$400,000 for Art Gallery Expansion
HOUSING/MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS--$400,000 for Art Gallery Expansion
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia will receive a $400,000 boost toward a $2.5-million expansion of gallery facilities.
Under the 1997 top-up to the Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Works Agreement, the federal and provincial governments will each contribute $150,000 for the second phase of construction. The province will also contribute an additional $100,000 toward the capital project and provide a leasehold arrangement of space in the adjacent Provincial Building.
When the project is complete, the additional space will house the Barbara and Norman Newman Education Centre, the Scotiabank Maud Lewis Gallery, an artist-in-residence studio, an expanded Gallery Shop and Art Sales and Rental Gallery, additional collection storage, office and exhibition space and a cafe.
The expansion will free space in the current gallery building to include a gallery dedicated to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and a special-collections gallery.
This phase of construction to receive Infrastructure Works funding will involve a number of leasehold improvements to two and a half floors of the Provincial Building. It's expected to create short-term employment for about 20 people.
The announcement was made today by Premier Russell MacLellan and Senator Al Graham, Leader of the Government in the Senate, on behalf of Fred Mifflin, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. They were joined by Mayor Walter Fitzgerald of Halifax Regional Municipality, and from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Fred Fountain, chair of the board of governors, and director Bernard Riordon.
"I have always been impressed with the energy and creativity displayed by the volunteers and employees of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia," said Premier MacLellan. "We are pleased to be in a position to support their efforts in this important undertaking."
"The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia has developed into one of the finest of its kind in Canada and is a source of pride for all Nova Scotians," said Senator Graham. "It is a very important cultural and economic anchor for the downtown area of Halifax."
"The Phase II expansion will provide additional facilities so
that the gallery can become a bustling people place, providing additional exhibitions, art education and public programs, and a wide range of retail and social functions," said Mr. Riordon. "We are very excited about this funding approval and the positive impact it will have on our private fund-raising efforts."
Under the Infrastructure Works partnership, costs are shared among the federal and provincial governments, and municipalities or other community partners. The original agreement signed in 1994 was topped-up in February 1997 with the commitment of an additional $14.2 million from each level of government.
Projects funded under the 1997 top-up to the Infrastructure Works agreement must be completed by March 31, 1999.
AU CHEF DES NOUVELLES: Ce communique est egalement disponible en francais; c. elec. <rossng@gov.ns.ca.>