Sloan’s Andrew Scott to Receive Life Fellowship from NSCAD University

Andrew Scott, drummer and founding member of the iconic Canadian band Sloan, will be honored as a Life Fellow by the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) University in May 2026. The recognition celebrates his contributions to both music and visual art, acknowledging a career that has spanned decades and defied conventional paths.

From Art School to Rock ‘n’ Roll

Scott’s journey began at NSCAD University in Halifax, where he studied fine arts in the early 1990s. He was just three art history credits short of completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree when Sloan began to gain momentum. Faced with a pivotal decision, Scott chose to pursue music with the burgeoning band, believing it presented a unique and timely opportunity.

“But with regards to the band … we had such a blank slate in front of us and it just seemed too decent an opportunity to turn down,” Scott said, reflecting on the choice. He even jokingly recalled telling his mother he wouldn’t be in a rock band past the age of 30.

Sloan, formed in 1990, has since released 14 studio albums, including critically acclaimed works like Twice Removed (1994) and One Chord to Another (1996). The band continues to tour extensively across Canada and the United States, performing beloved songs like “Money City Maniacs,” “If It Feels Good Do It,” and “The Rest of My Life.”

A Lifelong Passion for Art

Despite his success in music, Scott never abandoned his artistic pursuits. While touring with Sloan, he honed his collage skills and, later, began painting again in the late 1990s, initially renting studio space. For the past two decades, he has created art in an unheated garage at his Toronto home, also selling his function.

Scott’s dedication to art extends beyond his personal practice. He actively immerses himself in art history while on tour, visiting museums and galleries in every city he plays. His artistic influences include his father, a jazz musician and painter, and German visual artist Gerhard Richter, whom Scott considers a major inspiration.

“He instantly became the ‘bar’ as painter for me when I first saw some of his work,” Scott said of Richter in an email. “My dad set me off running and Richter pointed out the pathway. NSCAD provided the permission to follow it.”

NSCAD University’s Recognition

The Life Fellow honor, awarded to individuals who have made a profound and lasting impact on NSCAD University, was nominated by sculptor Thierry Delva, a former NSCAD professor. Delva highlighted Scott’s ability to build a successful career in two distinct fields as a valuable role model for students.

“To make a career out of two different streams can act as a great role model for students,” said Delva. “Very few artists in Canada can live from their work, so they have to do something else.”

NSCAD University is also awarding an honorary doctorate to Richter in 2026. The convocation ceremony, where Scott will be recognized, will take place in May.

For Scott, the honor is deeply personal. Sloan played its first indicate in the NSCAD cafeteria in February 1991, and he met his wife while a student at the university. His son is now a first-year student at NSCAD.

When asked what advice he would give his son if he were to drop out of school to pursue a music career, Scott responded, “I would say go with your gut and trust your heart. I wouldn’t have any real guidance other than if this is what you wanna do, then do it, try it, try everything.”