Halifax Regional Arts

At Regional Council on October 28, we received a presentation from the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) on Halifax Regional Arts — a program funded through the general tax rate to deliver fine arts education in our schools.

Last year, Council reduced program funding by 5%. This week, we learned what that meant in real terms: 3.8 staff positions were lost (with some individuals holding multiple partial positions), support for school musicals was reduced, fewer classroom materials were available, and students attended only half as many Neptune Theatre shows due to increased transportation costs.

It’s hard to question the value of this program. However, some members of Council are uncomfortable allocating municipal tax dollars toward what is fundamentally a provincial responsibility — education. In many ways, I share that concern. As we work to keep the tax rate low and focus on core municipal services, it’s fair to ask whether we can continue to fund programs that fall outside the municipality’s mandate.

At the same time, not funding Halifax Regional Arts would likely leave a gap we are unable to fill. HRM’s recreation programs simply do not have the capacity or structure to deliver comparable fine arts opportunities. It’s also worth noting that this program represents the only dedicated funding source for arts education in our community; unlike sports and other recreation activities, fine arts do not have similar funding opportunities elsewhere.

No decision was made this week — that will come during the upcoming budget deliberations — but I encourage you to share your thoughts. Council will be faced with difficult choices as we balance community priorities and the need to keep taxes manageable. Hearing from residents will help ensure that the decisions we make are fair, measured, and reflect the values of our communities.