Dec. 15, 2016 (Ottawa, ON) — The Ottawa Community Foundation released its latest Ottawa Insights theme this morning at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Providing indicators in the areas of the local Arts & Recreation Economy; Investment in the Arts; Programs & Facilities; and Public Participation, the newly-released theme offers fresh insights into how well the city is performing in relations to Arts and Culture in the capital.

Examples of findings include:

  • Creative and performing artists in Ottawa-Gatineau earned the highest median after-tax income among Canada’s six largest cities at close to $25,000 in 2011. This compared to Ottawa’s overall a/t median income level of $41,000.
  • Measured on a per capita basis, Ottawa artists and organizations receive less than half as much grants funding as Toronto from the two largest federal funders of the arts, and about one-fifth as much as Montreal.
  • Ottawa Public Library circulation has risen by 9.4% per capita over the last 10 years, the highest rate among Canada’s six largest cities.
  • Participation in aquatics programs at City of Ottawa facilities has increased by 34% since 2005, with over 35,000 programs currently being offered.
  • The City provided $1.3M in subsidies to more than 9,000 Ottawa residents with income constraints to attend cultural and recreational programs in 2015.

The Ottawa Insights community knowledge centre is the Foundation’s most recent public initiative designed to empower Ottawa citizens to take informed action to create positive, systemic and sustainable change in our community. It is a dynamic, web-based knowledge centre that brings together and connects key information and intelligence on local status, trends and conditions affecting quality of life in Ottawa.

Since its initial launch in April, Ottawa Insights has presented a suite of over 80 indicators related to the themes of Basic Needs & Standard of Living, Economy & Employment, Health & Wellness, Environment & Sustainability, Education & Learning and, now, Arts & Culture. The Ottawa Community Foundation will continue to present comprehensive information and data over the coming months in the final theme area of Community & Belonging. Visit www.ottawainsights.ca.

Established in 1987, the Ottawa Community Foundation is a public, non-profit organization created by and for the people of Ottawa. Working directly with its community of donors, partners and stakeholders, the Foundation is committed to acting as a catalyst for positive, systemic and sustainable change in Ottawa and beyond. Priding itself on enabling generous citizens to enhance the quality of life in their community while achieving their own charitable objectives, the Community Foundation currently manages assets worth almost $120-million, and has provided close to $100-million in grants to the community since its inception. For more information about the Ottawa Community Foundation, visit www.cfo-fco.ca.

– 30 –

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Iona Green
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Ottawa Community Foundation
(B) 613-236-1616 X 232
(C) 613-408-1616
igreen@cfo-fco.ca