The Numbers: Festivals & Arts

Facts about Festivals, Special Events and Fairs, and Arts-related Industry in Ottawa

Investment and Economic Impact

City contributes 5% on average of total operating revenue to festival, special events and fair organizations, and 15% of arts organizations. Source: City of Ottawa

Festivals and fairs leverage $21 for every $1 of City of Ottawa Investment, and arts organizations leverage $6 for every $1 of City investment. Source City of Ottawa

 Total spending attributable to 21 festivals in Ottawa by non-local visitors (fringe visitors and tourists) is estimated to be $57 million. Source: 2003 Ottawa Festival Visitor Impact Study, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority

Ottawa’s arts and festival organizations directly generate and spend $41.3-million in Ottawa on an annual basis, indirect and induced economic impact is in addition to this operating total. Source: City of Ottawa Revenue/Income Study, 2008

Public sector investment in the arts and cultural community is a catalyst for private sector support, driving impact at as much as twelve times the level of initial public sector investment. Source: Council for Business and the Arts in Canada, 2006

The total economic activity in Ottawa attributable to just 21 of the region’s more than 45 festivals is almost $94-million. The resulting spending supports over 1,100 full-year jobs. Source: 2003 Ottawa Festival Visitor Impact Study, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority

 The contribution to Ottawa’s GDP from just 21 festivals, special events and fairs was $48.8-million. Source: 2003 Ottawa Festival Visitor Impact Study, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority

More than 80% of public sector investment comes back to government in the form of taxes. Source: Council for Business and the Arts in Canada, 2006

In 2003, a study found that 21 festivals supported the municipal tax base to the tune of almost $5.5 million; federal taxes over $14 million and provincial taxes almost $12 million. Source: 2003 Ottawa Festival Visitor Impact Study, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority

In cooperation with Employment Ontario, Ottawa Festivals manages a $1.5-million program that employs more than 150 Ottawa residents a year in partnership with the Province’s Job Creation Partnership program.

To help stabilize and sustain presenting festival organizations, Ottawa Festivals has developed and manages the Ottawa Festivals Sustainability and Emergency Fund worth $1-million in partnership with the City of Ottawa.

Ottawa Festivals presents a series of professional development seminars to increase workforce knowledge and build capacity of festivals, special events, fairs and arts organizations in Ottawa.

Increased quality of life makes community more attractive to knowledge-based (creative class) employees – who are desirable when stimulating the knowledge-based economy.

In 2006, 12,800 people in Ottawa were employed in cultural industries, representing 2.6% of total employment. Source: Statistics Canada

There were 22,000 volunteers in community cultural organizations funded by the city representing 450,000 volunteer hours valued at $8-million. Source: City of Ottawa

In 2007, the City of Ottawa invested $4.24 per capita (up from $3.64 in 2005) on arts and festival grants, below Vancouver ($12.07), Montreal ($8.34), Winnipeg ($6.24), Toronto ($6.24) and Edmonton ($5.50) and Calgary ($4.24). Source: City of Ottawa

2003 Council-approved policy statement, “The City will increase per-capita arts funding annually until Ottawa’s per-capita arts funding is competitive with the six other large Canadian cities.” Source: Ottawa 20/20

Social Impact

More than 15,000 volunteers involved in supporting and producing festivals, special events and fairs in the Ottawa region every festival season. Source: Ottawa Festivals

Cultural festivals provide opportunity for broader acceptance through education and sharing.

Community pride and positive community self-image.

Festival organizations develop and present community engagement & education programs such as Blues in Schools (Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest), Jazz Youth Intensive Workshop (TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival), Dance Master Classes (Canada Dance Festival) and Teen Apprenticeship Programs (Ottawa International Animation Festival).

Many festivals, including HOPE Volleyball Summerfest who has raised more than $6-million for local charities since its inception, are heavily involved in fund-raising for community groups.

Free events and ticket donations provide accessibility for low income children and families.

Leaders in public awareness initiatives – ie going green.

Tourism and Marketing

Festivals, special events and fairs animate static attractions (shopping districts, government buildings, parks) and add vibrancy to neighbourhood communities.

Festivals improve the city’s image in the eyes of residents, “fringe” visitors and tourists. More than three-quarters of all attendees stated that the festival “very much enhanced” or “somewhat enhanced” their image of Ottawa. Just over 20% said there was no effect. Source: 2003 Ottawa Festival Visitor Impact Study, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority

Festivals lure people to Ottawa. Almost 57% of tourists visited Ottawa solely because of festivals. More visitors come from international destinations (almost 16%) than non-Ontario and non- Quebec regions of Canada (almost 14%). Source: 2003 Ottawa Festival Visitor Impact Study, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority

Festivals attract tourists who stay overnight. The annual proportion of visitors to Ottawa who stay overnight is around 65%-for festival attendees, the proportion climbs to almost 82%. Source: 2003 Ottawa Festival Visitor Impact Study, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority

Festival visitors stay longer and spend a higher proportion of their holiday time in Ottawa. The typical summer leisure visitor spends 54% of their holiday time here, but festival visitors spend 84% of their total time away from home in Ottawa. Source: 2003 Ottawa Festival Visitor Impact Study, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority