Province Supports Lunenburg Academy Revitalization

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The Town of Lunenburg will receive a $1 million investment from the province to help revitalize and maintain Lunenburg Academy as a cultural hub for community members and tourists.

Lunenburg MLA Suzanne Lohnes-Croft announced the funding today, March 31, on behalf of Tony Ince, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

“The Lunenburg Academy is an iconic and well-known historic building in our community,” said Ms. Lohnes-Croft. “I’m proud to have played a part, alongside many others, in protecting and preserving an important piece of our province’s heritage.”

The academy is a provincial Heritage Property and a National Historic Site. The funding will help restore the building, turning it into a community hub with space for the regional library and educational programming, as well as an art gallery, café and other enhancements.

The project is also supported by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), with an investment of more than $66,000, and the Lunenburg Academy Foundation, with an investment of $200,000.

“In a community known internationally for its commitment to built heritage, Lunenburg Academy is an important historical and architectural landmark,” said South Shore-St. Margaret’s MP Bernadette Jordan. “The Government of Canada is pleased to be a partner in the repurposing of this beautiful facility, and the creation of a new home for the public library. Residents and visitors alike will continue to enjoy this unique building for many years to come.”

“We are excited to have this significant investment by the Province for this important project,” said Rachel Bailey, mayor, Town of Lunenburg. “The Lunenburg Academy is an asset for our town, but the size of this contribution speaks to the building’s importance provincially and nationally as well”.

The province is also investing $45,000 in the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance (LAMP) to increase program capacity and sustainability, and concert ticket sales. The funding will be used to create an in-house recording studio and strengthen marketing and recruitment efforts.

Located at Lunenburg Academy, LAMP provides emerging artists with a creative space to focus on musical development and artistic growth.

Investment in community and cultural organizations is a vital part of the province’s recently unveiled culture strategy, Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan. You can read the full plan at https://novascotia.ca/culture/.

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Source: Release