How many artists are there in in each Canadian province and territory?

Analysis of 2021 census data

Jan 24, 2023

Two weeks ago, I posted about the 200,000-plus artists in Canada. Artists represent 1.0% of the Canadian labour force.

This post contains a brief analysis of the number of artists in each province and territory, including the number of artists, artists as a percentage of the labour force, and the largest artist occupation.

The post does not contain demographic, financial, or historical analysis. I have requested detailed data from the census to get at those elements, but I do not yet know when I will receive the data. When I receive the data, I will produce a demographic and financial analysis for sponsored jurisdictions.

This analysis relates to professional artists, but with a very specific concept of professional: i.e., people who worked more hours as an artist than at any other occupation between May 1 and 8, 2021, plus people who were not in the labour force at that time but had worked more as an artist than at another occupation between January of 2020 and May of 2021.

At the end of this post, I include other important notes to keep in mind regarding census data on artists.

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Musicians are typically the largest artist occupation

Musicians are the largest artist occupation in Canada and in 8 of the 10 provinces. The exceptions are Quebec (where the largest artist occupation is producers, directors, and choreographers) and New Brunswick (where there are slightly more craftspeople than musicians).

In all 3 territories, craftspeople represent the largest artist occupation.

Artists as a percentage of the labour force

Canada’s 202,900 artists are unevenly distributed across the provinces and territories. Compared with the Canadian average of 1.0%, artists range from 0.6% to 1.4% as a percentage of provincial and territorial labour forces.

A brief text description of key statistics on artists in each province and territory follows, from west to east to north. A graph of artists as a percentage of the labour force follows the text description.

Two reminders:

The census counts people who spent more time at their art than at any other occupation in May of 2021.
Because of important changes in methods, please don’t compare this analysis of 2021 data with my previously published data.

In British Columbia, the 39,700 artists represent the largest proportion of the labour force among the provinces and territories (1.4%). One in every five Canadian artists (20%) reside in B.C.

Alberta’s 18,100 artists comprise 0.7% of the provincial labour force and 9% of all artists nationwide.

In Saskatchewan, the 3,900 artists account for 0.6% of the province’s labour force. About 2% of all Canadian artists reside in Saskatchewan.

In Manitoba, the 5,200 artists represent 0.7% of the provincial labour force as well as 2.6% of all Canadian artists.

Ontario’s 81,800 artists represent 1.0% of the province’s labour force. Ontario accounts for 40% of Canada’s artists, almost twice as many as any other province.

Quebec’s 43,100 artists comprise 0.9% of the overall labour force and 21% of all artists in Canada.

In New Brunswick, the 2,700 artists represent 0.6% of the province’s labour force and 1.3% of all artists nationwide.

The 5,100 artists in Nova Scotia comprise 1.0% of the province’s labour force and 2.5% of all artists in Canada.

In Prince Edward Island, there are 650 artists, representing 0.7% of the province’s labour force and 0.3% of all Canadian artists.

There are 2,000 artists in Newfoundland and Labrador, or 0.7% of the province’s labour force. Exactly 1% of all Canadian artists reside in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Combined, the three territories are home to 580 artists, or 0.3% of all artists nationwide. Individually, each territory accounts for 0.1% of all Canadian artists. Yukon’s 270 artists represent 1.1% of the territory’s overall labour force. In the Northwest Territories, there are approximately 160 artists, representing 0.7% of the territory’s labour force. Nunavut’s 150 artists account for 1.0% of the territory’s labour force.

Bar graph of Artists as a percentage of the overall labour force, Canada, provinces, and territories, 2021 census. Nunavut: 1%. Northwest Territories: 0.7%. Yukon: 1.1%. Newfoundland and Labrador: 0.7%. Prince Edward Island: 0.7%. Nova Scotia: 1%. New Brunswick: 0.6%. Quebec: 0.9%. Ontario: 1%. Manitoba: 0.7%. Saskatchewan: 0.6%. Alberta: 0.7%. British Columbia: 1.4%. Canada: 1%. Note: The census counts people in the occupation in which they worked the most hours in early May, 2021. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0405-01 Occupation by major field of study (STEM and BHASE, detailed): Canada, provinces, and territories.

Data table

The table below provides details of the statistics on artists in each province and territory. (FYI: The alt text for the table also contains all the data. Unfortunately, I have to post tables as picture files on Substack.)

Table of Artists by province and territory, 2021 census. Canada: 202,900 artists; 20,630,500 workers (overall); Artists equal 1.0% of the labour force; 100% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 102 workers. British Columbia: 39,700 artists; 2,855,900 workers (overall); Artists equal 1.4% of the labour force; 20% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 72 workers. Alberta: 18,100 artists; 2,422,100 workers (overall); Artists equal 0.7% of the labour force; 9% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 134 workers. Saskatchewan: 3,900 artists; 615,800 workers (overall); Artists equal 0.6% of the labour force; 1.9% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 158 workers. Manitoba: 5,200 artists; 727,100 workers (overall); Artists equal 0.7% of the labour force; 2.6% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 140 workers. Ontario: 81,800 artists; 7,885,700 workers (overall); Artists equal 1.0% of the labour force; 40% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 96 workers. Quebec: 43,100 artists; 4,747,100 workers (overall); Artists equal 0.9% of the labour force; 21% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 110 workers. New Brunswick: 2,700 artists; 423,300 workers (overall); Artists equal 0.6% of the labour force; 1.3% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 157 workers. Nova Scotia: 5,100 artists; 530,400 workers (overall); Artists equal 1.0% of the labour force; 2.5% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 104 workers. Prince Edward Island: 650 artists; 90,300 workers (overall); Artists equal 0.7% of the labour force; 0.3% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 139 workers. Newfoundland and Labrador: 2,000 artists; 268,000 workers (overall); Artists equal 0.7% of the labour force; 1.0% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 134 workers. Yukon: 270 artists; 25,500 workers (overall); Artists equal 1.1% of the labour force; 0.1% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 94 workers. Northwest Territories: 160 artists; 24,100 workers (overall); Artists equal 0.7% of the labour force; 0.1% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 151 workers. Nunavut: 150 artists; 15,200 workers (overall); Artists equal 1.0% of the labour force; 0.1% of all artists in Canada; Artists represent 1 in every 101 workers. The census counts people in the occupation in which they worked the most hours in early May, 2021. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0405-01 Occupation by major field of study (STEM and BHASE, detailed): Canada, provinces, and territories. The census counts people in the occupation in which they worked the most hours in early May, 2021. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0405-01 Occupation by major field of study (STEM and BHASE, detailed): Canada, provinces, and territories.

Notes on the census as a data source on artists

I have included 10 specific occupation groups as “artists”:

Actors, comedians, and circus performers
Artisans and craftspersons
Authors and writers (excluding technical writers)
Conductors, composers, and arrangers
Dancers
Musicians and singers
Other performers
Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists
Photographers
Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations

Because of important changes in methods, please don’t compare this analysis of 2021 data with my previously published data. Most importantly, photographers have been added to the list of artist occupations. The new category for “authors and writers” excludes technical writers. And more.

Part-time artists who spent more time at another occupation in May of 2021 would be classified in the other occupation. We know that many artists compile multiple activities into a portfolio career, or at least into a bundle of gigs that (hopefully) earn them a living income. Because many of these artists would be counted in their other job(s), I have always noted that the census tends to undercount artists.

The pandemic context in the spring of 2021 is important to keep in mind when interpreting census data on artists. In terms of arts attendance, between the start of the pandemic and May of 2021:

Just 6% of Canadian culture goers had attended an indoor arts or cultural performance.
10% of Canadian culture goers had attended an outdoor arts or cultural performance.
14% of Canadian culture goers had visited an art gallery or museum.

These statistics are drawn from the July 2021 issue of the Arts Response Tracking Study.

Between the time of the 2016 census (i.e., the second quarter of 2016) and the time of the 2021 census (the second quarter of 2021), Statistics Canada’s national culture and sport indicators indicate that the direct impact of the arts on Gross Domestic Product had not changed at all, after factoring in inflation. Similarly, total output in the arts (similar to total revenues) had increased by just 0.4%, after adjusting for inflation.