Fast Facts
90% of Albertans attended or participated in an arts event or activity in 2011. (Source: Culture and Community Services Annual Survey of Albertans on Culture, Leger Marketing, 2011)
91% of Albertans feel arts activities are important in contributing to the overall quality of life in their community. (Source: Culture and Community Services Annual Survey of Albertans on Culture, Leger Marketing, 2011)
88% of Albertans feel it is important that the Government of Alberta continues to fund and support the arts. (Source: Culture and Community Services Annual Survey of Albertans on Culture, Leger Marketing, 2011)
53% of Albertans participated or performed in an arts activity or program at least once in 2011. (Source: Culture and Community Services Annual Survey of Albertans on Culture, Leger Marketing, 2011)
In 2009-10, total attendance at arts events hosted by AFA funded organizations reached close to 7 million—around 3.5 million paid attendees and 3.5 million unpaid attendees. (Source: 2010-11 AFA Grant Recipient Reporting, Alberta Foundation for the Arts)
Three-quarters of Albertans say they enjoy attending arts and cultural events. (Source: Albertans’ Perceptions of Culture and Quality of Life Survey 2005, IPSOS-REID Corp.)
94% of Albertans believe that having a wide variety of cultural activities and events makes Alberta a better please to live. (Source: Albertans’ Perceptions of Culture and Quality of Life Survey 2005, IPSOS REID Corp.)
97% of Albertans believe it is important for every child in Alberta to learn about the culture of the province. (Source: Albertans’ Perceptions of Culture and Quality of Life Survey 2005, IPSOS-REID Corp.)
Each year, AFA supports more than 200 schools in bringing artists into the classroom through the Artists and Education grant stream.
86% of Albertans believe that taking part in cultural activities makes them feel good. (Source: Albertans’ Perceptions of Culture and Quality of Life Survey 2005, IPSOS REID Corp.)
81% of Albertans say taking part in cultural activities helps them to relieve stress. (Source: Albertans’ Perceptions of Culture and Quality of Life Survey 2005, IPSOS REID Corp.)
Arts organizations in Alberta were supported by more than 53,000 volunteers in 2009-10. (Source: 2010-11 Grant recipient Reporting, Alberta Foundation for the Arts)
Albertans’ cultural spending is the highest of all provinces at $963 per resident, 15% higher than the Canadian average of $841.
(Source: Consumer Spending on Culture in Canada, the Provinces and 12 Metropolitan Areas in 2008, http://www.hillstrategies.com/docs/Consumer_spending2008.pdf )
Nearly 20% of adult Albertans they had volunteered in the past 12 months in an arts or cultural organization; a music, dance, theatre or multicultural event; an arts festival, conference or workshop; an art exhibition, a folk-arts council or heritage society. (Source: Culture and Community Services Annual Survey of Albertans on Culture, Leger Marketing, 2011)
In 2006 (most recent census data) nearly 18, 000 Albertans worked as professionals in arts and culture. (Source: Statistics Canada, Professional Occupations in Art and Culture)
