The Manitoba Arts Council held their annual public meeting on Oct. 20 and released a report on the arts and culture sector’s financial impact in Manitoba, primarily using data from 2023.
The figure came from analyzing Statistics Canada’s data, which came to $1.75 billion all generated by arts and culture — 3 per cent of Manitoba’s GDP. It also accounts for over 20,000 jobs.
Statistics Canada organizes their financial data into national economic accounts for the benefit of financial policymakers. They are broken into satellite accounts, by provinces and by themes such as culture.
The account is not limited to typical organizations, however. Products from many industries contribute to the province’s arts and culture sector.
In the report, culture is defined as “creative artistic activity and the goods and services produced by it, and the preservation of heritage.” To be included in the accounts, something must also do at least one of the following — qualify for copyright, support or expand cultural products, preserve, exhibit, or interpret heritage, provide training or education for cultural products, or govern or finance culture creation.
Tourism spending also generated $377 million and roughly 4,500 jobs in Manitoba. This approach uses a wide scope, including money spent on food and accommodation.
Forum Research also published a tourism spending report for 2023 using figures from Statistics Canada’s surveys on foreign and domestic travelers. They survey tourists traveling for festivals, fairs, performances, Indigenous events, historic sites, museums and galleries.
According to their findings, arts and culture tourists spend double what other tourists do on average.
The council’s grants also created $85 million in economic impact throughout the 2023-24 fiscal year. The grants’ recipients included a total of 102 organizations and 1,262 jobs in Manitoba. The report boasts that recipients make a revenue of 10 times the amount received.
The council receives most of its funding from the provincial government. It accounts for $12.7 million out of $12.8 million.
From that pool, roughly $10 million is distributed in grants every year and $8 million of it goes to established arts and culture organizations.
From the survey, over 90 per cent of respondents agreed that the arts celebrate Manitoban identity, and 92 per cent agreed that the arts help create common understandings between people.
This sentiment is echoed by Nellie Kennedy, the provincial minister of sport, culture, heritage and tourism.
“Arts and culture touch every part of our lives. They support small businesses, attract visitors, and inspire pride in our communities. When the province invests in creativity, we are investing in people, prosperity, and a stronger future for Manitoba,” stated Kennedy. Katarina Kupca, the Manitoba Arts Council chair, also commented that arts and culture are important for contributing to Canadian nationalism and sovereignty.
“More than ever, arts and culture matter. The sector is central to Manitoba’s social fabric and grows the economy, creating jobs and generating tax revenues. Arts and culture also lead essential conversations, affirming our shared sense of nation and sovereignty,” Kupca shared. “Investing in the arts is a win for everyone.”
