Share your Culture Story
In its broadest sense, culture is many things. It’s the simple activities that make up our day to day life, and the extraordinary ways in which we express our ideas, artistry and creativity. It’s the customs, languages and traditions that reflect our past, as well as the shared experiences that help to shape our values and beliefs for today and tomorrow.
Culture is important because it fosters a sense of belonging, contributes to quality of life, and helps us relate to each other. Individually, it contributes to our health, wellness and esteem, and collectively, it adds to our social capital and economic prosperity.
In Nova Scotia, our cultural landscape is influenced by the beauty of the land, our relationship with the sea, and our desire to not only preserve our roots, but also, nurture the growth of new roots. As Nova Scotians, we’re enriched by who we are and where we’re going.
In order to better understand the different facets of this landscape, the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage is launching a social impact research project that will explore the nature of culture through Nova Scotians’ own experiences.
Using a specialized online process (Sensemaker), we are asking the broad culture sector and citizens of Nova Scotia to share their own stories about culture and what it means to them. Unlike traditional research methods which usually involve a researcher’s own interpretation, our database generates information by finding patterns in the narratives.
Taking part is easy. Simply visit the Culture Stories website.
Your story can be as long or as short as you like, and can be completed in any language you wish, and if you have more than one story to share, you’ll have the option to do so at the end of the process.
Once your story has been captured, you will be asked follow up questions that will determine the meaning behind your story. This process of asking participants to interpret their own story is what makes this research tool so unique; by having a person assign significance of their own story, we can eliminate bias and avoid incorrect interpretation.
Understanding what culture means to Nova Scotians is of utmost importance to the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage. By sharing your story with us, you are helping to inform the decisions we make about our programs and services as well as helping inform the Culture Action Plan, thus ensuring that our support aligns with citizens’ vision of culture in this province.
