Neoliberalism in Provincial Cultural Policy Narratives: Perspectives from Two Coasts

<jats:p> This article outlines the historical trajectories of cultural policy evolution in two provinces not often studied in Canada—Nova Scotia and British Columbia—to determine the extent to which they may be said to conform to the spread of tenets of neoliberalism. The article first examines evidence in conformity with neoliberal cultural policy convergence at the provincial level and then explores divergences. Two very different provincial narratives or policy styles are identified—clientelist and place-based—which, while they contain common elements, have differences that cannot be dismissed as superficial. The authors conclude that analyses seeking evidence of convergence with neoliberal trends that are overly generalized may obscure historically embedded, distinctive political and cultural activities. </jats:p>