Arts, Culture & Recreation

Arts enrich the quality of life of any community. Research has demonstrated that children exposed to an arts education throughout their academic years tend to thrive and have positive outcomes in their life beyond scholastic achievement. London is home to a rich and diverse arts and cultural community, and Londoners enjoy a broad-spectrum of arts, culture, recreational and sports activities. Apparently, there is a desire for even more with many Londoners suggesting the need for improved facilities for performing arts.

Develop a state-of-the-art facility for performing arts

Increase financial support and funding

Increase accessible and affordable events

Key Report Findings (click to expand)

Employment

In London in 2006, 5,970 persons were employed in occupations related to arts, culture, recreation, and sports, up by 8.6% from 2001. Employment in these cultural industries accounted for 2.42% of total employment in London. By comparison, these industries accounted for 3.10% of total employment in the province as a whole and 2.98% of employment Canada-wide.
Employment in Occupations Related to Arts, Culture, Recreation and Sport, London, Ontario and Canada 2001 and 2006

	2001		2006
Canada	435,680	2.80	502,195	2.98
Ontario	171,840	2.87	200,980	3.10
London	5,495	2.42	5,970	2.42

	Employed in arts, culture, recreation and sports
	Proportion of the experienced labour force in arts, culture, recreation and sports

Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2001 and 2006, Community Profiles.
Related Articles:
Employment in Cultural Industries for Vital Signs by CMA and Economic Region, 1987, 2000-2007
Table VII-2-b: Employment in Occupations Related to Arts, Culture, Recreation and Sport, 2001 and 2006
Appendix Table VII-2-a-vi: Ontario, Employment in Cultural Industries, in Thousands, 1987-2007
Appendix Table VII-2-a-xii: London CMA, Employment in Cultural Industries, in Thousands, 1987-2007
Appendix Table VII-2-a-xxii: Canada, Employment in Cultural Industries, in Thousands, 1987-2007
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Earnings

At $44,732 in 2005, median earnings of full-time, full-year workers in professional occupations in arts and culture in London were 1.6% above the national level ($44,010) and 4.2% below the provincial level ($46,717). Median earnings for that occupational category were up 0.7% from $44,442 (2005 dollars) in 2000.
Median Earnings of Full-Time Full-Year Earners in Professional Occupations in Arts and Culture, London CMA, Ontario and Canada 2000 and 2005

	Canada		Ontario		London
Median earnings	44,823	44,010	45,034	46,717	44,442	44,732
Per cent growth in median earnings	-1.8		3.7		0.7

Number of full-time full-year earners	82,600	96,215	35,835	40,480	825	1,050
Per cent growth in full-time full-year earners	16.5		13.0		27.3

	2000
	2005

Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2001 and 2006, Highlight Tables.

Related Articles:
Table VII-6: Median Earnings of Full-Time Full-Year Earners in Professional Occupations in Arts and Culture, 2000 and 2006
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Time Allocations for Arts Program: Thames Valley District School Board as of August 2008

Library Use

At 43.6% in 2006, registered borrowers as a per cent of the population in London has increased 16.1% from 37.6% in 2000. Circulation per registered borrower was 22.2 items in 2006, down from 27.7 in 2000. Library expenditures per capita were $47.03 in 2006, up 63.8% in nominal terms from $28.72 in 2000.
Registered Borrowers, Circulation per Registered Borrower and Expenditures per Capita for Libraries in London Economic Region for 2000, 2005 and 2006

London	2000	2005	2006
Registered borrowers as a percent of the population	37.59	36.37	46.64
Circulation per registered borrower	27.71	26.37	22.19
Library expenditures per capita ($)	28.72	46.12	47.03

Source: Statistics Canada.
Related Articles:
Table VII-1: Library Use as Measured by Circulation per Capita for Vital Signs Communities in 2000, 2005 and 2006
Appendix Table VII-1-i: Registered Borrowers, Circulation per Registered Borrower and Expenditures per Capita for Libraries in Vital Signs Communities for 2000, 2005 and 2006
Appendix Table VII-1-ii: Visits per Capita to Libraries in Vital Signs Communities, 2000, 2005 and 2006
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Household Spending

In 2006, 49.8% households in London reported spending on the live performing arts, which is 20% higher than the provincial estimate. Similarly, 30.5% stated they spend money on admissions to museums and other activities. Finally, over 80% of households reported spending on reading materials and other print matter. This is very close to the national estimate of 80%. There are no comparable estimates for previous years.
Percentage of Households Reporting Spending on Arts and Culture for London Economic Region, Ontario and Canada 2003 and 2006

	Canada		Ontario		London
Admission to museums and other activities	32.9	34.1	35.6	36.5	n/a	30.5
Live performing arts	37.0	41.7	37.4	41.3	n/a	49.8
Reading materials and other printed material	84.1	79.7	84.9	78.2	n/a	81.7
	2003
	2003

Source: Canadian Council of Learning based on Statistic Canada, Survey of Household Spending.
Related Links:
Table VII-5: Total Average Household Spending on Arts and Culture by Vital Signs CMAs (Current Dollars), 2005 and 2006
Appendix Table VII-5-i: Household Spending on Arts and Culture for Vital Signs by CMA and Economic Region, 2003 and 2006
Appendix Table VII-5-ii: Household Spending on Arts and Culture for Vital Signs CMAs, 2005
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