Nova Scotia Cultural Organizations Receive $3.4 Million

NOTE: A list of the organizations receiving funding in 2007-08 through the Operating Assistance to Cultural Organizations Program is available at the end of the release.

Eighty-five of Nova Scotia's leading cultural organizations are the recipients of a $3.4-million investment from the province, Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Len Goucher announced today, June 15.

"We are committed to strengthening our support for arts and culture in the province," said Mr. Goucher, who pointed out that provincial funding for Culture has increased by almost 42 per cent since 2002. "As a result of a budget increase again this year, both the amount of funding available for cultural organizations and the number of organizations receiving assistance have increased."

The Operating Assistance to Cultural Organizations program is open to non-profit arts and cultural groups that have been in operation for at least one year. It is an application-based funding program that provides support with administrative and core program costs. Assistance is available to four different categories of organizations: service organizations; arts producers; festivals and presenters; and cultural facilities. An independent assessment panel –- made up of two representatives from the culture community and one staff member –- reviews the applications and makes recommendations directly to the minister.

This marks the third time funding has been awarded under this program. Since it was introduced in 2005, funding for cultural organizations has increased from $2.9 million to $3.4 million and the number of organizations receiving support has grown from 68 to 85.

"This year we are able to provide ongoing support to several organizations and first-time funding to six others," said Mr. Goucher. "These organizations offer a wide range of cultural activities that strengthen our communities and enrich the experiences of both residents and visitors to the province."

The St. Cecilia Concert Society in Halifax received $8,000 to support its operations. The society presents more than 30 concerts and events each year in its primary location at the Maritime Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Halifax and in surrounding areas.

"The support we receive through this program enables us to maintain a high level of excellence, while reaching out and building our audience," said Barbara Butler, artistic director of the society.

The Evergreen Theatre in East Margaretsville received $3,000 to support its operations. This organization began as a simple folk society and evolved into a year-round presenter with its own venue just a few years ago.

"This funding enables us to build on the grant we received last year and take our organization to the next level with a part-time salary position," said David O'Leary, manager. "We will be able to increase our promotion and marketing efforts and strive to become the hottest ticket in town."

The next deadline for applications for the Operating Assistance to Cultural Organizations program is Feb. 15, 2008.

More information on the program can be found on the Tourism, Culture and Heritage website at www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/culture/ culture_funding.asp or by calling 902-424-5793.

Note: Following are the 85 organizations receiving support from the Operating Assistance to Cultural Organizations program:

Cape Breton - $548,500 total:

• Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, $74,000
• Celtic Colours Festival Society, $125,000
• Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, $12,000
• Comunn Feis an Eilean, $12,000
• Conseil des Arts de Cheticamp, $18,500
• Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, $230,000
• Inverness County Council of the Arts, $20,000
• Savoy Theatre, $45,000
• Strathspey Place Association, $12,000

Halifax Regional Municipality - $1,419,500 total:

• 2b Theatre, $12,000
• Alderney Landing, $40,000
• Atlantic Comedy Festival, $12,000
• Atlantic Film Festival, $75,000
• Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative, $24,000
• Atlantic Fringe Festival, $8,000
• Centre for Art Tapes, $16,000
• Creative Explorations (Buskers Festival), $9,000
• Dalhousie Arts Centre, $75,000
• Eastern Front Theatre, $35,000
• Eyelevel Gallery, $17,000
• Halifax Camerata Singers, $5,000
• Halifax Pop Explosion, $10,000
• JazzEast, $36,000
• Khyber Arts Society, $9,000
• Kinetic Studio, $7,000
• Live Art Productions, $30,000
• Mocean Dance, $16,500
• Neptune Theatre, $265,000
• Nova Scotia Kiwanis Music Festival, $5,000
• One Light Theatre, $5,000
• Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, $170,000
• Scotia Chamber Players, $44,000
• Shakespeare by the Sea, $18,000
• St. Cecilia Concert Society, $8,000
• Symphony Nova Scotia, $446,000
• Upstream Music Association, $9,000
• Zuppa Circus Theatre, $13,000

Northern Region - $206,000 total:

• Anne Murray Centre, $13,000
• Antigonish Highland Society, $6,000
• Chedabucto Bay Folk Society (Stan Rogers Festival), $28,000
• Cobequid Arts Council, $6,000
• deCoste Entertainment Centre, $27,000
• Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre *, $37,000
• Guysborough Antigonish Pictou Arts & Culture Council, $8,000
• Mulgrave Road Theatre, $35,000
• Ship's Company Theatre, $46,000

Southern Region – $358,800 total:

• Annapolis Regional Community Arts Council, $18,000
• Astor Theatre, $22,000
• Atlantic Theatre Festival, $25,000
• Chester Theatre Council, $26,000
• Conseil des Arts de la Baie, $9,000
• Deep Roots Music Cooperative, $9,000
• Festival Acadien de Clare, $8,000
• Fundy Folk Society (Evergreen Theatre), $3,000
• King's Theatre Society, $22,000
• Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, $6,000
• Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, $87,500
• Osprey Arts Centre Association, $16,000
• Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, $45,000
• Shelburne County Arts Council, $6,300
• Societe Musique Saint-Bernard , $5,000
• Two Planks And A Passion Theatre, $21,000
• Yarmouth Arts Regional Council, $30,000

Provincial – $877,000 total:

• African Nova Scotian Music Association, $10,000
• Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association, $14,000
• Comhairle Na Gaidhig Alba Nuadh (Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia), $5,000
• Cultural Federations of Nova Scotia, $144,000
• Dance Nova Scotia, $79,000
• Debut Atlantic, $13,000
• Educational Drama Association of Nova Scotia (NS High School Drama Festival), $5,000
• Federation Culturelle Acadienne, $10,000
• Federation of Music Festivals of Nova Scotia (Provincial Music Festival), $5,000
• Linda Joy Media Arts Society, $13,000
• Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia, $65,000
• Music Nova Scotia, $55,000
• Musique Royale, $8,000
• Nova Scotia Choral Federation, $72,000
• Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council, $84,000
• Nova Scotia Talent Trust, $50,000
• Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, $12,000
• Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre, $17,000
• ScotDance Nova Scotia, (Provincial Highland Dancing Championships) $2,000
• Theatre Nova Scotia, $68,000
• Visual Arts Nova Scotia, $72,000
• Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia, $74,000