Economic output of Sea to Sky Cultural
Sector estimated at $26 million

During 2008, an economic impact study of arts, culture and heritage was conducted in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, from Lions Bay to the Pemberton Valley, funded in part by the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Squamish Lillooet Regional District, and 2010 Legacies Now. The study was conducted by the Vancouver firm of Ference Weicker, under direction of a regional steering committee comprised of cultural and community leaders from throughout the Sea-to-Sky Corridor.  After interviewing over 300 artists, arts organizations and community stakeholders, it was revealed that the collective annual income of arts organizations and artists is about $16.5 million, the majority of which is spent within the region. The sector employs close to 650 people, involves nearly 1,000 volunteers, and has made more than $35 million in capital investments over the past five years. When indirect and induced impacts are factored in, this translates into a gross economic output of about $26 million annually, generating a total of $3.7 million in federal, provincial and local government tax revenues. This data provides a strong argument that the Sea to Sky Corridor has a vibrant cultural sector and a solid foundation of infrastructure upon which to build. It will assist arts organizations throughout the Corridor in developing their rationale for continued and enhanced public and private support, and provide an incentive to collaborate in building a regional cultural tourism strategy. The region has a high concentration and diverse base of artists, making it one of the most artistic small and rural communities in Canada, based on the proportion of artists in the overall labour force. While the collective annual income of the 202 artists surveyed is in the range of $2.9 million, over half of them reported incomes under $10,000, reflecting the fact that 40% of them have been active for less than six years. Both regional artists and cultural organizations have a high level of optimism about future earning potential, given opportunities presented by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the growth of cultural tourism, improved amenities, and more coordinated efforts to promote the arts at the regional level. For a full copy of the report, Click Here