Turret Arts Space Calls on HRM for Transparency and Accountability
On November 21, 2025, Halifax Regional Municipality staff notified Turret Arts Space Society that Turret’s funding request as presented to Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee (CPED) in March 2025 was considered by Halifax Regional Council at its in-camera (confidential) session on November 18, 2025, and was denied in full.
On November 26, 2025, HRM legal counsel notified Turret of the municipality's intent to repurchase 1588 Barrington Street for $1.00.
These actions mark a significant and unexpected departure from a decade of collaborative planning between Turret and the Halifax Regional Municipality.
On December 17, 2025, HRM declassified and publicly released the report on the Turret Arts Space.
Turret continues to call on HRM for transparency and accountability, and to:
- Meet with Turret Arts Space to answer questions arising from the report
- Halt the buy-back of 1588 Barrington Street
- Not declare 1588 Barrington Street surplus to initiate a disposal strategy for the property
- Support the Turret Arts Space redevelopment to create an arts hub and steward the Queer heritage of 1588 Barrington Street