New N.S. Culture Action Plan – fair and balanced

Sincere congratulations to the Culture Action Plan Team, the Hon. Tony Ince and the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage for developing this fantastic, but ambitious first-ever Culture Action Plan. This 36-page downloadable document is a must read for all Nova Scotians, especially individuals, organizations, groups involved in the arts, heritage, museums, libraries, archives, and those involved with languages and other forms of culture.

The plan aims to champion the diverse membership, including performing and visual arts, writers, publishers, crafters, designers, historians, curators, painters, poets, chefs and brew masters. Seven main themes of development are: promote Mi’kmaq culture, promote creativity and innovation, strengthen education, partnerships and understanding, advance cultural diversity, excellence in cultural stewardship and drive awareness and economic growth of the culture sector.

I read over the document numerous times and came away with several inspirational thoughts and ideas; one phrase that stood out in particular was “economic driver.” A quote from the proposal states “at the heart of this plan is the recognition that culture helps drive successful economies and communities.” The potential to help the economy of rural Nova Scotia is mapped out in the plan and we in Pictou County have an opportunity to latch onto this well thought out and inclusive approach. Within this document are many ways to connect, improve and enhance our Nova Scotia and municipal economies.

Minister Ince states in his introduction: “The plan brings life to our department’s mandate of contributing to the well being and prosperity of Nova Scotia’s diverse and creative communities through promotion, development, preservation and celebration of the province’s culture, heritage, identity, and language.”

We are blessed with incredible creative talent and as I read this plan it seemed much has been untapped, misunderstood and unused in many parts of Nova Scotia. As stated by the grassroots people involved in action plan process: “The province needs to do a better job of supporting the culture sector and bolstering its role in a thriving province.” All portions offered in this document are very encouraging and seem to offer a sense of assurance and sustainability to help in our province’s future. If and when the ideas and actions presented in this plan are implemented and begin to work, then we will know that the effort was worthwhile.

On the cautious side, just about every page is filled with encouraging terminology, praise for existing Nova Scotia cultural icons and well thought out “actions,” but vague on the process, cost to implement and the timeframe. But to be fair these items may have been presented at the official launch in Halifax on Feb. 22.

Government endeavours although not as grand as this 2017 Culture Action Plan have been developed and presented before. Many have been announced with great fanfare, pomp and circumstance only to fade away and, as the saying goes, “shelved.”

However, if the government of today and the future are open to a semi-yearly progress report /review from a non-partisan group, organization or committee whose sole purpose would be to assist, encourage and implement this plan, then we will have a monitor to make sure this strategy does not fade away.

All municipal governments, business and community leaders, arts and culture organizations throughout Nova Scotia should receive or obtain a copy of this proposal and consult, discuss, and review its progress. The grassroots people have to be involved in the process.

Our area needs to support this now! Creative Pictou County would be an organization that could be the catalyst and binding thread to propel our creative and culture industries to work together in a fair and balanced approach for the economic sustainability and betterment of Pictou County.

Please get involved and have a look at this new Nova Scotia Culture Action Plan at www. novascotia.ca/culture and give your comments.

“We have and will always need culture in our lives.”