Nova Scotia is home to an incredible, vibrant arts and culture sector, a critical economic building block for the province. According to the Culture Satellite Account (2020), culture contributes $989 million to Nova Scotia’s GDP and accounts for more than 14,000 jobs.
The arts contribute massively to our province and our country’s forging of cultural identity, and to our understanding of ourselves as people. Theatre especially, represents a powerful tool for illustrative storytelling and providing shared transformative experiences with each other.
Theatre in Nova Scotia also represents a great engine that drives our economy and tourism throughout the province. We are a major draw for both tourists and new residents to Nova Scotia.
See below for statistics gathered from last year’s Professional producers all across the province!
Annual total of artists involved on a professional theatre production
Annual total of paid artist contracts
Annual total of professional theatre performances in NS
Annual total of audience attendees
Total budget cost of all professional productions for the year
Total ticket sales revenue earned
Total annual dollars paid to artists
September, 2026
CALL TO ACTION to everyone living in Nova Scotia:
The provincial government is headed back to its budget deliberations for the upcoming year, and we need your voice urgently! It will be so important to participate both in person and online in budget consultations being offered, and the Nova Scotia Arts Coalition has info and tools created for you to feel confident to do so.
First, please sign up here right away to attend a budget consultation session. Make sure you pass on the information to your friends and colleagues, so that we ensure people who care about culture in Nova Scotia are represented at every session!
You can find step by step help to fill in and submit your example budget submission, and talking points for joining a budget consultation session near you! Please submit your answers asap and let the provincial government hear you for next year’s budget!
See below for the latest news from our advocacy coalitions across the country:
