The outcome is clear. The Nova Scotia government’s recent budget cuts will impact industries across the province. Cutbacks will have to be made to fit within tight financial margins.
Axed grants and funding will be to the detriment of many industries, the arts sector included.
It’s not just one song communities won’t hear,” says Masuma Khan, executive director of the Bus Stop Theatre Co-op. “It’s communities that won’t receive the support and the culture that makes them feel full.”
In its attempts to repair a $1.4-billion deficit, Premier Tim Houston’s government made $300 million in cuts across several sectors, including $130 to grant programs. Agriculture, education and early childhood development, and arts, culture and heritage have all been sent to the chopping block.
The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, in particular, faces a cut of $14.3 million. Affected are museums, art collectives, and not-for-profit venues across the province that rely on grant funding for operations. Arts Nova Scotia is dealing with a 30% cut.
The provincial deficit is still expected to be $1.2-billion by the end of the fiscal year.
Impact on the arts
The Bus Stop Theatre Co-op is a members-owned black box theatre on Gottingen Street, a venue for music, theatre plays, drag performances and much more. The theatre has been in operation since 2003, and adopted a cooperative model in 2011.
The budget cuts have seen their operations funding cut by 20 percent, which impacts one of their four part-time positions, according to Khan. The cuts to Arts Nova Scotia, specifically the Arts Communities grant, will also impact their financials.
“That’s $20,000 that we’ve historically gotten to go towards our programs that serve community, inspires communities. That grant is totally gone,” says Khan. “Support4Culture has been cut in half. Culture Innovation (Fund) has been cut in half. Grants to orgs through Arts NS, as well, has been cut down by $350,000.
“There’s a lot of money that we usually try and access for different things, and we won’t have access to that anymore.”
Learning of these cuts last Monday, Feb. 23, was devastating, says Khan.
“It was a bit of a shock and disbelief to see such gutting of arts programs, community programs and education. It’s, like, across the board. Artists often hold not only one profession, it’s often they work in community or work with youth, and hold so many different roles. It’s, like, every part of you. It felt like every part of me was crushed.”
A worthwhile investment
What leaves venue operators confused when it comes to these cuts is that there is typically a large return-on-investment when it comes to funding the arts, culture and heritage sector.
According to a Canadian Chamber of Commerce study released in October 2025, the national arts and culture sector contributed $65 billion in direct GDP to the economy in 2024, noting faster growth and more jobs per dollar than oil and gas, manufacturing, or agriculture. The arts sector in Nova Scotia is said to generate around $2.6 billion to direct GDP.
Cuts to the arts sector will impact over 20,000 jobs across the province, and will ultimately impact the province’s revenue from the arts and culture centre.
“The Bus Stop hosts over 160 groups each year, and we’re the only affordable, accessible black box theatre in the city, a city that’s already in a housing crisis and in an arts infrastructure crisis, on top of these budget cuts,” says Khan. “I don’t know what the government is expecting the outcome to be other than extreme loss of art in our community, and jobs for people.”
And it isn’t just the venues and performers that will be impacted. It’s suppliers, as well. Small businesses nearby that benefit from a cultural hub in their area. Suppliers that venues rely on for some of their goods.
Outside of Halifax
Similarly, the Marigold Cultural Centre in Truro is a non-profit organization whose budget is made in part of government grants, some of which are renewable year-over-year and are considered rather safe when they are making their budgeting plans.
The executive director of the Marigold, André Myette, was equally stunned by the cuts given the positive financial impact the arts have on Nova Scotia. He spoke on how government funding has allowed the venue to offer affordable options for those interested in the arts.
“We’re a not-for-profit. We keep the margins of what we pay for when it comes to shows pretty thin so we can provide cost-effective tickets to our area, allowing folks who may not be able to afford high-priced tickets to perhaps come out and experience the arts,” says Myette. “I would love to get enough funding that we wouldn’t have to charge anything for tickets. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality because we have to pay bills and staff… but with funding like this, it allows us to be able to not have to charge so much.”
It also allows the venue to offer benefits to members of the community. Myette mentioned giving free tickets to the Millbrook First Nations community for a performance from Hello Crows.
“It was a really cool event and we would like to continue doing that,” says Myette. “I’m not saying that because the cuts were not going to be able to do that anymore. It’s just those are things that make it easier when it comes to budgeting. Doing things we don’t have to put too much thought into because we have the ability.
When the cuts were announced, the Marigold had made a social media post describing the 20% cut to their funding, leaving them with a shortfall in their budget.
Outside of Halifax, the arts sector brings much attention to towns within the province. Truro will see that for itself as it’s set to host Nova Scotia Music Week next fall. It will be an economic driver for businesses, including hotels, restaurants, local bars, pubs, and venues. That economic impact is hampered when arts funding is axed.
Even outside of big events, Myette says the existence of the Marigold brings more eyes to the town as a whole, contributing to its overall economic impact on local businesses.
“It’s bringing folks from away, and what I’ve heard the most from people since I’ve been here is that, ‘We’ve never been to this theatre before. It’s such a beautiful space.’ There are a lot of things that help get more eyes on Truro and our community in general.”
Yet, it isn’t all about the financial impact. Both Khan and Myette lamented these cuts for the negative cultural impact they would have, from outreach programs getting axed, artists who could no longer make a living doing what they do, or simply the ability to witness art within your community. All of it is in danger due to budget cuts.
As a constituent, what can you do?
Both Khan and Myette mentioned rallies coming up in their areas, including one on Wednesday outside the Province House and another on Thursday in Truro. A full list of rallies across the province has been made available by Visual Arts Nova Scotia. You can also reach out to your MLA and send an email or phone message to the offices of Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage Dave Ritcey and Premier Tim Houston.