Fund Supports Cape Breton Arts and Culture Hub

Cape Breton will soon have a new arts and culture hub thanks to funding through Invest Nova Scotia.

New Dawn Enterprises, a Cape Breton not-for-profit, will be able to complete the construction of The Convent into a space that will provide affordable studio and workspace for 150 artists and creative entrepreneurs.

The $1.4 million investment was announced today, Jan. 31, by Invest Nova Scotia’s independent board of directors.

“Arts and cultural spaces like The Convent allow people from all different backgrounds to collaborate and learn from one another, and that’s important to fueling an artist’s creativity,” said Business Minister Geoff MacLellan. “This investment from Invest Nova Scotia will help The Convent make space more accessible to the arts and cultural sectors, supporting more artists who want to grow their businesses.”

The 40,000 square foot building is located at the former Holy Angels Convent in Sydney. New Dawn purchased the site in 2013, and in 2017 started the $15 million renovations to turn the space into an arts and cultural hub. The funding from Invest Nova Scotia helps to complete the building’s public art, outdoor grounds, furnishings and build a café.

When complete, the arts and culture hub will feature 21 private studios, 22 workspaces, two presentation spaces, a 400 square foot gallery and will house four anchor tenants.

Quotes:

“The Invest Nova Scotia fund supports projects that strengthen regions and sectors of our economy. Affordable work, collaboration and presentation space was noted as one of the biggest gaps in the creative community in Cape Breton, so we’re pleased to be able to support this project and help this valuable sector grow.”

– Kenneth Deveau, board chair of Invest Nova Scotia.

“Our children, and our children’s children, will see the full revitalization and impact of The Convent – a powerful and progressive transformation of our economy and our culture. If we have a vibrant arts community here, there’s far more likelihood that people will be attracted to come to Cape Breton, and more likely to stay.”

– Dr. John Gainer, New Dawn board director and The Convent Advisory Committee chair

“Celtic Colours International Festival has been committed to being a part of this project since it was just a concept. We recognize its full potential to support and energize the creative economy of Cape Breton and are thrilled to be among the first tenants in The Convent, and look forward to the opportunities for collaboration and innovation that will ensue for all who will be a part of this space.”

– Mike MacSween, executive director, Celtic Colours

Quick Facts

• cultural industries create more than 13,500 jobs and contribute almost $1 billion to our the economy each year
• the widespread benefit of the creative sector in Cape Breton is mentioned in several recent studies, including the Nova Scotia Department of Community Culture and Heritage’s Culture Action Plan and The Cape Breton Partnership’s Cultural Sector Strategy for Cape Breton Island
• Nova Scotia’s Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage has provided $3.2 million towards the project and Canadian Heritage has provided $5.5 million
• New Dawn is a not-for-profit community development corporation that has operated social enterprises in Cape Breton for the last 43 years. Its mission is to engage the community to create a culture of self-reliance
• New Dawn employs over 175 people from the community and serves over 600 people each day through its company divisions and projects