Sloan’s Andrew Scott receives NSCAD Life Fellow recognition for his contributions to music and art

Andrew Scott, drummer of the long-running Canadian rock band Sloan, is being honoured by his former school, NSCAD University, as a Life Fellow — an award given to individuals who have made a lasting impact on the institution. Scott attended what was then the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in the late 1980s but left in 1991, just three credits short of completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts, to pursue music full-time with Sloan. At the time, he thought the decision would be temporary, famously telling his mother he wouldn’t still be in a rock band at 30. Over three decades later, Sloan has released 14 albums, many of which are seen as Canadian rock classics, including ‘Twice Removed’ and ‘One Chord to Another.’ The band continues to tour extensively across Canada and the United States. Despite his achievements in music, Scott has maintained a deep connection to visual art. He credits NSCAD for helping shape his artistic vision, and painting remains a key part of his life, often done between tours. His artistic hero, Gerhard Richter, will also be recognized at NSCAD’s upcoming convocation with an honorary doctorate. For Scott, who met his wife at NSCAD and whose son now studies there, the honour is personally meaningful and marks a full-circle moment that bridges his dual passions for art and music.