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Arts doubles draw of pro sports in city

By: Morley Walker

9/12/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 24

Twice as many people attend the professional arts in Winnipeg as compared to the number who attend professional sports events.

The Winnipeg Arts Council's new economic impact study, released Tuesday, shows that the city's arts and creative industries contribute $1 billion to the economy and employ 25,000 people, or 6.3 per cent of the labour force.

The city's 12 professional arts and cultural groups fill 1.9 million seats each year, a figure that WAC executive director Carol Phillips says is double that of our three professional sports teams.

"I'm not surprised in any way," Phillips said in an interview Tuesday. "The level of cultural activity is obvious when you experience it. But when you've got numbers to back it up, you see the reality."

But the study, titled Ticket to the Future and conducted this past year by Prairie Research Associates, also showed that the city's arts funding has declined from $6.32 per capita to $5.98.

Phillips says the decline is largely the result of the city's population increase and static WAC funding, which has sat at $4.1 million since 2007.

Winnipeg sits in the "middle of the pack" in its level of arts funding compared to other Canadian cities, Phillips says.

Figures released late last month by a Hamilton-based research firm showed that the Manitoba government funds culture at the second highest rate in the country, at $110 per capita. Saskatchewan ranked No. 1 at $118.

But when the federal contribution is factored in, Manitoba drops to No. 6 nationally, $231 per capita.

"It's hard to complain about being in the middle," Phillips said. "Look at all we have accomplished with that."

A Winnipeg bookstore owner says the WAC study seems entirely credible.

"I know there will be some members of the public who won't believe it, but it rings true to me," said Kelly Hughes, the proprietor of the second-hand store Aqua Books and Eat! Bistro downtown.

"Artists live on almost nothing. The salaries and grants paid to them stay here. The money isn't going to some offshore account in the Cayman Islands."

The WAC study is the first phase in a plan to develop a new strategy for investment for the arts in Winnipeg, Phillips says.

The second phase, coming in 2010 as part of the city's Cultural Capitals designation, is a document that will make new recommendations in the wake of the successful Buchwald Arts Review Panel in 1997.

"Virtually all of Buchwald's 10 top recommendations have been implemented," Phillips said. "Now we want to move into the future. Sustainable development and flourishing culture are independent, and both need investment."

morley.walker@freepress.mb.ca

 

By the numbers

Here are some key numbers from Ticket to the Future, the city's new arts and creative industries economic impact study.

There are more than 3 million visitors annually to Winnipeg museums, concert halls and art galleries, including 500,000 from outside the city.

The 115 non-profit arts organizations surveyed spent $66 million themselves, the vast majority in Winnipeg.

Winnipeggers volunteer 1.6 million hours a year to the arts, the equivalent of 800 full-time jobs.

Tourists spent $85 million in 2007 attending the arts in Winnipeg.

Every dollar of municipal funding attracts $18.23 in support from the private sector and the provincial and federal governments.

Municipal arts funding per resident has declined from $6.34 per resident in 2007 to $5.98 in 2009.

1.9 million seats are filled annually by 12 professional groups (Manitoba Theatre Centre, Manitoba Museum, Folklorama, Manitoba Children's Museum, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Festival du Voyageur, Rainbow Stage, Prairie Theatre Exchange and Royal Winnipeg Ballet)

The three professional sports teams, the Manitoba Moose, the Winnipeg Goldeyes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, filled 930,000 seats.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 9, 2009 d3

24 Commentscomment icon

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ProudOfWinnipeg: Uhh I think your judgement is misplaced. "How dare the comments on an article that pits sports vs the arts turn into a debate over sports vs the arts!"

My previous points still standing, the ignorance of the larger pro-arts crowd astounds me. We are in the middle of a recession here people, and the first thing to be cut at the governmental level should be the non-essentials... like arts funding. If the arts funding hasn't been cut yet, then it damn well should be, along with all other government niceties.

Despite what you probably assumed given my stance, I am not anti-arts at all, I support the museums and the school of contemporary dancers every chance I get. My girlfriends livelihood also depends on the tiny arts community. I spend many many nights at the Prairie Theatre Exchange taking in shows.

But I'm not foolish enough to kid myself into believing that any of that is 'necessary' and thereby deserving of endless government funding; especially in the middle of a recession. Nor am I foolish enough to believe that the comparison that headlines this article is even appropriate, let alone fair and balanced.

I enjoy going to Bomber games just as much as I like to hit the Fringe or go to MTC (depending on what's playing, of course). The ticket prices aren't that different - it all depends on where you want to sit. I think the sport events and the art events in Winnipeg is what makes it great. Do I think the arts should continue to be subsidized? Absolutely. However, this survey was conducted by WAC, and is somewhat self-serving. Who knows what their methods were, and if they had a complete non-bias when conducting the survey.

Plus, D Hue, you might want to brush up on your German history. Hitler was a great supporter of the arts. German arts, anyhow.

I think it is sad that the comments here quickly turn into arts versus sports. I'd hate not to play hockey, but would be really sad not to be able to hear a good string quartet. Can't we have more people speaking up who like to drive to the net, and then go home and drink beer while listening to Mozart?

Really, the comments here make me think that everyone wants to live out sad stereotypes of impoverished lives. Can't we agree that we live in a rich society that can afford and will profit from both culture and sports, and get back to slagging politicians for their lamentable deviations from our infinite wisdom?

Even though I am not a big “arts” kind of guy and I am totally into sports, I do think that it is a good thing for the city. Saying that though I totally agree with the post that are saying if all of a sudden the 3 levels of government pulls the plug on funding for the arts you wouldn’t see the arts any more. They aren’t self sustaining like sports franchises. Look at the panic that goes around the arts community each time rumours are flying that one of the levels of government may have to cut back some of the funding for arts in the budget.
I agree with the fact that government funding for Global Park, the MTS Centre and the new football stadium are once in 50–60 year period per venue, were as the arts are funded each and every year. If most of the arts groups in the city didn’t receive that funding they would be forced to shut down, as they aren’t self sustaining.
I also agree with the person who is questioning where are these numbers are coming from. As well if the Opera, the ballet, theatre had that strong of a following why is it then we don’t see Ballet night in Canada on TV?
If you can’t afford to go and see your favourite sports in person don’t worry as chances are your sport is being televised, it may not be your favourite team but at least you can enjoy watching the sports you love. What about people who love the ballet but can’t afford to go? If there was such a demand for the ballet why isn’t the RWB which is one of the best in the world shown on TV?

To Jets_Or_Bust:
Funding to the MTS Centre is not a one time thing.
As Stuart Kaye correctly posted:
" a 25-year "holiday" on property and business tax, 25 years of VLT revenue, etc. (the list is very long) might be viewed as subsidies!"
The difference is that arts groups mentioned are non profit and are basically owned by the citizens of Manitoba.
Goldeyes ballpark,MTS Centre and the new football stadium are all owned by a few select mutimillionaires,private owners, who scratched the backs of the politicians who hold the purse strings.The GM of MTC can't decide tommorrow to sell the theatre and walk away a rich man but,Katz can sell the Goldeyes,Chipman can sell the MTS Centre and Asper can do whatever he wants with the new stadium,the Bombers and the property at Polo Park being handed over to him and they can all walk away richer with taxpayer money footing the bill.
It's a huge difference.

Hey fosterkitteh...ever hear of the Olympics? Doesn't this event qualify as defining society? One that the whole world participates in? That is pretty big don't you think? Your contempt for sports is disgusting fosterkitteh....

D Hue-equating those who do not support arts to Hitler is just stupid. No wonder no one takes you seriously. You are just spewing hatred and deserve to be trivialized....

I firmly believe that arts has its place in society, as does sports. Anyone who does not see that is just ignorant.

Lastly-if you really want to compare apples to apples, then we would need 12 professional sports teams to match the 12 professional arts groups.Based on numbers if 3 professional sports teams bring in half of the amout of people that the 12 arts groups does, does that mean that 12 sports teams would bring in twice the amount of people that 12 professional arts groups does? I am just asking....

Hey Morley,

These numbers are large. Also, it's confusing when you look at the total funding. You state Manitoba receives 231$/capita. Does this number include the Winnipeg contribution of 5.98/capita? This is important because Winnipeg is NOT Manitoba. I understand why you break it down to a per capita level, but we need a whole picture as well!

4.1 million in municipal
110 million in provincial
231 million total.

Also, your article doesn't give a breakdown of the revenues generated by the arts community. It only shows number of tickets sold and revenue from tourist dollars.

Your article states that 1.9 million seats were filled by 12 professional groups, and 3 million visitors to museums, concert halls and art galleries. These same museums, concert halls and art galleries are listed as being part of the 1.9 million seats being filled. Are you double counting seats filled?

Lets break down these numbers as you have stated them, and that number of seats haven't been double counted.

85million/annum from 500,000 tourists. That's 170$/tourist per visit.
That leaves us with 1.815 billion from the remaining 4.4 million "visits"
That is 412.50 per visit.

These numbers don't make any sense. Something is wrong with this column as you have written it. Please expand.

Want to see who comes out ahead? What's your idea of "ahead"? Societies are defined and remembered more for their artistic achievements (writers, painters, sculptors, playwrights, dancers and more) than for their sports teams. Last I checked, the Voyager spacecraft didn't go into space with the hockey scores carved on the golden record. Who wins? We all do.
Don't get me wrong, though, sometimes it's nice to have an excuse to spend a huge pile of my money to watch some guys pound the c**p out of each other. Oh, sorry, i mean, display their team athletic prowess. Where's my beer?

Good points JB.

Another way to sum it up - What did Winnipegers pay more to see, sporting events (even if you only do count the Bombers, Goldeyes and Moose) or arts / cultural events? I'm guessing we wouldn't be seeing the same headlines if it were measured in this way...

Also, I think it is worthwhile to add that this article / study is flawed in the simple market comparison respect. You aren't exactly comparing apples to apples.

It compares the attendance of events for:

The Manitoba Theatre Centre, the Manitoba Museum, Folklorama (GIANT public event with countless 'sub-events'), the Manitoba Children's Museum, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Festival du Voyageur, Rainbow Stage, the Prairie Theatre Exchange and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet

VS.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Goldeyes, and Manitoba Moose.


Not only are there many, many more venues on the first group, but they also generally run year-round while the sports teams are seasonal.

I know we are just getting into semantics now, but fair is fair. And this study is anything but fair. It is flawed in several ways and shouldn't be given the credit that some people are giving it..

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