Facts & Stats

Arts and culture are key economic drivers that contribute to local economies, build strong and healthy communities and create civic engagement and provincial pride.

According to the 2014 Provincial and Territorial Culture Satellite Account produced by Stats Canada:

  • In 2014, B.C.’s growth in culture gross domestic product (GDP) was higher than the national average.
  • B.C. consistently has the third-highest culture GDP and jobs in the country, ahead of Alberta and behind Ontario and Quebec.
  • B.C.’s total culture GDP in 2014 was about $6.7 billion, a $1 billion increase since 2010.
  • B.C.’s culture GDP represents 3% of B.C.’s economy and 12.2% of culture GDP in Canada

For more information visit Statistics Canada

Other interesting notes:

  • Approximately 88,000 volunteers and 126,000 donors support arts and culture in B.C.
  • With 24,800 artists, B.C. has more artists per capita than any other province.
  • The number of artists in B.C. grew by 74% between 1989 and 2013.
  • The United Nations has identified the creative economy as one of the world's fastest growing sectors for income generation, job creation and export earnings.