Provincial Funding Programs

Helen Creighton Society Grants-In-Aid

• Archives and museums may apply.
• Funding is for projects relating to folklore research, collection, and publication.
• Grants are normally for $750 and may be renewed.

Nova Scotia Student Career Skills Development Program

• Funding is only available to not-for-profit institutions.
• A project must last for at least 8 weeks during the summer.
• Employment must be for a student enrolled in a full-time course at a post-secondary institution (or starting their studies in the fall)
• The program funds $6.50 per hour, but the institution must make up the difference and the student must be paid at least minimum wage.

Provincial Archival Development Program (PADP) (Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Heritage)

• Established in 2008 and administered by Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management (NSARM).
• Application forms, program guidelines and adjudication score sheets are available on the NSARM website .
• CNSA institutional membership required to apply.
• Proposed projects must connect to one of seven PADP objectives.
• Earn extra points if your project connects with a Provincial Priority too: [PDF]
• Projects must begin and end within one fiscal year: April 1 to March 31.
• Funding for:
  • projects, not operational costs, to a maximum of $15,000 if submitting one application; up to $20,000 if submitting two applications.
  • entering fonds, series, file and item level descriptions into ArchWay.
  • promoting public awareness, appreciation and use of Nova Scotia's archival heritage. (eg: marketing plans, thematic kits for classrooms, open houses, etc.)
  • improve extent and level of professionalism and expertise, and the adoption of standards and best practices. (eg: attend archival conferences, post-appointment training)
  • preservation management activities, in this order: first global site assessment, then actions recommended by the assessment, then holdings condition assessment, then item-level treatment of records at grave risk.
  • improve arrangement & description of archival records created by or about Mi'kmaq, Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels and under represented ethno-cultural groups.
  • reduce backlog of unprocessed archival records through arrangement & description of archival records to enhance intellectual control and provide access.
  • increase capacity of CNSA to undertake projects to strengthen and improve the provincial archival system and network (eg: Cooperative Acquisition Strategy, website, ArchWay database)
• You must provide 25% of total project costs; can be cash or in-kind.
• Requires a final report on results achieved, due 30 days after project completion.
• Application process conducted annually, beginning in early spring.
• Application forms and other documentation available on NSARM website (see link above).
• Successful applicants will be notified by the provincial archivist and/or the provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

Research Grants (Nova Scotia Museum)

• Funding is for research projects that examine a theme, idea or value system associated Nova Scotia's communities (geographic, ethnic or occupational).
• Grants can be used to have research done on an aspect of an archival collection for a publication or in association with an exhibit.
• The applicant must be an individual researcher.
• Grants may be up to $4,000.

Community Museums Assistance Program (Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Heritage)

• Grants are available to assist museums with operating costs.
• A museum may include an archival component (stand alone archives are not eligible).
• Applicants are subject to a thorough evaluation every three years.
• Further information is available from Paul Collins at collinps@gov.ns.ca.

Strategic Development Initiative (Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Heritage)

• Provides project funding for archives, community museums, municipal governments, not-for-profit groups, regional development authorities and other bodies that are exploring common heritage objectives.
• Priority given to initiatives focused on partnerships and increased self-sufficiency.
• Further information is available from Paul Collins at collinps@gov.ns.ca.