September 3, 2008
For Immediate Release

The chair of the Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership Council, Paul Gallant, has written to the minister responsible for Canadian
Heritage, Josée Verner to express concerns associated with recent cuts to federal funding programs in place to support the arts. "I
feel its important to let the federal government know that programs in support of the arts are critical to the sector's development", Mr
Gallant said. "I'm sure Minister V erner has received a lot of feedback regarding the cuts and really believe its imp ortant to add Nova
Scotia's voice to that discussion."

Mr Gallant's letter speaks to the impact these cuts will have on Nova Scotia's culture sector especially in the areas of capacity building
and cultural exports and calls upon the federal government to reconsider the decision. "The council feels it is important to let the
minister know that at a time when many jurisdictions are increasing support for the arts, the federal government should not in any way
be backing off," Mr Gallant said. "The Nova Scotia government has just committed to doubling the amount of money it spends to
support and grow the sector and this funding often leverages more from other levels of government, the private sector and individual
artists."

This week the Conference Board of Canada released a report showing the value of the creative economy in Canada. The report was
prepared for the International Forum on the Creative Economy held in Quebec last March but released to the public this week. The
report estimates the real value added out put by the culture sector at 46 billion in 2007. With direct and indirect contributions that
value rises to 84 billion and sustains over 1.1 million jobs in Canada. In Nova Scotia the sector contributes directly and indirectly over
1.2 billion to the GDP and employs about 28 000 people. "While we can measure significant economic im pact from the culture sector
today, like any sector, this one needs support for developing new ideas or products-- known as research and development in any other
sector," said Mr Gallant. "It's value and benefit can only increase when programs are put in place to assist."

Mr Gallant points to programs such as, Trade Routes, and PromArt, which have brought many benefits to the sector by assisting
individual artists in accessing international markets both by helping the artist to get there but also by bringing international buyers to
our festivals, a very successful way in which to bring product and market together. "It is our hope that the federal m inister will
reconsider these decisions and also work with her colleagues in cases where a particular program does not fall under her area of direct
responsibility." concluded Mr Gallant.

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Paul Gallant
Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership Council
902-224-5340
E-mail: leconseildesartspaul@ns.sympatico.ca