Provincial
Next Steps
Posted March 16th, 2026
Thank you for rallying alongside us and contacting your MLAs!
March Break is “Homecoming” for MLAs! This is an opportunity to share your concerns with them directly. From March 14-22, the legislature will adjourn for March Break - which means a pause on the budget passing process. It also means your MLA will be coming back home to your riding and community.
This provides the perfect opportunity for you to reach out to them directly and engage with them about your feelings on this broken budget. Urge them to do the right thing.
Taking the time to connect with your MLA away from the pressure of the gathered caucus will remind them that they are from a community, are part of that community, and are responsible to that community first.
Tim Houston’s government claims they are listening to Nova Scotians, but thus far have refused to even meet with members of the Arts and Culture community. Putting their heads in the sand is not consultation, and is not an acceptable way to receive feedback. Giving feedback to the government is our democratic right.
While some cuts were walked back earlier this week for several important programs, the majority of the cuts - including all proposed cuts for the Arts, Culture and Heritage - remain.
We are calling for a new budget that continues to invest in our communities, rather than cutting them.
Information gathered from NS Arts Coalition
Contact Your MLA: Your representatives need to hear that these cuts are unacceptable. Use the template below to send an email today.
Email Template for Supporters
Subject: URGENT: Opposition to the 2026 Arts and Culture Budget Cuts
Dear MLA [Insert Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent in your riding. I am writing to express my profound concern and disappointment regarding the 2026 Provincial Budget, specifically the 30% cut to Arts Nova Scotia and the massive grant reductions within the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.
As a supporter of {insert arts organization, community group…etc} and a resident of this province, I see firsthand how the arts contribute to our local economy, our children’s education, and our collective mental health. These cuts are not "surgical" or "efficient"—they are catastrophic.
By slashing funding to organizations like {your favourite arts organization}, the government is:
Breaking promises: Reducing funding for organizations currently in multi-year agreements undermines the trust between the province and its partners.
Impacting Youth: Removing essential creative outlets from our schools.
Weakening our Economy: The arts sector is a significant employer and a driver for tourism and community growth. According to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 report Artworks: The Economic and Social Dividends from Canada’s Arts and Culture Sector, every $1 invested in the arts generates $29 of economic activity.
I urge you to advocate for the immediate restoration of arts and culture funding. A "prosperous" Nova Scotia is not one that achieves a balanced book by depleting its cultural and social richness.
I look forward to hearing how you plan to represent the interests of the arts community in the Legislature.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address/Postal Code]
[Your Phone Number]
Click here to learn more
Defending the Future of Dance in Nova Scotia
Posted February 26th, 2026
On Monday, February 23, the Provincial Government tabled its 2026 budget, revealing a staggering $130 million reduction in grants to community organizations. Among the hardest hit is the cultural sector. Arts Nova Scotia is facing a 30% cut to its entire budget, while the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage is seeing its grant programs slashed by over $14 million.
For Mocean Dance, this hits close to home. Despite being in the third year of a four-year operating agreement, we have been informed that our committed funding will be reduced. This blindsiding decision jeopardizes the stability of professional dance and the cultural infrastructure we’ve worked decades to build.
What is at stake? These cuts aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent a fundamental loss for Nova Scotians:
Economic Vitality: The sector employs over 14,000 Nova Scotians and affects over 22,000 jobs. The arts sector contributes 2.6 billion dollars to Nova Scotia's GDP. For every $1 the NS government contributes in grants, recipients generate $4.59 in other revenue.
When you cut funding to organizations like Mocean, you cut the ability for artists to live and work. And the local economy suffers from reduced cultural activities.
Community Health: Dance is a tool for connection and well-being. In a time of rising costs and a healthcare crisis, removing accessible community programming is a step backward. Every year, the arts reach over 558,569 public participants in Nova Scotia.
Cultural Identity: Significant cuts to Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian arts grants threaten the essential work of equity and representation in our province.
Call to Action: We Need Your Voice
We cannot let these cuts go unchallenged. Nova Scotians deserve a province where creativity is valued as an essential service, not a luxury to be discarded.
Join the Rally: Stand with us on Friday, March 27th, in front of the NS Legislature on Granville Street at 12 pm - ALL HANDS ON DECK. Bring signs, strong hearts and voices!
Contact Your MLA: Your representatives need to hear that these cuts are unacceptable. Use the template below to send an email today.
Click here to learn more
Municipal
Advocacy Posted: March 6th, 2026
Community Action Works!
Arts community advocacy pushed Halifax Regional Council to vote against cutting arts funding by 10%.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the campaign against municipal cuts to the arts
and to council members who voted to continue supporting the arts.
Advocacy Posted: February 10th, 2026
The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is proposing a 10% cut to professional arts funding grants. Mayor Andy Filmore made the proposal as part of the 2026/27 municipal budget. The 10% reduction targets "program grants," a category that includes the operating and project-based funding awarded to local professional arts groups. These grants are vital for the survival of organizations and local festivals. The Mayor has stated that "everything is on the table," including similar 10% cuts to other community grants and a one-third reduction to the city's climate action plan.
We need your voice. These grants are often categorized as "discretionary," and they are vulnerable during tough budget years unless residents clearly state that the arts are an essential service. Decision-makers often hear from those concerned about tax rates, but they need to hear just as loudly from those who value the cultural and economic return of the arts. Contact your councillor today!
Letter Deadline: February 16
Letter Template Sample - Click Here | PROVIDED by Greater Halifax Arts Coalition
In support of the Greater Halifax Arts Coalition
