Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage of Nova Scotia

The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (Nova Scotia) is a provincial government department responsible for strengthening community life, supporting cultural expression, encouraging active living, and preserving the province’s heritage. A central part of its mandate is to provide financial assistance through a wide portfolio of grant and contribution programs aimed at non-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous and cultural communities, and other public institutions across Nova Scotia.

The department administers numerous funding streams under headings such as Community Funding and Awards, Culture Funding and Awards, Heritage Funding, recreation and accessibility grants, and the Support4Culture initiative. These programs help communities upgrade facilities, improve accessibility, preserve heritage properties, host festivals and events, and sustain professional arts and cultural organizations. Examples include the Community ACCESS-Ability Program, Recreation Facility Development Grant, Community Facilities Improvement Program, Strategic Development Initiative and Business ACCESS-Ability Grant Program.

Several programs explicitly advance equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. The Diversity and Community Capacity Fund and the Community and Cultural Identities Fund invest in organizations that represent traditionally marginalized communities and promote social equity, as well as initiatives that recognize and celebrate Nova Scotia’s diverse cultural communities. The Mi’kmaw Cultural Activities Program and other Mi’kmaw-focused funds support Mi’kmaw artistic and community cultural development through panel-reviewed, application-based grants to community groups and organizations.

Beyond project funding, the department offers operating assistance to established cultural organizations. The Operating Assistance to Cultural Organizations Program provides core operational and programmatic investment for organizations that produce or present cultural work, manage cultural facilities, or provide sector services. Heritage-focused programs such as the Strategic Development Initiative and the Heritage Development Fund support archives, museums, municipal governments and heritage property owners in conservation, sector revitalization and common heritage objectives.

Through the Support4Culture umbrella, funded in part by gaming revenues, the department collaborates with Arts Nova Scotia and other partners to deliver strategic arts and culture programs. These include artistic innovation grants, equity-focused initiatives for artists from designated communities, support for Mi’kmaq arts, screenwriter and film development grants, and community-based cultural funds such as the Community Mawio’mi Fund. Each program provides guidelines, application forms and contact information for program officers.

Eligible applicants vary by program but commonly include registered non-profit societies, community halls and legions, municipalities and First Nations communities, libraries, museums, schools, and other public institutions and cultural organizations based in Nova Scotia. Through its diverse portfolio of funding streams, the department helps communities remove barriers to participation, invest in infrastructure, sustain cultural organizations, and celebrate the province’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.