‘Have some guts, reverse the cuts:’ thousands gather to protest arts budget cuts

Chants of “Have some guts, reverse the cuts,” boomed outside Province House on March 4, as about 2,000 people gathered in protest of recently announced provincial budget cuts to the arts and culture sector.

The cuts are part of Nova Scotia’s proposed 2026-27 provincial budget, unveiled on Feb. 23. The budget outlines $104 million in spending reductions across several departments, including over $14 million in grant funding from the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. 

Ross Burns, a professional musician and physical education teacher at Hydrostone Academy, arrived at the rally with a megaphone, rainbow parachute and group of Halifax students. 

“Arts cuts are short-sighted and a classic way to make a city worse,” said Burns. “We’re here with a school of kids who are chanting, ‘Don’t take our money, give me back my future.’” 

Attendee Mica Daurie, a 2SLGBTQIA+ community advocate, said the cuts will directly impact her advocacy work, particularly in rural communities.

“These [cuts] are going to gut funding for pride organizations,” said Daurie. “Folks need to be aware that these are some of the only resources available in rural communities.”

The demonstration lasted over two hours and included a performance of Seize the Day by the Neptune Theatre School and a poetry reading by Rebecca Thomas, a Mi’kmaw cultural educator, activist and poet.

“Roses are red, this poem is from me, but mark my words to him [Premier Tim Houston], we’re not going anywhere, and art isn’t free,” said Thomas.

Participants creatively confronted the cuts with homemade signs that bordered on public art installations. Larger-than-life rat sculptures could be seen hovering over the crowd, and homemade banners served as tangible evidence of the talented individuals who call Halifax home. 

Becky Druhan, an independent MLA representing Lunenburg West, addressed the crowd and encouraged protesters to exercise their right to protest.

“Keep the pressure up,” said Druhan. “We are in there raising our voices, arguing, debating, questioning, dragging this out so your voices can spread and everybody can understand what’s at stake. We’re going to do our work, thank you so much for doing yours.”

Inside Province House on March 5, during the question period in the House of Assembly, NDP opposition leader Claudia Chender confronted Premier Tim Houston about the cuts. 

“Thousands of Nova Scotians lined the street outside this building to make their message clear that they rely on these services and to cut them is cruel,” said Chender. “They deserve answers for why the government chose to cut specific programs and what those cuts will mean.”

Houston defended the budget, citing the current fiscal year’s $1.2 billion deficit. 

“We know that families are dealing with challenging times, so is the government,” said Houston. “We’ve had to make some decisions, but we continue to look for ways to support Nova Scotians.”