Economic Benefits of Culture

Hill Strategies Research Inc has released their new report on the economic benefits of culture. This special issue of their monthly Arts Research Monitor takes an extended look at data from the 2010 Provincial and Territorial Culture Satellite Account, a landmark dataset regarding the direct economic and employment impacts of culture in Canada, the provinces, and the territories.

The direct contribution of culture industries to GDP was $6.1 billion in British Columbia in 2010, or 3.2% of provincial GDP. The value added of culture industries in B.C., as a proportion of total provincial GDP, is slightly below the national average (3.4%). Culture industries in British Columbia represent 11.4% of the national GDP of culture industries. The largest contributors to the GDP of culture industries in B.C. in 2010 were visual and applied arts ($1.6 billion) and audiovisual and interactive media (also $1.6 billion).
 
In 2010, there were 94,800 jobs directly related to culture industries in B.C., or 4.1% of total employment. This percentage is equal to the national average. The B.C. jobs total represents 13.4% of nationwide employment in culture industries.
 
In B.C., the GDP of culture industries is larger than the value added of agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting ($3.2 billion), utilities ($4.0 billion), and accommodation and food services ($5.5 billion). However, the value added of culture is less than that of mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction ($9.0 billion), transportation and warehousing ($10.0 billion), and construction ($14.3 billion).

To read the full report, visit Hill Strategies Research Inc.