Highlights from the 2007-2008 Survey Report

• Performing arts organizations in combination with art galleries & museums, registered attendance from 19.2 million individuals during the 12 month period (2007-08 survey year).

• Canadian performing arts organizations generated $2.25 in revenues for every dollar of government support received.

• The combined revenues for Canadian performing arts organizations, art galleries & museums covered in these surveys exceeds $1 Billion ($1,051,000,000)

• Performing arts organizations drew nearly 70% of their overall income from either earned revenue or private sector support

• Individual donors played an important role in supporting the performing arts, contributing a roughly similar level of support provided by corporations (sponsorships and donations combined).

• Roughly half the organizations surveyed (performing arts organizations, museums and galleries) reported maintaining some kind of endowment.  Of that number, 70% of the performing arts organizations reported contributing to that endowment over the past year.

• While there were a few dramatic exceptions, on average performing arts organizations as well as museums & art galleries, experienced softening or even decline in corporate support when evaluating year-to-year results.  This result was in contrast to the substantial growth experienced during much of the past decade.  This is also a worrying result given the fact that the survey just pre-dates the crisis which hit financial markets during the second half of 2008. 

For the Full Survey report including Variability of Revenue Sources, Analysis and the 2007-2008 Full Survey Data, order our artsSurveys CD ROM! Click here or contact us at surveys@businessforthearts.org or 416-869-3016 x229.