The Nova Scotia provincial government says it is investing $2 million to make the deCoste Centre for Arts and Creativity and the Pictou Library a cultural hub. With federal and municipal contributions, the total project cost will be about $9 million.
“The new cultural hub will transform the downtown core of Pictou,” Premier Tim Houston said in an Aug. 2 statement “Both the deCoste Centre and library are invaluable community spaces that provide important services to residents and visitors. And both venues are ready to grow – they’re ready to attract residents and visitors to enjoy high-quality social and cultural experiences.”
The current deCoste Centre building will be expanded to about 2,100 sq. m. to become a cultural hub hosting a new, modern public library, a fully renovated theatre, visual arts exhibition facilities and meeting space for cultural and community groups. It will also have accessibility features to make it more inclusive.
The Government of Canada is contributing $6 million to the project. The Town of Pictou, the Municipality of the County of Pictou and community donors are providing more than $1 million.
“The deCoste Centre has been a fixture on the Pictou waterfront for over 35 years,” said Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
“The investment we are making today will establish an expanded cultural hub with a performing arts centre and brand new public library that will make our community a more vibrant and dynamic place to call home for a generation. I want to offer my thanks and congratulations to everyone at home who helped make this project happen.”
