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Arts and Culture

GRANT STORY - WHAT ENDURES IS THE ART

When a society becomes ancient history, what survives is not the business deals or the politics, but the art and architecture, the literature and the music. Remember the gum under the schoolroom chair? The stale aroma of the gymnasium? These memories came back to life at the Vancouver School Installation Project, supported by a $20,000 Vancouver Foundation grant to the Artists for Kids Trust. With “artifacts” like gym equipment, film projectors and chalkboards, this 2006 collaboration by Douglas Coupland, Angela Grossmann, Attila Richard Lukacs, Graham Gillmore and Derek Root created an elaborate meditation on the rituals and places that mould a person’s sense of self. In a former elementary school gymnasium, the project provided educational experiences to over 2,000 Grade 1-12 students and hopefully inspired more young artists to follow in their footsteps.

 

DATA

 

Cultural sector employs 78,000

Metro Vancouver is home to 66% of the province’s cultural labour force. The number of metro Vancouver residents employed by the cultural sector increased 12% over the past decade, from 55,500 in 1997 to 78,000 in 2007. Source

 

We spend more on arts and culture

In 2006, households in metro Vancouver spent, on average, $2,533 on arts and culture, down from $2,561 in 2005, but still more than the national 2006 average of $2,390. Source

 

Plentiful ethnic media

The number of ethnic media outlets is an indicator of multiculturalism and ethnic diversity.

In 2007, there were 144 ethnic media sources serving the multicultural community in BC. Of these, 55% were newspapers. There were also 15 ethnic TV channels and 15 ethnic radio stations. Source

 

Arts spending pays for itself

Arts and culture spending is often justified by its social rather than its economic impact. However, a 2006 study of 357 arts and culture organizations in BC showed every dollar these organizations spent was worth $0.83 to $1 in direct and spinoff value to the provincial economy, from jobs to tax revenue. Source

 

Film industry spent $1.2 billion in BC

Most films shot in BC are produced in metro Vancouver, and the film industry is a significant economic contributor to our region. In 2006, the film industry spent $1.2 billion in this province and filmed 230 productions, up from only 25 in 1986. The industry generates over 13,000 full-time jobs locally, with wages nearly double the provincial average. Source

 

KEY INDICATORS

 

Indicators appearing in report

 

  1. Cultural sector employs 78,000
  2. We spend more on Arts & Culture
  3. Plentiful Ethnic Media
  4. Arts spending pays for itself
  5. Film Industry spent $1.2 billion in BC

 

Additional indicators

 

  1. Approved or Installed Public Art
  2. Major Field Of Study: Visual and Performing Arts; Communications Technologies
  3. Municipal Government Funding For Arts, Culture & Recreation
  4. Performing Arts Facilities Available
  5. Library Usage- Registered Borrowers

 

 


1. Cultural Sector employs 78,000

Data

78,000 people were employed in the region's cultural sector in 2007, representing 6% of the metro Vancouver's total labour force and 66% of all cultural workers in BC.

Date

2007

Geography

Metro Vancouver

Description

Metro Vancouver is home to two thirds of the province's cultural labour force. The number of metro Vancouver residents employed in the cultural sector has increased by 12% over the past decade, rising from 55,500 in 1997 to 78,000 in 2007.

Population Employed in the Information, Culture and Recreation Sector in Metro Vancouver and BC, 1997-2007 (thousands)

Metro Vancouver

BC

Metro Vancouver as % of BC

1997

55.5

88.6

63%

1998

60.5

93.3

65%

1999

58.1

90.9

64%

2000

65.9

98.5

67%

2001

66.3

105.6

63%

2002

68.3

106.0

64%

2003

68.9

108.7

63%

2004

70.5

114.8

61%

2005

70.4

112.1

63%

2006

70.3

113.2

62%

2007

78.0

117.8

66%

As in the province generally, the proportion of the metro Vancouver population employed in the cultural sector has remained relatively constant since 1997.

Percent of the Population Employed in the Information, Culture and Recreation Sector in Metro Vancouver and BC, 1997-2007

Metro Vancouver

BC

1997

5.7%

4.8%

1998

6.2%

5.0%

1999

5.8%

4.8%

2000

6.4%

5.1%

2001

6.4%

5.5%

2002

6.4%

5.4%

2003

6.2%

5.4%

2004

6.3%

5.6%

2005

6.1%

5.3%

2006

5.9%

5.2%

CMA Comparison

n/a

Data Considerations

This data includes employment reported under the 'Information, culture and recreation' sector. Data is different from that reported in Vital Signs 2007 as an update with the exact sector breakdown was not available.

Source

Statistics Canada. BC Stats

Link

http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/dd/handout/EMPREGN.pdf

http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/pubs/lfs/lfsdata.pdf

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2. We spend more on Arts & Culture

Data

In 2006, households in metro Vancouver spent an average of $1,031 on arts and cultural goods and services.

Date

2005-2006

Geography

Metro Vancouver

Description

Metro Vancouver spent slightly less on arts and culture related goods and services in 2006 than in 2005 when average spending was $1,065. Metro Vancouver households still however spent considerably more than the national average of $948 in 2006 (up from $881 in 2005).

Total Average Household Spending on Arts and Culture in Canada, B.C. and Metro Vancouver (Current Dollars), 2005 and 2006

2005

2006

Metro Vancouver

1,065

1,031

British Columbia

952

975

Canada

881

948

CMA Comparison

In 2006, metro Vancouver's households spent less on average on arts and culture than households in Toronto and Calgary. Average household spending on arts and culture was $1,115 in Toronto and $1,484 in Calgary.

Total Average Household Spending on Arts and Culture in Canada, Metro Vancouver and Other Selected CMAs (Current Dollars), 2005 and 2006

2005

2006

Saint John

949

803

Montréal

710

773

Ottawa

1,244

1,108

Toronto

1,059

1,115

Saskatoon

910

1,145

Calgary

1,257

1,484

Metro Vancouver

1,065

1,031

Victoria

957

967

Data Considerations

Appendix Tables VII-3 and VII-3-i contain percentages of households reporting and a breakdown of expenditures in arts and culture on entertainment, movie theatres, live sport events, live performing arts, admissions to museums and other activities, rental of satellite services, art, antiques and decorative ware, works of art, carvings and vases, antiques, glass mirrors and mirror and picture frames.

Source

Statistics Canada, Survey of Household Spending by special request R26728 for 2005 and R28208 for 2006

Link

Special request

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3. Plentiful Ethnic Media

Data

In 2007, there were a total of 144 ethnic media outlets in British Columbia, in 23 different languages. The majority of these were based in metro Vancouver.

Date

2007

Geography

BC

Description

The number of daily media outlets that operate in languages other than English is an indicator of multiculturalism and the growing ethnic diversity in the region.

In 2007, there were 144 different media sources available in languages other than English in BC. Over half (55%) of these were newspapers. There were also 15 ethnic TV channels and another 15 ethnic radio stations.

Number of Ethnic Media Outlets by Type in BC, 2007

Type

Number

Business Directory

3

Magazine

24

Newspaper

80

Online magazine

2

Online newspaper

1

Print (unspecified)

4

Radio

15

TV

15

Total

144

These various ethnic media sources communicated in a wide range of languages. The language with the most number of outlets was Korean, with 28 media outlets: 20 newspapers; 3 tv stations; 3 magazines and 2 radio. Chinese and Punjabi were the second most common languages available with 22 each. In Chinese, there were 16 newspapers, 3 magazines, 2 business directories and one radio station. In Punjabi, there were 10 newspapers, 6 radio stations, 4 magazines and 2 tv stations. There were also 14 media sources in Japanese.

Languages of Ethnic Media Outlets in BC, 2007

Type

Number

Afghani

1

Arabic

1

Cantonese

1

Chinese

22

Croatian

1

Dutch

1

Farsi

8

Filipino

6

German

1

Greek

1

Hindi

1

Italian

1

Japanese

14

Korean

28

Mandarin

1

Multilingual

9

Portuguese

1

Punjabi

22

Romanian

1

Spanish

6

Swedish

1

Vietnamese

5

CMA Comparison

NA

Data Considerations

n/a

Source

Catherine Murray, Sherry Yu and Daniel Ahadi. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Media in BC. A Report to Department of Canadian Heritage, Western Region. SFU: Center for Policy Studies on Culture and Communities.

Link

http://www.bcethnicmedia.ca/Research/Appendices_Jan_17_Revised.pdf

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4. Arts spending pays for itself

Data

For every direct job in the arts and culture sector of B.C., between 1.32 and 1.52 jobs are created in the rest of the economy.

Date

2006 report based on 2004 data

Geography

BC

Description

A study of 357 arts and culture organizations operating in BC revealed the following facts about the socio-economic impacts of the arts and culture sector:

  • Every dollar spent by these organizations generated between $0.83 and $1.00 in direct and spin-off value in the economy.
  • Every direct job (person years) in the arts and cultural sector of BC, between 1.32 and 1.52 jobs are created in the whole economy. (or 0.3 to 0.5 additional jobs)
  • Every dollar spent in grants to arts and cultural organizations generated:

- $1.05-$1.36 in tax revenues for the provincial government (through expenditures of grantee organizations)

- $.13 - $.23 in property tax revenues for local government

- $2.4 - $3.82 in tax revenues for the federal government (personal income taxes)

CMA Comparison

n/a

Data Considerations

The study employs expenditure data from the financial statements of 357 arts and cultural organizations which had applied for various grants from the BC Arts Council in 2004. The input-output model used for estimating economic impacts is based on input-output tables for base year 2001 (the most recent database which existed at beginning of this project) published for BC by Statistics Canada.

The study generates estimates of government revenues comprised of: indirect taxes on factors of production and products; direct personal income tax; corporate profits tax; CPP contributions, employment insurance and worker's compensation premiums. The model estimates indirect taxes using the input-output data. Additional information from the Income Statistics data published by the Canada Revenue Agency and the Provincial Economic Accounts published by Statistics Canada is utilized to estimate the other government revenue streams.

Source
  1. S. Sandhu & Associates. (2006) "Socio-Economic Impacts of the Arts and Cultural Organizations in BC". Prepared for the BC Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Arts

Link

www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/arts_culture/docs/dec2006_socio_economic_impacts.pdf

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5. Film Industry spent $1.2 billion in BC

Data

In 2006, $1.2 billion was spent in BC by the film industry.

Date

1986-2006

Geography

BC

Description

In 2006, 230 productions were filmed in BC and the majority of those films were filmed in metro Vancouver. These included 177 TV films and series and 53 feature films. The total production budget for the films made in BC in 2006 was $2.1 billion. The total amount of money spent in the province by those film productions was $1.2 billion.

In addition to dollars spent locally by the film industry, the production films generates over 13,000 full time jobs and an additional 9,000 jobs in spin-off effects on an annual basis. Wages in the film industry are also nearly double the provincial average (InterVISTAS, (2005) "Film and Television Industry Review").

The number of films and television series produced in the province has increased over the past 20 years from 25 in 1986 to 230 in 2006. The amount of money spent in the province as a result of the production taking place here increased from $87.4 million to $1.2 billion in that time.

Movie and Television Films Produced in BC, 1986-2006

Year

Number of Feature Films

Number of TV Films and Series

Total Production

Total Production Budgets (in millions $)

Total Spent in BC (in millions $)

1986

8

17

25

$156.00

$87.40

1987

5

23

28

$282.90

$152.20

1988

9

37

46

$219.20

$129.60

1989

14

23

37

$351.10

$283.80

1990

16

34

50

$322.30

$188.50

1991

12

41

53

$285.70

$176.00

1992

16

45

61

$368.20

$211.20

1993

26

47

73

$508.30

$286.00

1994

32

53

85

$649.00

$402.00

1995

35

60

95

$677.50

$432.80

1996

34

68

102

$801.50

$536.90

1997

24

73

167

$932.60

$630.50

1998

28

143

171

$1,225.70

$807.90

1999

54

144

198

$1,703.20

$1,069.90

2000

56

136

192

$1,895.10

$1,180.40

2001

40

157

197

$1,793.90

$1,108.50

2002

65

140

205

$1,541.10

$993.60

2003

47

122

169

$2,162.10

$1,404.60

2004

46

148

194

$1,211.20

$801.20

2005

63

148

211

$2,038.70

$1,233.70

2006

53

177

230

$2,102.50

$1,227.90

CMA Comparison

n/a

Data Considerations

n/a

Source

Metro Vancouver, GVRD Key Facts

Link

http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/statistics/Pages/KeyFacts.aspx

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6. Approved or Installed Public Art

Data

As of 2007, there were a total of 346 pieces of approved or installed works of public art throughout the City of Vancouver.

Date

2007

Geography

City of Vancouver

Description

Artwork in public places throughout our communities indicates the level of pride and care that we take in our public spaces. Art enriches the look and feel of community gathering places, and provides outlets and inspiration for artists in our midst (or something like this).The Public Art Registry was started in 1996 as a repository for maintaining data about public art pieces.

In 2007, there were 346 approved or installed pieces of public art in the City of Vancouver. Over two thirds of those pieces of public art were sculptures. Another 53 pieces were what is called "site work" - artwork such as sculptural installations, light works or tiles that are incorporated into the landscape or other features of a building or complex. There were also 25 totem poles of First Nations imagery in the City.

Type of Public Art Documented by the City of Vancouver Public Art Registry, 2007

Type of Public Art

# of artwork

Banner

2

Bust

2

Figure

8

Fountain

18

Gateway

4

Monument

23

Mosaic

20

Mural

11

Painting

4

Relic

3

Relief

19

Sculpture

147*

Site Work

53

Tapestry

2

Totem

25

Other

27

* Includes 22 18-month sculpture installations around metro Vancouver, established as part of the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale Festival.

Example of Public Art in the City of Vancouver:

400.jpg

Watch Your Step, 2002, Leah Dector, Artistic Director

CMA Comparison

n/a

Data Considerations

This registry does not include public art at University of British Columbia.

Source

City of Vancouver Public Art Registry

Link

http://vancouver.ca/publicart_wac/publicart.exe

http://www.vancouverbiennale.com/about.html

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7. Major Field Of Study: Visual and Performing Arts; Communications Technologies

Data

As of 2006, 3% of metro Vancouver's population had completed post secondary education in the arts.

Date

2006

Geography

Metro Vancouver

Description

The number of people pursuing arts as a major field of study is an indicator of the sustainability of the arts and culture sector. It is also indicative of the future size of our future cultural workforce and speaks to the capacity of the arts to attract residents with this educational background.

In 2006, 50,565 people in metro Vancouver reported that their major field of study is or had been in the visual and performing arts or communication technologies fields, which represents 3% of the total population in the region and 5% of those with some form of post-secondary education, certificate or diploma. In comparison, 2% of BC's population had pursued visual and performing arts and communications technology and 4.3% of the population with post-secondary education were trained in this field.

Of the 76,385 people in BC that reported this area of study as their major field, 66% were living in metro Vancouver.

The number of people with visual and performing arts or communication technologies as a major field of study is fairly evenly split between men and women. Just over half (54%) of those who reported this major field of study were women in 2006.

Population Whose Major Field of Study was Visual and Performing Arts, and Communications Technologies in BC and Metro Vancouver, 2006

 

Total

Males

Females
 

#

%

#

%

#

%

Metro Vancouver

50,565

2.9%

23,400

2.8%

27,165

3.0%

BC

76,385

2.2%

34,995

2.1%

41,390

2.4%

CMA Comparison

n/a

Data Considerations

"Major Field of Study" refers to the predominant discipline or area of learning or training of a person's highest post-secondary degree, certificate or diploma.

While these numbers are indicative to the size of the labour force in areas like medical or legal professions, it is less useful with respect to the arts and culture sectors, in which a large proportion are working without post secondary education in their field.

Source

Statistic Canada, Census 2006

Link

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/ct/CTdata.cfm?CTuid=9330005.00&Lang=E

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8. Municipal Government Funding For Arts, Culture & Recreation

Data

Almost one quarter of municipal expenditures were directed towards parks and recreation, community and cultural services in the City of Vancouver in 2006.

Date

2002-2007

Geography

City of Vancouver

Description

The City of Vancouver takes pride in its 200 plus parks and other recreational facilities. A significant proportion of its expenditures are directed towards funding parks, recreation, community and cultural services in the City.

In 2007, 15% of the City of Vancouver's budget was dedicated to Parks and Recreation. An additional 13% of the budget went to Community and Cultural Services (including a wide range of groups and departments that provide a variety of social and cultural services).

The proportion of the operating budget dedicated to Community and Cultural Services has seen steady increases in the last three years to represent almost double what it was in 2005. Funding for Parks and Recreation increased by 5 percentage points between 2002 and 2007.

Municipal Funding for Parks & Recreation, Community and Cultural Services in the City of Vancouver, as a Percent of Total Expenditures (Operations),

2002-2007

 

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Parks & Recreation

10%

11%

15%

15%

15%

15%

Community & Cultural Services

8%

8%

8%

7%

9%

13%

CMA Comparison

n/a

Data Considerations

Data from City of Vancouver is used here due to an absence of regional data.

Source

City of Vancouver, Annual Reports, 2003-2007.

Link

http://vancouver.ca/publications/index.htm#report

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9. Performing Arts Facilities Available

Data

In 2008, the City of Vancouver's Performing Arts Facilities Inventory had 105 facilities listed.

Date

2008

Geography

City of Vancouver

Description

The City of Vancouver has a diversity of venue types to host performing arts events. This diversity of venues speaks to the city's capacity to provide space to different types of arts and cultural performances and exhibitions as well as reach out to different audiences.

In 2008, 23 of the City of Vancouver's performing arts facilities were theatres. An additional 27 venues were available through community centres, while halls provided another 29 venue options. There were also 7 venues available through churches and 9 studios.

Number of Performing Arts Facilities by Type in the City of Vancouver, 2008

 

Church

Clubs

Community Centre

Hall

Studio

Theatre

Other

Number of Facilities

7

2

27

29

9

23

8

CMA Comparison

n/a

Data Considerations

The city of Vancouver relies on the facility to provide accurate and timely data.

The "Vancity Arts Report" that provided last year's data has not been updated this year.

Source

City of Vancouver, Performing Arts Facilities Inventory

Link

http://vancouver.ca/facility_wac/facility.exe

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10. Library Usage- Registered Borrowers

Data

The proportion of residents with library cards varies by municipality, ranging from 36% in some areas to 92% in others.

Date

2007

Geography

Metro Vancouver Municipalities

Description

Libraries play an important role in communities. More than merely repositories of information resources and nodes of formal and informal learning, public libraries represent important community gathering places where residents from all cultures and backgrounds are welcome. They also provide equitable access to information and in doing so, contribute to the social vitality of our communities.

In all but two of the municipalities for which we have statistics, more than half of residents were considered "registered borrowers" in that they had used their library cards in the past three years.

City

Registered Borrowers as % of Population

2006

2007

Burnaby

44%

44%

Coquitlam

48%

36%

New Westminster

n/a

92%

North Vancouver City

n/a

53%

North Vancouver District

48%

50%

Port Moody

74%

73%

Richmond

60%

63%

Surrey

63%

58%

Vancouver

48%

50%

West Vancouver

n/a

54%

CMA Comparison

n/a

Data Considerations

This data is based on a definition of registered borrowers as people who used their cards in the past 3 years. This definition is different than that used for the statistics report in Vital Signs 2007, which explains the differences in data.

There are other library systems in metro Vancouver for which data are not available: Delta. City of Langley, Township of Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam and White Rock.

Source

InterLINK - Special Request

Link

n/a

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