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Quick stats on the arts

Ontario Arts: Pocket Stats

Download a selection of statistics PDF File demonstrating the impact of Ontario’s arts sector, including the reach of public funding of the arts through the Ontario Arts Council. This one-page bilingual PDF document is suitable for use as a handout or leave-behind.

Public Participation/Support for Culture

  • 43% of Ontarians 15 years or older ( 4.3 million people ) attended a performing arts event in 2005 1
  • 36% of Ontarians ( 3.7 million people ) visited a museum or art gallery in 2005 1
  • Direct Ontario consumer spending on cultural goods and services was $10.2 billion in 2005.  This includes $500 million in spending by Ontarians on live performing arts. 2
  • Over 50,000 volunteers contributed over 1.4 million hours in 2006/2007 to arts organizations receiving ongoing support from OAC. 3

Economic and Social Contribution of Culture

  • Ontario’s cultural sector directly contributed $19.7 billion to the province’s GDP in 2003 – representing 4.2 % of Ontario’s GDP. 4
  • Direct employment in Ontario’s cultural sector was 252,300 in 2003 or 4.1% of total Ontario employment. 4
  • Both Statistics Canada and The Conference Board of Canada recognize creators ( e.g. independent artists, writers and performers ) and creative producers ( e.g. theatre performances, concerts and book/magazine publishers ) as important links in the “creative chain” or creative economy. 5
  • A recent report by The Conference Board of Canada also recognized the many social benefits of culture being documented by researchers around the globe – including fostering of community identity, social cohesion and personal development (e.g. creativity, self confidence) 5

Sources (Note: All data cited are most recent available):

  1. 2005 General Social Survey , Statistics Canada
  2. Consumer Spending on Culture in Canada, the Provinces and 15 Metropolitan Areas in 2005 , Hill Strategies Research
  3. Reflects actual data for 2006/2007 submitted with the 2008/2009 operating/programming grant applications to OAC.
  4. Economic Contribution of the Culture Sector to Canada’s Provinces Statistics Canada, 2007
  5. Valuing Culture: Measuring and Understanding Canada’s Creative Economy , The Conference Board of Canada, August 2008