The province will spend $15.5 million for infrastructure upgrades to eleven organizations around the province, that focus on arts and culture.
$7 million dollars will go toward a new community centre in Oxford with a walking track, gymnasium, meeting and community rooms, childcare, a library, commercial rental spaces and a full-service kitchen.
“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.”
“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
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
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
