Cultural spaces are where arts and culture come to life and where our communities can express themselves, learn from each other and come together. The Government of Canada supports the vitality of cultural venues by supporting cultural infrastructure projects across the country.
Today, Kody Blois, Member of Parliament (Kings-Hants), announced that the Government of Canada will invest $1.2 million in the Mermaid Theatre in Windsor, Nova Scotia. He made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
Canadian Heritage is providing $800,000 to help support revitalization efforts at the Mermaid Theatre, which will lead to improved spaces and better access to the arts for residents and visitors. The project will include updating the building's facade as well as installing new roofing and a new theatre marquee sign. It will also include other improvements and the purchase of specialized equipment for the performing arts centre.
ACOA intends to provide a non-repayable contribution of $400,000 through its Innovative Communities Fund, pending contract signature. This investment will support extensive interior upgrades to the Mermaid Theatre, including accessibility, safety and energy improvements and new modern equipment. This builds on a previous project where ACOA provided a $210,000 non-repayable contribution to enhance the theatre's digital animation programming, such as MermaidTV's Animalingo, by hiring expertise and upgrading computer equipment.
These projects will help bolster the vitality of the arts scene in Windsor while generating economic and tourism spin-offs.
