The Place of Art: Local Area Characteristics and Arts Growth in Canada, 2001 to 2011

• In Event: 377 - Regular Session. Sociology of Culture 3: Art, Taste, and Socio-Economics

Abstract

Analyzing Canadian business and census data from 2001 and 2011, this paper examines the local area characteristics most associated with the growth of arts organizations. Our analysis is framed by five hypotheses which we synthesize from the existing literature in culture, urban, and economic sociology. (1) Critical Mass predicts that arts growth will occur in existing arts districts. (2) Gentrification predicts that arts growth will occur in low-income and low-rent areas. (3) Rising Tide predicts that arts growth will parallel economic growth more generally. (4) Urbanity predicts arts growth will occur in urbanized areas. Finally, (5) Perfect Audience predicts that arts growth will occur in neighbourhoods occupied by the demographic groups most likely to consume the arts. We test these hypotheses at three geographic levels: first, through a descriptive account of the top three arts growth neighbourhoods in Canada, second through an ecological account of arts growth in Canada’s three largest metropolitan areas, and third, through hierarchical linear regression which tests all five hypotheses in relation to each other at the metropolitan and neighbourhood level. Our findings demonstrate strong support for Critical Mass, Urbanity, and Perfect Audience. Mixed findings for Gentrification and Rising Tide reveal that arts growth occurs in a diversity of local economic conditions. We conclude the paper by reflecting on the utility of the ‘ecological’ approach to the study of arts production and consumption more generally.

Authors

• Matt Patterson, University of Toronto

• Daniel Silver, University of Toronto