District 11 - Candidates

Candidates for Councillor in District 11

Patty Cuttell

Did not fill in survey

Bruce Holland

Did not fill in survey

Nathan Parker

Probably an atypical genre of art for this answer, but I am a big fan of pro wrestling and Cody Rhodes vs Dustin Rhodes at Double or Nothing was one of the most powerful performances I've ever witnessed. It made me reflect on my relationship with my own brother and at one point moved me to tears, which is rare for any medium to do.

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)?

Patty Cuttell

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

Bruce Holland

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

Nathan Parker

1. While I am a firm supporter of the arts, as a rule I refuse to make any promises or commitments I don't firmly believe I can deliver on. I have pledged to expand housing, public transit, and implement a basic income, as well as overhaul the municipal tax system, all of which either cost money or alter the mechanisms of the city budget. Therefore while I'd love to say yes, I cannot in good conscience commit myself to these specific numbers at this time.
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
​5. Yes

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?

Patty Cuttell

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

Bruce Holland

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

Nathan Parker

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes, and I would work to reduce rental costs for a two pronged approach to this problem.

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?

Patty Cuttell

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Bruce Holland

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
​

Nathan Parker

1. Yes
2. Yes
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?

Patty Cuttell

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Bruce Holland

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
​

Nathan Parker

1. I want to make public transit free, period, for any purpose, at any time.
2. Yes
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?

Patty Cuttell

Did not fill in survey

Bruce Holland

Did not fill in survey
​

Nathan Parker

My primary focus in running is on reducing poverty, income inequality and homelessness within the city and from my personal experience in both producing and consuming art, these economic factors can be anathema to the creative process, or willingness to engage with art and community. By reducing the associated financial burdens of going to see a show or art installation, as well as the day to day pressures on everyone's pocketbooks, I want to help residents who currently feel trapped on the brink of financial ruin feel like they can afford to enjoy and support the arts, which will in turn help the artistic sector flourish.

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.

Patty Cuttell

Did not fill in survey

Bruce Holland

Did not fill in survey
​

Nathan Parker

Halifax has an abundance of natural beauty, rich history, and unique locations, as well as a culture of creativity, comedy and song. I would love to see it become a place that offers young people more to do and see in their free time than just going to various pubs and bars, with nicer things to look at than statues of dead racists and some blackout drunk lights on a pier.