“A new Ontario Arts Council (OAC) study conducted by Nanos Research shows that Ontario residents recognize the important contribution of the arts to vibrant, livable communities.
Impressions of the Impact of the Arts on Quality of Life and Well-Being in Ontario, the Nanos Research report based on a random survey of 1,004 individuals, found that a large majority of Ontarians agree that the arts contribute to the various elements of quality of life and community well-being. The research also demonstrated how strongly these views are held by Ontarians.
Survey Highlights
Arts and quality of life
- 93% of Ontarians agree that arts activities help enrich the quality of our lives.
- 90% of Ontarians say that the arts are important to improving the quality of life in their communities.
- 85% say that the arts are important to improving the quality of their own lives.
Arts and identity and belonging
- 91% of Ontarians agree that the arts help us to understand other cultures better.
- 88% agree that participating in arts activities builds a shared sense of community identity.
Arts and community well-being
- 90% agree that an active local arts scene helps make a community a better place to live.
- 97% agree that engaging children in the arts is important to their overall development.
- 80% of Ontarians agree that an active local arts scene helps communities attract businesses.
Government investment in the arts
- 82% of Ontarians agree that helping make the arts available to people in Ontario is an important government investment.
- 79% agree that government should spend public dollars to invest in the arts.
Positive views toward the arts across all regions and demographic groups
The survey also shows that regardless of the respondent’s region, gender and age, a majority of Ontarians had positive views about the arts and all of the following aspects: quality of life, community well-being, identity and belonging, and government investment.”
For more information and to read the full report, please visit Ontario Arts Council’s website.
-from Ontario Arts Council
