District 2 - Candidates

Candidates for Councillor in District 2

Will Gilligan

Did not fill in survey

David Hendsbee

Walking into the NS Art Museum and to peer into the Maude Lewis house with her studio at home . And anyday while driving by Barry Colpitts home is East Ship Harbour that is adorned with his folk art. A sight to behold... It should be postcard!

Scroll down for the detailed feedback from the candidate:

GHAC has four specific goals we're asking candidates to engage with.
Goal One: Become a leader in funding arts and culture activities.  Will you commit to:
1. Increasing HRM arts and culture program funding until it meets and exceeds the median per capita spending on art and culture of other major Canadian cities, with a goal of consistently ranking in the top 25% for arts and culture funding within the next 4 years?
2. Indexing HRM arts and culture funding to inflation to avoid real value erosion of funding envelopes?
3. Structuring HRM arts and culture funding programs to ensure equitable and meaningful investments in underrepresented communities and new voices?
4. Initiating a new HRM peer-reviewed funding program for grants to professional artist individuals and small groups targeted towards creation, presentation and professional development?
5. Initiating a new HRM program to fund artistic residencies promoting artistic research, creation and community engagement within HRM departments (example: Halifax Public Gardens artist-in-residence)?

Will Gilligan

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered
​5. Unanswered

David Hendsbee

1. It has to be gradual increment while we try to afford the basic municipal services ​
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Will this allow for tax credits for residence in non-municipal properties

Goal Two:  Increase supply of varied, accessible artistic venues and cultural production facilities.  Will you commit to:
1. Addressing gaps identified in HRM Performing & Visual Arts Venues Study (2024) and Discover Halifax Venues Inventory and Assessment (forthcoming)?
2. Providing major capital grants to arts and culture organizations building or renovating venues for the production or presentation of arts and culture?
3. Providing capital improvement grants to arts and culture organizations who own or rent premises?
4. Increasing grant funding available to non-profit arts and culture organizations that rent space to offset the steep rise in rental costs?

Will Gilligan

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered

David Hendsbee

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Goal Three:  Equitable access to diverse arts learning opportunities for all citizens, in and out of schools.  Will you commit to:
1. Piloting a collaborative delivery model between HRM Parks & Recreation and local professional arts and culture organizations to increase arts and culture program offerings
2. Prioritizing arts education in schools by ensuring funds continue to be allocated through a Supplementary Education Funding Agreement between HRM and Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) and that such funds stay dedicated to arts education?
3. Increasing public event venue-use at Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) facilities for arts and culture programming by targeting staffing, funding and maintenance of such venues?

Will Gilligan

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

David Hendsbee

1. Maybe
2. And Music too
3. Yes

Goal Four:  An HRM where everyone can participate in thriving arts and culture activities.  Will you commit to:
1. Offering free public transit for major arts and cultural events, building off successful piloted efforts such as free transit for the first weekend in December, and chartered Halifax Transit buses for Nocturne and Juno Awards events?
2. Funding arts and culture organizations to improve financial accessibility of arts and culture experiences by reducing or eliminating admission fees for arts and culture events, programs, and activities?
3. Retaining and growing the creative and artistic workforce in HRM by developing affordable housing and live/work spaces for artists, and creating a Housing Task Force that includes artists, arts organizations, planners, and developers to define needs and propose viable economic models?

Will Gilligan

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

David Hendsbee

1. If the event is a pay admission ticket, then have a two $ surcharge for those ticket holders to take the bus with their ticket at no additional charge,,,2 hours before the event and 2 hours after the event they can ride the bus by the price paid for admission.
2. Some events can be by admission - not all can be for free
3. Yes

How else do you commit to supporting and strengthening the arts and culture sector in Halifax, and improving the lives of the thousands of citizens who are arts and culture workers?

Will Gilligan

Did not fill in survey

David Hendsbee

Expand our Placemaking Grants program to include larger projects

If there's anything else you'd like to tell us about your vision for arts and culture in Halifax, please use the space below.

Will Gilligan

Did not fill in survey

David Hendsbee

N/A