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A month-long initiative by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission has taken on new meaning amid the recent provincial government\u2019s budget cuts to the arts and culture sector.<\/p>\n
Launched last year, March is for Music<\/strong><\/a> <\/a>is a grant program that pairs local musicians with downtown businesses to boost customer traffic during what is typically a slow month in the HRM\u2019s core district.<\/p>\n \u201cSupporting local live music is the big thing,\u201d says Jayme Lynn Butt, the Downtown Halifax Business Commission\u2019s communications manager. \u201cThen also at the same time, using live music to bring business and create economic impact in downtown Halifax.\u201d<\/p>\n The rules are fairly straightforward: Participating businesses must host live music events that are free for the public to attend, and in return, the commission subsidizes the artist\u2019s compensation.<\/p>\n This year, the event sponsors 49 live performances at more than 20 downtown locations over the month, with each taking place in venues that do not normally showcase music.<\/p>\n Among those businesses participating this year are Trident Booksellers & Caf\u00e9, Argyle Fine Art, Carrefour Atlantic Emporium and the Puffin Gallery in the Historic Properties.<\/p>\n Butt says the event has received more involvement this year from downtown businesses, noting that the sweeping provincial budget cuts to the arts sector have both musicians and businesses looking for alternative ways to support the sector.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we do stuff like March is for Music, it just (proves) the arts are what draws people to a downtown,\u201d explains Butt, adding that hopefully businesses will take note. \u201cThen hopefully, that musician that played at their (venue), they\u2019ll see that it is worth spending and hiring them again because it brought people that wouldn\u2019t have been in their establishment before, so it helps everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n