Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Cash for culture

THE THREE levels of government spent a total of about $236 for each Canadian on culture in 2002/03 to assist everyone from book and periodical publishers to performing arts groups and the film and video industry.

Federal spending still comprised the largest chunk of spending, around $109 for each Canadian, but this was a sharp increase from $96 per capita the year before.

The provinces and territories spent about $67 per capita on culture, while municipalities spent about $60.

Total spending on culture by all three levels of government continued to rise in 2002/03, but at a slower pace than in the previous two years. Spending hit $7.1 billion, up 5.2% from the year before.

The principal beneficiaries of federal spending were culture industries, which include broadcasting, the film and video industry, book and periodical publishing, and the sound recording industry.

Broadcasting accounted for nearly three-quarters of federal spending on culture. However, the pace of growth in spending on broadcasting slowed considerably in 2002/03.

Heritage sector

Provincial and territorial spending on culture rebounded after a slight decline in the previous year. Nearly two-fifths of their total spending went to libraries, while another one-quarter went to the heritage sector.

Increased assistance to performing arts organizations in Quebec contributed significantly to the overall growth in provincial spending on these organizations.

Libraries ate up the lion’s share of the municipal pie, consuming fully three-quarters of total culture spending by municipalities.

For more information, contact Norman Verma, (613-951-1333), Culture Subdivision.

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© 2004, 2005 Statistics Canada.