Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage: About us

The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage helps protect and promote Nova Scotia’s culture and heritage. We help businesses and communities grow by providing program and event funding for arts, culture and heritage, sport and recreation and cultural identity and languages. We also provide leadership to creative and cultural communities throughout the province.

The department is also responsible for helping grow the province’s tourism industry through marketing, experience and sector development and visitor information services.

The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage is responsible for Acadian Affairs and Francophonie, African Nova Scotian Affairs and Gaelic Affairs.

• contributing to the creative and cultural wellbeing of communities
• funding programs for arts, culture and heritage, sport and recreation and cultural identity
• working with partners and communities on services, programs and policies
• overseeing the Nova Scotia Archives, Nova Scotia Museum and Nova Scotia Provincial Library
• preserving and providing access to Nova Scotia's culture, heritage, identity and languages
• developing a long-term strategy for sustainable tourism in the province

The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage has about 395 staff across the province, including seasonal staff.

• growing the tourism, film and creative economies
• helping culture, recreation and creative sectors recover from the impact of COVID-19
• helping address systemic racism through the Count Us In Action Plan and other anti-racism initiatives
• supporting the interests and needs of African Nova Scotian communities
• supporting community development throughout the province
• preserving language and culture, including Mi’kmaw, French and Gaelic languages