Culture contribution to GDP increased 2.8% in 2014, Statscan study says

A Statistics Canada report released today about cultural indicators across the country reveals that growth (or decline) in contribution of culture to gross domestic product (GDP) nationally rose 2.8%. GDP contribution by provinces were as follows:

• Newfoundland and Labrador 1.5% (visual and applied arts +6.2%)
• Prince Edward Island 0.6%
• Nova Scotia 2.6% (visual and applied arts +6.1%)
• New Brunswick 0.9% 
• Quebec 3.2% (audio-visual and interactive media +3.9%; visual and applied arts +5.0%)
• Ontario 3.8% (sound recording +10.1%)
• Manitoba 2.7% (written and published works +6.0%)
• Saskatchewan 3.1% (written and published works +8.4%)
• Alberta 3.3% (written and published works -5.8%)
• British Columbia 4.2% (audio-visual and interactive media +6.3%; visual and applied arts +7.7%)
• Yukon 1.2% (visual and applied arts +6.6%)
• Northwest Territories - 2.7%
• Nunavut 2.0% 

Nationally, jobs in cultural industries decreased slightly -- 0.8% in 2014 (compared with a 1.1% gain in 2013). 

"GDP of culture industries rose 3.5% nationally in 2014, following a 4.4% gain in 2013. GDP of culture industries in all provinces and territories except Northwest Territories (-2.7%)," the study summary said. "British Columbia (+4.2%) had the strongest growth, followed by Ontario (+3.8%) and Alberta (+3.3%). Nationally, economy-wide GDP increased 4.2% in 2014, compared to 3.9% in 2013."

Source: Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators, 2010 to 2014 

BC bringing up the rear in arts & culture funding

British Columbia is dragging up the rear when it comes to support for arts and culture, according to a story in Georgia Straight, based on Statistics Canada data.

For 2008-09, provincial per-capita spending averaged $92—only Ontario and B.C. came in under that figure, with B.C. last of all at $62. B.C. also came last in per-capita federal arts spending, at $51 compared to the average of $122.

Some, but not all, of the slack is being taken up by municipalities, with BC municipalities contributing $98, compared with the national average of $82. When all arts and culture support is aggregated,

B.C. still comes in last, at $211 per capita in total, compared to the average of $296. Quebec leads in overall spending, at $374, followed by P.E.I. at $306 and Saskatchewan at $281.

According to NDP culture critic Spencer Chandra Herbert B.C.’s low per-capita spending is reflected in a poor showing in levering federal funding.

“Canada Council and Canadian Heritage will provide greater resources if you can show you have provincial support,” he said. “But because B.C.’s support is so low, there are other provinces who invest more so their projects are further along, are more developed, and more attractive to funders.”

Seventh new Ontario culture minister in less than 10 years named

With his extensive cabinet shuffle this afternoon, Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty has appointed the 7th culture minister in less than a decade, bouncing incumbent Aileen Carroll, who held responsibilities for the province's culture portfolio for a little over two years.

In her place is Michael Chan from the riding of Markham-Unionville -- in charge of a ministry that gets yet another new name, tourism and culture (the 6th different name for the portfolio in the past decade). Chan has held two cabinet portfolios since being elected in a byelection in February 2007 -- minister of revenue and, until now, citizenship and immigration. (Chan's move out of immigration has made room for Dr. Eric Hoskins, who was elected in a Toronto byelection just last fall.)

Like his predecessor, Chan is taking on the job without any apparent qualifications for it or interest in its clients -- a suggestion that culture is an identikit portfolio. Nothing in his bio indicates much feeling for the nuances or dynamics of cultural industries, most of which are centred in Ontario. He is an insurance broker and stalwart of various Chinese professional and service organizations in his riding.

Recession has hit the "written media" hard, says report on cultural sector

The average employment earnings of workers in the culture sector fell by 2.2 per cent in 2009 as the result of the recession, according to a new study released by the Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC). 

 "The global recession is expected to reduce revenues for cultural enterprises by approximately $3.1 billion in 2009".

Even as revenues are falling, the report says the number of self-employed workers in creative and artistic production occupations is expected to grow and, as a result, real employment earnings for workers in these occupations (including the self-employed and employees) are expected to fall by an average of 3.5 per cent. (Self-employment in the cultural sector is more than twice that in the general population.)

Of the nine cultural sectors looked at, written media (including magazines, newspapers and books) felt the hardest impact in terms of revenue, declining 6.1% in 2009, followed by 4.8% for broadcast media. Other items noted:

• Revenue from endowments for all cultural sectors declined by an estimated 16%. 
• The "gross domestic product" of the cultural sector was expected to lose about $2.2 billion in 2009.
• Employment in the cultural sector was expected to decline 2.3% as the result of the recession
  

The report, "The Effect of the Global Economic Recession on Canada's Creative Economy in 2009", is funded by the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program and is the first in a series of three reports that the Conference Board of Canada is working on for CHRC, the other two being: a labour market information report for the cultural sector (to be released in December 2009); and an identification and analysis of human resource issues and trends in the cultural sector (to be released in June 2010).