Creative people, classes, neighbourhoods and cities
The concept of creativity, as applied to people, classes, neighbourhoods and cities, has been thrust into the limelight by the success of Richard Florida's book The Rise of the Creative Class. In this context, the arts, culture, creativity and innovation are receiving significant attention from economic development and urban planning spheres. But what does a creative city look like? How do artists and cultural organizations contribute to this urban ecology? This issue of the Arts Research Monitor attempts to synthesize a variety of reports on the topic of creative people, classes, neighbourhoods and cities.
Volume 3, no 9 highlights four recent Statistics Canada products related to the culture sector’s direct contribution to Gross Domestic Product and employment in various Canadian jurisdictions. Links to a few other recent economic impact studies are also provided.
Digital technology, copyright and the arts and culture
Volume 3, no 8 focuses on how digital technology is changing the interactions of artists, the music industry, museums and online users. Included are reports on artist and public perceptions and use of the internet, digital technology's effects on Canada’s music industry, and the quality of online museological experiences.
Nonprofit sector size and scope; Canadians' views of charities
Volume 3, no 7 highlights some relevant findings for the arts and culture sector of two broad Statistics Canada reports on the size and scope of the nonprofit sector. A survey on Canadians’ opinions about charities is also summarized.
The suggestion in the Harvard Business Review’s 2004 Breakthrough Ideas edition (February 2004) that a Masters of Fine Arts degree has become the new MBA is a sign of heightened interest and recognition of the developmental role played by creative professionals in the economic, physical and social evolution of a city. But what is the definition of a creative city? What are the benefits and barriers to the creative city process? This issue of the Arts Research Monitor focuses on four research papers that seek to provide some answers to these questions.
There are many different ways of analyzing employment in the arts and culture. A number of recent reports have used different methods and different groupings to examine various aspects of work in arts and culture in Canada. In Volume 3, Number 4 of the Arts Research Monitor, we highlight the key findings of these reports.
Volume 3 No 3 focuses on arts education and arts for young people, including studies examining libraries, reading achievement, English-language Canadian literature, in-school arts programs, and theatre for young people.
To help with advocacy efforts through the Canadian election campaign and beyond, Volume 3, Number 2 of the Arts Research Monitor provides a synopsis of and links to key advocacy resources. Also provided is a compilation of some key statistics from Hill Strategies Research’s recent publications.
Reading, writing, and the economic impact of festivals
Volume 3, Number 1 focuses on recent reports on reading and writing in Canada and also summarizes two fact sheets on the economic impact of festivals and events in Ontario. (The economic impact fact sheets are available in the "Other publications" section of our website.)
