Provincewide Culture Strategy Released

The Nova Scotia government released a strategy today aimed at increasing the rapid growth of the province's dynamic culture sector.

The strategy, titled Culture in the New Millennium: Planning Our Future, is the first of its kind in Canada and covers all aspects of culture provincewide, from museums and libraries to film and computer animation. The sector currently accounts for about five per cent of jobs and the gross domestic product of Nova Scotia.

"It is expected that the strategy will have a major impact on Nova Scotia's culture sector and the provincial economy over the next five to 10 years," said Mary Sparling of the Nova Scotia Coalition on Arts and Culture and member of the strategy management committee. "Artists and cultural workers came together to shape this strategy, which will make their sector more economically viable and productive. They are creating their own futures."

"Our department recognizes that a commitment to culture and heritage is essential to the province's future economic and social growth," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "Now that the strategy has been released, we look forward to working in partnership with the culture sector to review and implement activities."

The strategy recommends co-ordinated activity in six goal areas:
creative capacity; increased sales; strong workforce, organizations and institutions; educated public; investment; and community development. It also includes an action plan for attaining each goal, forming a new co-ordinating group to monitor strategy implementation, and creating initiative teams to work on specific priorities.

More than 350 participants representing the vocational, geographical and cultural diversity of the sector worked on the strategy through committees, focus groups, Internet exchanges, and a provincial conference. The strategy represents the culmination of an 18-month process that focused on the economic aspects of cultural development in Nova Scotia.

"This strategy is important as it will help strengthen Nova Scotia's cultural sector and increase economic development opportunities for our province," said Bernie Boudreau, Leader of the government in the Senate and Minister responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of George Baker, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Copies of the strategy document are available through the Nova Scotia Government Bookstore, 1700 Granville St., Halifax, 1-800-526-6575 or 902-424-7580. The document can also be found at provincial libraries and on the Internet at http://culturestrategy.ednet.ns.ca . This website will provide further information and updates on strategy implementation.

Fourth Wave Strategic Management Associates acted as project consultants during the creation of the strategy. Funding in the amount of $104,000 was provided by the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification. The agreement is managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Economic Development.

"Nova Scotia's rich culture has always defined who we are as a people. It's also an important part of our economy," said Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser. "This strategy is bringing a sharper focus and better co-ordination to the business of culture, and that should lead to stronger growth."

Additional funding and support was provided by Nova Scotia Arts Council, Nova Scotia Coalition on Arts and Culture, Nova Scotia Cultural Network, the Cultural Affairs Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism and Culture, Department of Canadian Heritage, Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation, Royal Bank Charitable Foundation, McCurdy Printing Ltd., and Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. The project also acknowledges assistance from the Nova Scotia Cultural Network's Cultural Internship Pilot Program and Human Resources Development Canada.

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