Statistics Canada recently released Canada-level data on heritage institutions in 2007. The total revenues of all heritage organizations were $1.2 billion in 2007, a 14% increase from 2004 (not adjusted for inflation).
Based on a two-stage survey of Canadian visual artists, this study delves more deeply than any existing reports into visual artists’ sources of revenue, art practice expenses and time use. More than half of all visual artists (56%) lose money on their artistic practice. The report argues that visual artists themselves are the primary funders of artistic practices.
Statistics Canada’s 2006 heritage institutions survey provides detailed statistics about non-profit and for-profit heritage organizations. Total revenues were $1.05 billion for all heritage organizations in 2006, a 1.3% increase from 2005 (not adjusted for inflation).
This report from Hill Strategies Research shows that public museums and art galleries generate increasing amounts from non-government sources. However, the report also finds that government revenues continue to represent the largest share of total revenues.
This recent report investigates the broad social impacts of cultural activities for individuals. It examines the relationship between four cultural activities (reading books, attending live performances, visiting art galleries and attending movie theatres) and social phenomena such as volunteering, donating, neighbourhood connections, sense of belonging and quality of life.
The 2007 Visual Arts Summit opened with the announcement that the Canadian Art Museum Directors Association (CAMDO), Canadian Museums Association (CMA), Canadian Artists' Rights/Front de representation des artistes canadiens (CARFAC) and le Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec (RAAV) had reached an agreement regarding exhibition fees for professional artists.
In the context of dismal earnings statistics for visual artists, it is not surprising that the issue of the need for artists to make a living was a key theme of the Summit.
Statistics were presented showing that the percentage of Canadians visiting an art gallery increased substantially, from 19.6% in 1992 to 26.7% in 2005. However, the cost of admission to art galleries was seen by some participants as a barrier to audiences. For some, access means commitment and connection to the community.
