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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Towards gender equality in the cultural and creative sectors

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This report focuses on the role that culture plays in promoting gender equality and, more importantly, how to achieve gender equality within the cultural and creative sectors (CCS). The EU Member States identified gender equality for the first time as a priority for action in the Work Plan for Culture 2019-2022. Indeed, there are many reasons that this topic should receive the attention it deserves. Gender equality is a core value of the EU fundamental rights and a key principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights. It is also a precondition for cultural diversity. The promotion of gender equality and the fight against gender discrimination are twin goals of the EU, including in culture.

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Space for Community: Understanding the Real Estate Challenges Affecting the Social Purpose Sector in BC→

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This multi-year project / partnership explores affordability, suitability and security of tenure for the not-for-profit, social enterprise and artists sectors. This study combines a background research report, online survey of 630+ space/facilities in the affordability challenged regions of BC, and learning opportunities, to provide recommendations for moving forward.

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Canadians’ Arts Participation, Health, and Well-Being→

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Probes the relationships between 15 arts, culture, and heritage activities, and aspects of health and well-being. The research shows important linkages between the arts and health, linkages that are particularly important within the current pandemic and eventual post-pandemic recovery: a strong connection between cultural participation and overall health, and solid evidence of a connection between cultural participation and mental health.

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