The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage has developed an online tool to help non-profits, businesses and others find more information about grants. (Tourism Nova Scotia / Acorn Art & Photography)

The Nova Scotia government is launching a new online grant finder tool to help make it easier for non-profits, businesses and others to find government funding.

The new tool will help Nova Scotians apply for provincial grants supporting arts, culture, tourism, sport, recreation, cultural identity and languages through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

“Nova Scotians have told us that navigating the large number of grant programs can be challenging, particularly for organizations with volunteers working in their spare time,” Allan MacMaster, minister of communities, culture, tourism and heritage, said in a news release. 

“This one-stop entry will help people quickly match their needs with the programs that we have available.”

Applicants can search for funding programs here: https://beta.novascotia.ca/find-grants-offered-through-department-communities-culture-tourism-and-heritage

The province gave about 2,600 grants to hundreds of communities, groups and organizations for arts, culture and recreation initiatives in the past year.

Members of the Astor Theatre’s Seniors Connecting group produced a holiday play for QCCR in December. (QCCR photo)

Non-profit groups in Queens County can now apply for wellness funds through the Queens Community Health Board.

Past projects funded by the grants include a regular seniors art and craft get-together at the Astor Theatre, learning to curl sessions at the Liverpool Curling Club, and a podcast hosted by South Shore youth.

Groups can apply for up to $3,500 for new projects. 

There are 35 community health boards across the province. People can apply to more than one board if their project occurs in more than one area.

Applications and additional information are available on the Community Health Board website.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Mon., May 6. 

Listen to the news update below for Mon., March 4

Astor Theatre, Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Photo Credit: Ed Halverson

Astor Theatre management was hoping for a better start to 2022.

The popular Liverpool theatre has been effectively closed since the province announced restrictions just before Christmas to limit the spread of the omicron variant.

General Manager Jean Robinson-Dexter says safety measures such as checking for vaccination, masking, and having ushers escort patrons directly to their seats encouraged a good turnout at many of the shows before they were shut down.

“People told us that they felt safe, they felt welcome and so we will just continue to do that once we’re able to welcome folks back here,” said Robinson-Dexter.

The province announced those restrictions have been extended until the end of January and Robinson-Dexter is still unsure what will happen after that.

She’s been reaching out to promoters and performers scheduled to play in February to decide if they will go ahead with their dates with the risk of more potential restrictions cancelling those shows as well.

“We’re just, kind of in wait and see, hoping that we can reopen and I’m not expecting that it’s going to be at full capacity for a while.”

Astor theatre interior. Photo Ed Halverson

Opening for 50 to 100 people is not economically viable for the theatre or performers according to Robinson-Dexter.

She hopes the community understands that leaves the theatre in a precarious position.

The Astor receives annual grants to help cover some of the operating costs and the federal and provincial governments have come forward with more money to help the theatre weather the pandemic.

But it takes funding from multiple sources, including fundraising and ticket sales to keep the Astor afloat.

Robinson-Dexter says the theatre has just wrapped its annual December donation campaign, but she hasn’t seen the totals yet.

She looks forward to reopening the Astor as soon pandemic conditions permit because the theatre is more to the community than entertainment.

“And it’s so important for people, both, I think, for social connection, to get folks out in the community, seeing friends again, and just for their mental health and well-being,” said Robinson-Dexter. “Music can fill you up.”

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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