Back to Balance with the Creative Economy

ARTS NOVA Bulletin
1 February 2010

Balancing the budget has become a huge problem for Nova Scotia’s NDP government. So far, their response has had three phases. First they asked independent auditors to determine the size of the problem. Then they appointed an expert advisory panel to review the situation and offer solutions. Not surprisingly, they recommended a three pronged approach:

* Reduce spending
* Increase revenue
* Grow the economy

Now government is asking Nova Scotians for their input on these three options – exactly HOW should we reduce spending, increase revenue, and grow the economy?

Over the next several weeks, Finance Minister Graham Steele will be holding a series of Back to Balance meetings across the province. Details and background documents can be found by clicking here to visit the Back to Balance website. Meetings have already begun, the current list of dates and locations can be found below, and the list will be updated every Thursday.

These consultations represent a significant opportunity for the province’s culture sector.

Why? Because our sector is a major player in the burgeoning creative economy, and growing the sector will play a key role in growing the provincial economy. Abundant evidence for this can be found in Building the Creative Economy in Nova Scotia, the groundbreaking report produced last year by the Nova Scotia Cultural Action Network. The full report can be viewed by clicking here.

Will our government take the creative economy seriously?

Only if we turn out in large numbers for the Back to Balance meetings and hammer home the message that we have an important role to play in turning Nova Scotia’s economy around.

There are signs that this government is prepared to take the culture sector very seriously, but they have to see popular support in order to make it a priority.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

Visit the Back to Balance website, review the NSCAN report, go to your local meeting, and make the appropriate arguments. If you can’t make it to a meeting (or even if you can), you can still provide input via the Back to Balance website.

Carpe diem!

Andrew David Terris
ARTS NOVA Cultural Research and Consulting
www.novascotiaarts.com/artsnova.htm

Minister Steele has released the dates and locations for the first week of meetings. They are:

* Stellarton – Jan. 28 – Museum of Industry (7-9 p.m.)
* Antigonish - Jan. 28 - Keating Millennium Centre (2-4pm)
* Dartmouth - Feb. 1 - Dartmouth North Community Centre (1-3 p.m.)
* Eastern Passage - Feb. 1 - Eastern Lodge (6-8 p.m.)
* Kentville - Feb. 8 - Fire Hall (2-4 p.m.)
* Wolfville - Feb. 8 - Fountain Commons Great Hall (6-8 p.m.)

The public is invited to participate in the session at one of the following University of Sainte Anne campuses around the province ( Thursday, February 11, 3-5 pm )

* Campus principal de Pointe-de-l'Église, 1695, route 1
* Campus de Halifax, 1589, rue Walnut
* Campus de Petit-de-Grat, 3433, route 206
* Campus de Saint-Joseph-du-Moine, 12521, Cabot Trail, Grand-Étang
* Campus de Tusket, 1, Slocumb Crescent

When finalized, the dates and times of other meetings will be posted on the finance website and advertised in local media each Thursday for the following two week period.