Statistical Insights on the Arts is a quantitative research series,
created by Hill Strategies in 2002, that aims to provide reliable, recent and insightful data on the state of the arts in Canada. Statistical Insights on the Arts is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts.
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Very little statistical information exists regarding the arts participation of Canadian children. This report, based on a first look at data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, finds that:
18% of children between three and seven years old take weekly lessons or instruction in music, art or other non sport activities. On the other hand, 80% “almost never” take lessons or instruction in music, art or other non sport activities. The remaining 2% take lessons or instruction in music, art or other non sport activities “about once a month”.
35% of children between three and seven years old take weekly lessons or instruction in dance, gymnastics or martial arts (or “other organized physical activities”). In contrast, about two-thirds (64%) “almost never” take lessons or instruction in dance, gymnastics or martial arts. Only 1% of children of all age groups take lessons or instruction in dance, gymnastics or martial arts “about once a month”.
A majority of children read on their own on a daily basis: 73% of three year olds do so (including those who “look at books”); 68% of four and five year olds do so; and 70% of six year olds read daily. The percentage is lower for seven year old children, 52% of whom read for pleasure daily. Note: The slightly different phrasing of the question for seven year olds (“read for pleasure”) may have an effect on these results.
This report shows that consumer spending on books was $1.403 billion in 2008. About one-half of Canadian households (47%) spent some money on books in 2008. After adjusting for inflation, consumer spending on books increased by 9% between 2001 and 2008 (from $1.287 billion to $1.403 billion). Consumer spending on magazines was $623 million in 2008, with about one-half of Canadian households (46%) spending some money on magazines and periodicals. After adjusting for inflation, consumer spending on magazines and periodicals decreased by 22% between 2001 and 2008 (from $801 million to $623 million).
This report provides a detailed analysis of Canadians who spend money on live performing arts. In 2008, consumer spending on live performing arts was $1.426 billion, or an average of $108 for each of the 13.2 million households in the country. In 37% of Canadian households, some money was spent on live performing arts in 2008. In households with some spending on live performing arts, the average amount spent was $293. After adjusting for inflation, consumer spending on live performing arts increased by 49% between 2001 and 2008.
This report shows that Canadian consumers spent over $27 billion on cultural goods and services in 2008. The $27.4 billion in consumer spending on culture in Canada represents $841 for every Canadian resident. Consumer spending on culture is three times larger than the $9.2 billion spent on culture by all levels of government in 2007/08.
Canadian arts and culture organizations rely on volunteers to fulfill many roles. This report shows that 698,000 Canadians age 15 or older volunteered 73.5 million hours in arts and culture organizations in 2007. The 73.5 million hours volunteered in arts and culture organizations is equivalent to about 38,000 full-time, full-year jobs, valued at about $1.1 billion.
The report indicates that 759,000 cultural donors gave a total of about $101 million to arts and culture organizations in 2007. This represents 1.0% of financial donations to all types of non-profit organizations in Canada.
