Planning Begins to Explore New Cultural Hub on the Halifax Waterfront

Planning will begin this spring for a proposed cultural hub on the Halifax Waterfront which will include a new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) University.

“I am pleased to announce that we are working collaboratively with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, NSCAD and the Waterfront Development Corporation to develop a business case for a new cultural hub which will include a provincial art gallery, Nova Scotia Arts and Design university, and an exciting new public space on the Halifax Waterfront,” said Leo Glavine, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

“Nova Scotia is fortunate to have one of the country’s best provincial art collections. A new cultural hub will serve as a dynamic and iconic new space for the gallery, while inspiring future artists through education and programming, and serving as a place for Nova Scotians and visitors alike to gather and be inspired for generations to come.”

The proposed cultural hub will help position Nova Scotia as a world leader in the visual arts, while creating a new place to celebrate our culture.

A request for proposals to develop a detailed project proposal will be issued in the coming weeks. The work will include programming and curatorial development, development of costing, and planning of public space requirements through public consultation. The proposal, which is expected to be completed this fall, will be used to inform next steps and final decisions.

“This co-location is a great opportunity for NSCAD to build on its reputation as one of Canada’s leading universities in art and design,” said Labi Kousoulis, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. “An enhanced partnership with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia will create a unique hub for creative innovation that will be a magnet for students and faculty from across Canada and globally.”

In 2016, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia hired Lord Cultural Resources to develop a feasibility study for a new provincial art gallery. The study looked at the benefits of co-locating a new provincial art gallery with NSCAD. The Lord Report can be found at https://www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/about/corporate-information .