Happy end of August everyone. This week, I’m looking for some feedback from you.
What have you particularly liked or disliked about the content offered by Statistical insights on the arts, since its re-launch in June? Has any post been particularly useful to you? How so?
If you have basic questions about the new service, you will find an FAQ here.
To post a comment on this webpage, you can use the button below. Or you can reply to this email if you'd prefer to keep the conversation private.
If you want to learn more about the content to date, scroll down — that’s what the rest of this post provides.
Qu'est-ce qui vous a particulièrement plu ou déplu du côté du contenu de Statistical insights on the arts, depuis son lancement en juin? Y a-t-il un article qui vous a été particulièrement utile? Comment?
J’ai créé une foire aux questions pour répondre aux questions communes.
Pour partager votre commentaire sur cette page Web, vous pouvez utiliser le bouton Leave a comment ci-dessus. Vous pouvez également répondre à ce courriel si vous préférez que la conversation reste privée.
Si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur le contenu à ce jour, c'est ce que vous propose le reste de ce billet (en anglais).
17 analytical posts since early June
To remind you of what I’ve been up to since June, the remainder of this post highlights interesting findings to date related to artists and cultural workers, equity, benefits of the arts, and the pandemic’s influence on the arts. The posts containing provincial information are collected at the end. (Note: There are posts that fit in multiple categories.)
Key findings
There is a high degree of precarity among artists and content creators. Factors include: Low income. Income volatility. Self-employment. Even worse during the pandemic.
Key finding
The job vacancy rate has been particularly high since April of 2021, when the sector experienced a record monthly vacancy rate of 8.8%.
Key topics
# of arts and culture workers. Hours worked. % of all Canadian workers. Self-employment rate for arts and culture workers, compared with the overall labour force.
Key topics and findings
What are some of the impacts of the pandemic on arts and culture workers? Are there differences between employed and self-employed workers? In 2021, the overall labour force returned to pre-pandemic levels, with a high job vacancy rate. What’s the situation for arts and culture workers?
Key findings
My analysis of long-term employment trends shows that, between 1997 and 2021:
* There has been consistent growth in hours worked by all arts and culture workers over the long term, with the notable exception of 2020.
* For artists, hours worked have risen and fallen through the years, with no consistent pattern. The pandemic resulted in a huge decrease in hours, but there was a rebound in 2021.
* Hours worked by self-employed workers (of all kinds) have had a bumpy ride over the long term.
* There has been a consistent increase in hours worked by employed arts and culture workers and all Canadian workers but a much less consistent trend line for employed artists.
Key findings
Average hours worked per week: 13% lower for women arts and culture workers than men. Public perceptions of the benefits of the arts and culture Is there a wellbeing deficit related to arts and culture during the pandemic?
Key findings
In all demographic groups, more people believe that they belong at local cultural facilities than not. But there are some significant differences. For example, older, university-educated, and higher-income Canadians are much more likely to indicate that they belong at cultural facilities than other groups.
Key finding
People in many equity-seeking groups are more likely than others to believe in the importance of the arts and culture during the pandemic.
Key finding
Average hours worked per week: 13% lower for women arts and culture workers than men.
Key findings
There is strong consensus among Canadians that the arts and culture bring people from different backgrounds together and make their communities better places to live. However, more Canadians believe that the arts and culture have NOT been important to their wellbeing during the pandemic than those who ascribe importance to the arts and culture in their wellbeing.
Key finding
People in many equity-seeking groups are more likely than others to believe in the importance of the arts and culture during the pandemic.
Key findings
There is strong consensus among residents of all provinces that the arts and culture are a valuable way of bringing together people from different languages and cultural traditions. Across the country, a high proportion of residents agree that arts and cultural activities make communities better places to live.
Key findings
Impacts of the visual arts in 2021: an $11 billion market, $4 billion in GDP impact, over 45,000 jobs.
Key findings
The visual arts, like many other sectors, were hard hit by the pandemic. The financial hit was substantial, with a more significant drop in 2020 than the average for the overall cultural sector. In 2020, GDP of the visual arts decreased by 12%, before rebounding by 9% in 2021 (both figures adjusted for inflation and population growth). Visual arts jobs decreased by 10% in 2020 and increased by 7% in 2021.
Key findings
The cultural economy was severely impacted by the pandemic in every province and territory. B.C. and Nunavut were the only two jurisdictions where there was real per capita growth in GDP between 2010 and 2020.
Key findings
The arts and heritage sector still has a way to go before it fully recovers from the pandemic. Since early 2020, there has been a 3% decrease in the number of organizations and businesses with at least one employee in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry group. Many more organizations and businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation were worse off than better off in early 2022 than in 2019.
Key findings
Between 2019 and 2020, Canada’s cultural economy shrunk by 6% (as measured by GDP), with an 11% decrease in cultural jobs. The worst hit cultural economy is in Alberta – the only province or territory with a double-digit decrease in GDP (-10%) and output (also -10%) in 2020.
Key findings
Most provinces saw a decrease in the number of organizations and businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry group. In 9 of the 10 provinces, more organizations and businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation were worse off than better off in early 2022 compared with 2019.
Key findings
Between 2019 and 2020, Canada’s cultural economy shrunk by 6% (as measured by GDP), with an 11% decrease in cultural jobs. The worst hit cultural economy is in Alberta – the only province or territory with a double-digit decrease in GDP (-10%) and output (also -10%) in 2020.
Key findings
The cultural economy was severely impacted by the pandemic in every province and territory. B.C. and Nunavut were the only two jurisdictions where there was real per capita growth in GDP between 2010 and 2020.
Key findings
There is strong consensus among residents of all provinces that the arts and culture are a valuable way of bringing together people from different languages and cultural traditions. Across the country, a high proportion of residents agree that arts and cultural activities make communities better places to live.
Key findings
Most provinces saw a decrease in the number of organizations and businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry group. In 9 of the 10 provinces, more organizations and businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation were worse off than better off in early 2022 compared with 2019.
As Director of Development I am constantly looking for a way to show the impact of theatre/performing arts to corporations. Since June, I haven't found any insights that is particularly useful for this. I am less interested in perception, cultural workers, or differences between Canadian provinces.
I really like the pieces that explored sense of belonging and the perceptions of the arts among different demographic groups. I think it's an ongoing issues that many organizations are contending with - some better than others. Lots of interesting food for thought!