Hill Strategies Research on Economic, Social, and Health Benefits of the Arts

In this issue of Hill Strategies' Arts Research Monitor: Summaries of three recent landmark studies related to the benefits of the arts, including Canadian and English summaries of various aspects of the impacts of the arts as well as new estimates of the economic impact of culture in Canada. 

Click each heading for the full report. 

Canadian Culture Satellite Account, 2010
Statistics Canada, September 2014

This Statistics Canada report examines the direct economic impact of the arts, culture, and heritage in Canada, using methodology that is comparable to other sectors of the economy. Statistics Canada estimates that the direct economic impact of cultural goods and services was $47.8 billion in 2010, or 3.1% of Canada's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2010, there were 647,300 jobs directly related to cultural products, or 3.7% of total employment. The direct economic impact of culture ($47.8 billion) is about 10 times larger than the sports estimate ($4.5 billion).

Making a Holistic Case for the Arts
Canadian Evidence regarding the Relationship between the Arts and the Quality of Life, Well-being, Health, Education, Society, and the Economy
Canadian Public Arts Funders,  June 2014
Author: Kelly Hill, Hill Strategies Research Inc.  

This literature review, conducted in May 2014, synthesized the findings of 46 Canadian research articles regarding the “holistic case for the arts, i.e., outcomes of the arts related to the quality of life, well-being, health, society, education, and the economy”. The report concluded that “there are a myriad of potential benefits of the arts”. That being said, the report cautions that “studies of causal links (rather than statistical associations) are very challenging to conduct”.

The value of arts and culture to people and society - an evidence review 
Arts Council England, 2013

This English literature review was intended as a summary of “the strength of the evidence base between 2010–13 about the economic, social, health and wellbeing, education, lifelong learning and environmental impacts and outcomes of arts and culture in England”. Based on the 90 reports examined, the literature review found that the “arts and culture play an important role in promoting social and economic goals through local regeneration, attracting tourists, the development of talent and innovation, improving health and wellbeing, and delivering essential services”.