In 2001, 52,500 people in Ontario reported earnings as artists, nearly twice as many as any other province. The arts labour force comprised less than 1% of the overall labour force (0.8%).St. Catharines–Niagara had 0.06% of its labour force employed as actors and comedians, the same as the national CMA average. However, Niagara reported the highest percentage of the labour force in the performing arts industry (0.26% versus 0.13% nationally), mostly because of the Shaw Festival.
The average earnings of artists in Ontario were $26,800; 24% less than the average earnings in Ontario ($35,200). The average earnings of artists in St. Catharines- Niagara CMA were $19,000; 37% less than other labour force workers. The four municipalities with the highest earnings gap between artists and other labour force workers were St. Catharines (48%), Thunder Bay (51%), Whitby (55%), and Vaughan (55%). Artists make one-half of what other labour force workers make.
Canadian artists accounted for 1.4 billion dollars in earnings in 2001. From 1991 to 2001, the overall growth in artists was 33% in Ontario and 29% in Canada. Niagara-On-The-Lake was identified as the 3rd highest Census Subdivision in Canada, accounting for a 2.2% increase the number of artists in Canada. Fort Erie and Niagara-On-The Lake saw the greatest increase in artists in this period.
In 2005, of the rural areas in Canada, the region of south-western Ontario identified by the LOS postal code, (west of Niagara Falls, including Pelham) had an artist concentration of 1.3%, tied for 8th of rural areas of Canada. Sources: Statistics Canada, Census, 2001, 2006.; http://hillsstrategies.com (2005). Artists by neighbourhood in Canada, The Shaw Festival as part of this area in Niagara-On-The-Lake employed the most artists and performers in the Niagara Region. Source: http://shawfest.com
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