New Report Demonstrates the Economic Importance of Arts and Culture in Ontario

Statistics Canada's release today of the Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators, 2010 to 2014 report is providing insight into the economic importance of arts and culture in Ontario and across Canada.

The figures in the report measure the contribution of culture to the Ontario economy for two unique perspectives:

• Arts, culture and heritage products represent $25.3 billion of the province's gross domestic product (GDP) and over 276,000 jobs. This "product perspective" includes the contribution of culture products (goods and services) produced in both culture industries and non-culture industries.

• Ontario's arts, culture and heritage sector represents $27.7 billion or 4.1% of the province's GDP and almost 302,000 jobs. This "industry perspective" measures all of the culture sector's output – including both culture and non-culture products (e.g. a theatre company may generate GDP from both ticket sales – a culture activity – and food and beverage services – a non-culture activity).

The report shows that Ontario was responsible for 45% of the total GDP of Canada's arts, culture and heritage sector and 43% of Canadian culture sector jobs. Between 2010 and 2014, the GDP of Ontario's arts, culture and heritage sector increased by 16.4%. This compares to a 14.7% increase in the economy overall. Jobs in the sector increased by 4.5% during the same period – compared to 5.0% in the economy overall.
 

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is one of several government partners – federal, provincial and municipal – as well as non-governmental organizations that contributed to Statistics Canada's development of the Cultural Satellite Account (CSA), a framework to produce precise and reliable data on the economic importance of culture, arts, heritage and sport in Canada.
 

Read the full report from Statistics Canada.