. Some examples of other initiatives have been: Reclaiming Space, Reframing Truth- a project that transforms outdoor public spaces into platforms for dialogue, truth-telling, and cultural reclamation, and Understanding the Soil: Training for Non-Indigenous Art Organizers.