NSCAD University has ended its lease agreement with the Halifax Port Authority (HPA) for the spaces known as Shed 22 and Pavilion 23 on the Halifax Seaport.
NSCAD signed the lease agreement on November 22, 2022. The lease specified that construction in Shed 22/Pavillion 23 would begin by July 1, 2027 and would be completed by December 31, 2030. Financial obligations within the lease agreement would also begin in 2027.
NSCAD’s senior leadership recently recommended ending the lease to NSCAD’s Board of Governors. The current environment has changed significantly since 2022. At a time when fiscal prudence is critical, we believe that this is the right moment to take a step back and reassess NSCAD’s options to provide high-quality studio-based education to students from Atlantic Canada and around the world.
“We deeply appreciate the Halifax Port Authority’s support of our decision,” said NSCAD Interim President and Chief Financial Officer Leanne Dowe. “We are proud of our great working relationship with HPA through our existing Port Campus lease and operations. Our continued presence at the Halifax Seaport will promote its creative and cultural identity through opportunities for public art and placemaking.”
“Finding the right space for a consolidated campus is part of NSCAD’s long-term plan,” said NSCAD Board of Governors Chair William (Bill) Barker. “We have received positive encouragement from donors, government partners, alumni and creative/cultural circles in creating an innovative, state-of-the-art, accessible campus for art and design. Every successful modern city has a vibrant arts culture, and NSCAD is an anchor institution for the arts that is essential to attracting and retaining talent, investment and diversity for Nova Scotia.”
NSCAD will continue to engage its creative community and the provincial government on academic programming and financial planning for sustainable operations that will be integral to selecting the best possible location and space options for a future campus.