News release

Funding for Community, Arts and Culture Infrastructure

Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage

NOTE: A list of projects receiving funding follows this release.

Nova Scotia is making new investments in local arts, cultural and community organizations across the province to strengthen the role they play in their communities.

Eleven organizations are receiving about $15.5 million for new or upgraded infrastructure, including $7 million toward a new community centre in Oxford.

“This is an incredible day for the people of Oxford. This investment is giving the community so much more than just a new building,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables and MLA for Cumberland South, on behalf of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage Minister Pat Dunn. “Our vibrant artists and diverse cultural communities helped build this province and remain a source of local pride and economic strength. Through this funding, we are ensuring that they have an equally bright future.”

The new community centre will have a walking track, gymnasium, meeting and community rooms, child care, a library, commercial rental spaces and a full-service kitchen.

Quotes:

“This investment from the Province shows their support to rural communities and allowing continued growth. A centre that will have services available that today are desperately missing will allow us to continue to grow as individuals and as a community. This is about building a sustainable community centre that will retain and attract residents from across Nova Scotia, Canada and around the world.”

– Matthew Bragg, Vice-President, Oxford Community Centre Association

“Neptune Theatre is delighted with this investment from our provincial government. Minister Dunn and the entire team at the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage have shown us tremendous support. As we begin to round the corner on recovery from the challenges of the last few years, this funding is a real gamechanger. We are very, very appreciative of the support.”

– Paul Laberge, board Chair, Neptune Theatre Foundation

Quick Facts:

  • the 2023-24 provincial budget includes $5.1 million more in operating grants for arts and culture organizations and community-owned museums
  • the budget also includes $2.6 million more for provincial museums and the operation of the iconic Bluenose II

Additional Resources:

Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage grants and programs: https://cch.novascotia.ca/investing-in-our-future

Budget 2023-2024: https://novascotia.ca/budget/

Projects receiving funding:

  • Oxford Community Centre – $7 million toward new centre
  • Pictou Cultural Hub – $4.7 million toward project costs
  • Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, Eskasoni – $1.2 million toward environmental learning centre
  • Neptune Theatre – $886,000 for digital and infrastructure upgrades
  • Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, Halifax – $500,000 toward new home in the Scotiabank Centre
  • Chester Playhouse - $400,000 toward repairs from fire damage
  • Gaelic College – Beinn Mhabu – $300,000 toward Mabou satellite campus
  • Turret Arts Society, Halifax – $200,000 for Khyber building remediation and design
  • Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning – $150,000 for solar energy project
  • Portapique Community Hall - $150,000 to complete community hall project
  • Inverness Centre for the Arts - $100,000 for HVAC system

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