Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan: Creativity and Community

Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan: Creativity and Community is a comprehensive strategy focused on celebrating and sharing our culture, our creative sector, and our diverse communities.

Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan: Creativity and Community will contribute to the well-being and prosperity of Nova Scotia’s diverse and creative communities through the promotion, development, preservation and celebration of the province’s culture, heritage, recreation, identity and languages.

The plan will guide government’s decision-making process, by providing actions, strategic priorities and criteria.

With the help of Nova Scotians, and our partners, we can grow our creative economy, achieve cultural excellence through innovation and hard work, and find ways to be more inclusive while honouring our diverse population and the Mi’kmaq.

Together, we will keep our communities strong and vibrant.

Themes

Based on our comprehensive consultation process, Nova Scotia’s first culture action plan focuses on six themes:

Close up of a painted drum

Promote Mi’kmaw Culture

Dancer on stage with a piano in the background

Promote Creativity and Innovation

Young children with drums

Strengthen Education, Partnerships, and Understanding

Young woman in a car with a child in the back seat

Advance Cultural Diversity

Two women wearing historical dress sitting on a bench next to a wagon

Excellence in Cultural Stewardship

Young man sitting in an open concept office in front of a computer

Drive Awareness and Economic Growth of the Culture Sector

There are many action items that align with these themes. Many are underway, while others will begin this year and in 2018, and continue for years to come, including:

  • Acknowledging and supporting Mi’kmaq interpretation and ownership of Mi’kmaw culture - enabling Mi’kmaq telling Mi’kmaw stories
  • Creating a Culture Innovation Fund that recognizes and supports innovative cultural initiatives that address social priorities and opportunities
  • Working with post-secondary institutions to enhance the entrepreneurial and export development skills of creative workers
  • Working collaboratively with the community, government departments and agencies, and others, to continue to address racism and discrimination and acknowledge head-on that these remain problems
  • Positioning the Nova Scotia Museum system to tell the province’s story while increasing relevance and attractiveness for visitors through strategic, targeted investments
  • Creating a “Buy Nova Scotia Culture” marketing program, encouraging Nova Scotians and visitors alike to buy our cultural products and services, building on Taste of Nova Scotia and Select Nova Scotia models

Consultation and Input

  • Fall 2016 – a formal consultation with the Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative Negotiation Office, representing the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs, gathering the perspectives of Nova Scotia’s first peoples.
  • Between December 2015 and March 2016 – workshops in 14 communities with 188 stakeholder groups; online survey of more than 1,000 responses.
  • May through September 2016 – More than 800 Nova Scotians provided input through public events, phone surveys, and an online portal.

As we implement the culture action plan, we will continue the conversation with Nova Scotians.