Do socio-demographic factors predict children’s engagement in arts and culture? Comparisons of in-school and out-of-school participation in the Taking Part Survey

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This research article by Hei Wan Mak and Daisy Fancourt examines whether socio-economic factors affect children and youth participation in arts and culture activities (e.g., performing arts, crafts, design, and cultural and heritage engagement) either in school or out of school. Using survey data from 1,986 children aged 11-15, the study found that socially advantaged children were more likely to engage in the arts outside of school, but in-school engagement was roughly the same. These results suggest that providing arts and culture activities in schools is critical to ensuring equitable access.

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Arts and culture engagement and mortality: A population-based prospective cohort study

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This Scandinavian Journal of Public Health publication by Anita Jensen, Mirnabi Pirouzifard, and Martin Lindström investigates the association between having visited the theatre/cinema and an arts exhibition during the past year and all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and other-cause mortality. The study found an association between attending arts and culture activities and a reduced risk of CVD and other-cause mortality but not cancer mortality.

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Arts Education: An Investment in Quality Learning

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This UNESCO-backed paper written by Vivek Venkatesh, Lydia Ruprecht, and Martha K. Ferede reviews key research on the impact and outcomes of arts education to demonstrate its close alignment with the idea of quality education outlined in the UN’s 4th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The evidence gathered in this paper indicates that arts education positively impacts academic and non-academic learning, fosters teacher innovation and collaboration, supports knowledge revitalization for Indigenous peoples, and creates opportunities for employment and economic growth, among other outcomes.

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Threads That Become Tendrils: Exploring EDI in the Settler-Canadian Arts and Culture Sector

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This University of Ottawa publication by Shanice Bernicky highlights how Canada’s arts and culture sector is often tasked with “fixing” issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives when funding is cut to education, health, and community programs, yet arts institutions are not equipped to do this. The paper followers one resident researcher’s journey as they were tasked with developing an arts civic impact framework suggesting equity practices in the arts, bringing cultural workers across the country together to develop an accessible tool for arts organizations to engage in EDI practices within the sector.

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Arts Marketing Framework: The Arts Organisation as a Hub for Participation

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This Worcester Business School publication by Ria Wiid and Paulo Mora-Avila outlines how the proliferation of artistic content, increased mobility of people, ethnic diversification, and increased scarcity of time outside of work calls for an integrated approach to marketing within the arts. The paper proposes a framework for the marketing of arts based on participation, co-creation, and social networks. Additionally, the framework considers the role of self-construal in the participation of arts.

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Arts and Cultural Engagement ‘Linked to Slower Pace of Biological Ageing’

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This Guardian article by Denis Campbell highlights a study from UCL which explores the relationship between arts and cultural engagement and the pace of biological ageing. The study found that participating in arts and cultural activities on a weekly basis (e.g., visiting art galleries or museums, singing, painting, etc.) can help improve health outcomes and slow the pace of ageing, leading to people staying biologically younger on average. The findings provide evidence for arts and cultural engagement to be recognised as a health-promoting behaviour.

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Art Education in a Transitional Moment: Bridging Academic Theory and Field Practices, Reflecting on Two Decades and Envisioning the Future

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This Canadian Art Teacher journal article by Marie-Pier Viens and Davie LeRue examines the evolution of art education in Canada over the past two decades, highlighting the shift from skills-based approaches to broader methodologies centred on “arts-thinking” and integrating visual culture, social justice, and research into artistry. Despite these shifts, the authors observe a disconnect between theory and practical application in schools and communities. They then provide suggestions to bridge this gap, from collaborative project-based learning to community-based arts education.

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“This Is What You Get When You Lead with the Arts”: Making the Case for Social Wellness

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This Journal of Medical Humanities publication by Andrea Charise, Nicole Dufoe, and Dirk J. Rodricks presents a historical, theoretical, and practice-guided framework for social wellness that highlights aesthetics and arts engagement as meaningful drivers of individual wellness and positive social outcomes. The authors end by providing concrete recommendations for advancing arts-led social wellness initiatives.

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The Impact of Arts on Prescription on Individual Health and Wellbeing: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

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This Front Public Health systematic review and meta-analysis by Anita Jensen, Nicola Holt, Sayaka Honda, and Hilary Bungay aims to explore the relationship between individual health and wellbeing outcomes and participation in Arts on Prescription programmes. The study found that Arts on Prescription provided a statistically significant improvement in wellbeing, serving both social and psychological benefits.

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The State of Diversity Among Leadership Roles Within Canada’s Largest Arts and Culture Institutions

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This Emerald Insight journal issue by Charlie Wall-Andrews, Rochelle Wijesingha, Wendy Cukier, and Owais Lightwala aims to explore whether the membership of Canada’s largest arts and cultural organizations well-reflect the country’s diversity and examine the state of diversity among leadership roles within these institutions when viewed through a geographical, gender, racial, and intersectional lens. The authors found that there is a disconnect between Canada’s diversity and the leadership representation among the largest arts and culture organizations.

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Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport 2025/26 – 2027/28 Service Plan

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The BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport presents its 2025/26 – 2027/28 service plan, featuring an overview of the strategic direction of the ministry, a summary of the operating environment of BC’s arts and culture sector, a provincial economic statement, a financial report, and a list of performance goals and objectives regarding tourism, arts, culture, creative, and sport sector growth.

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Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport 2024/25 Annual Service Plan Report

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The BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport presents its 2024/25 annual service plan report, featuring a summary of the operating environment of BC’s arts and culture sector, a provincial economic statement, a financial report, and performance updates regarding tourism, arts, culture, and creative sector growth.

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Government of BC Arts and Culture Facts and Stats

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The Government of BC highlights key facts and statistics on the arts and culture sector’s impact and role as an economic driver in local communities. Figures and data include the proportion of artists in BC’s labour force, BC’s culture GDP, the number of culture jobs in BC, and more.

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BC Arts Council Annual Report 2024/25

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The BC Arts Council presents its 2024/25 annual report, featuring an overview of the mandate, vision, and values of the council, a summary of the status of the BC arts and culture sector with regard to economic, social, and political upheavals, a breakdown of funding by region, and data on the economic and community impact of arts and culture.

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Setting the Bar: A Guide to Achieve New Standards for Reconciliation within the Heritage Sector

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Understanding heritage as the human imprint on the earth, Heritage BC recognizes that heritage professionals, volunteers, and enthusiasts must fully commit to learning about and respecting the diversity and inclusivity of experiences and perspectives that form our local and provincial heritage.

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COVID-19 B.C. Arts & Culture Sector Impact Survey: Fall 2021 Sector Impact Report

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This November, GVPTA and arts service organizations across the province invited individual artists, arts workers, and arts, culture and heritage organizations throughout British Columbia and across all disciplines to help convey a better understanding of where they are at now by completing the Fall 2021 edition of the COVID-19 B.C. Arts & Culture Impact Survey.

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Culture + Community in a Time of Transformation: A Special Edition of Culture Track

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LaPlaca Cohen is excited to share the new phase of the “Culture + Community” research in collaboration with Slover Linett and Yancey Consulting. The second wave of this national study, Culture + Community in a Time of Transformation: A Special Edition of Culture Track, includes an even broader frame for culture (from libraries to parks, music venues, and festivals), as well as deeper involvement with small, rural or BIPOC-serving organizations.

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It Feels Like Having a Sugar Daddy. But in the Worst Way”: Thoughts from Racialized 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Artists in the Toronto Scene

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In 2018, the little sister team decided to do some community-based research on the experiences of QTBIPOC youth artists in the Toronto and GTA area. this report was the result of our findings.

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A promising path to developing data governance in the performing arts sector: Exploring charters and principles for data governance

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This report, commissioned as part of the Linked Digital Future Initiative, is a culmination of exploratory activities to develop a governance framework for open and shared data in the performing arts sector.

We thank the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada for their continued support of this foundational work.

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