City of Ottawa arts programs and participation levels have declined in recent years
Participation levels in arts programs offered by the City of Ottawa, as measured by number of participant hours, have declined from their peaks in the mid-to-late 2000s. For performing arts, participation dropped by almost 40% between 2009 and 2018. For visual arts, participation dropped by over 25% between 2007 and 2017.
The number of programs offered follows a similar trend to participation levels, but usually lags somewhat behind. Participation in visual arts programs did show an increase in 2014, 2015, and 2017. It is also important to note that City of Ottawa arts programming effectively supplements programs offered by independent arts organizations, so it is possible growth in these has offset the decline in the City's programs and participation.
Analysis based on data from Statistics Canada’s General Social Survey, 2010, reveals a strong correlation between participation in cultural activities and indicators of health and well-being. Also, not surprisingly, those who have participated often in the arts are more likely to value the arts as very important to their own quality of life, and to the quality of life of their community.
- City of Ottawa. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
- Ontario Arts Council. The Arts and Quality of Life. 2010
- Hill Strategies. The Arts and Individual Well-Being in Canada Connections between Cultural Activities and Health, Volunteering, Satisfaction with Life, and Other Social Indicators in 2010. 2013
City of Ottawa sports and fitness programs have been declining, but aquatics programs have been soaring
The number of programs offered and the participation levels in sports, fitness and aquatics is an order of magnitude greater than arts and culture. In 2018, the City of Ottawa offered 31,400 aquatic programs, 3,200 sports programs, and 1900 fitness programs at a wide range of City-owned and other community facilities.
Aquatics is by far the largest category of recreational programming by the City of Ottawa. Moreover, both the number of programs offered, and the level of participation, as measured by participant hours, have grown very significantly in this category.
In contrast, there has been a decline in participation levels in sports and fitness programs since 2010 which have declined by nearly 60% since 2010.
- City of Ottawa. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
City of Ottawa subsidies help residents participate in cultural and recreational programs
In 2015, residents who were constrained by income received a total of more than $1.3 million through the City’s Hand in Hand program to support their participation in cultural and recreational programs. The subsidies are available to help cover program fees for residents in any of the following situations: recipient of Social Assistance (Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program), recipient of a Child Care Subsidy, or earning below the Low Income Cut-Off.
Each qualifying individual, or family member, is eligible for fee support of up to $170 annually. Applicants are encouraged to pay a minimum of 25% of the program cost. A parent or guardian can transfer their Ottawa Hand in Hand fee support entitlement to a child or children in their household.
Use of the program began to increase significantly in 2010, possibly as a result of a program review and rebranding, and the associated distribution of a multi-lingual poster. Comparing the participation levels of 2015 to 2009, 30% more residents accessed the program.
- City of Ottawa. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
- City of Ottawa. Financial Support - Ottawa Hand in Hand. Accessed December 5, 2016.
Demand for Ottawa Public Library services remains high
Trends in local library usage between 2004 and 2015 show that, notwithstanding some shifts in the types of use, services provided by the Ottawa Public Library are still very much in demand.
After several years of moderate decline in the mid-2000s, the number of active cardholders rose by nearly 19% between 2008 and 2011, perhaps at least partly in response to employment conditions following the 2008 financial crisis. Since 2011, however, the number of cardholders has decreased by 9%. While annual circulation has had as many years showing a decrease as it has had showing an increase over the past decade, there has been an overall increase of 11% during this timeframe. Attendance at library programs also rose by 40% between 2007 and 2017. In-person visit rates, on the other hand, have declined by 16% since 2011.
- Canadian Urban Libraries Council. Key Performance Indicators. Accessed August 1, 2019.
After climbing steadily between 2004 and 2007, library circulation per capita has steadied over the past decade.
Public library circulation refers to the volume of material that is checked out by users. At 11.5 items per capita in 2017, Ottawa’s circulation is comparable to Toronto’s and Edmonton’s. Vancouver and Calgary have the highest levels among Canada’s six largest cities.
After a small jump in 2006, the circulation per capita rate has hovered between 11 and 12 over the past decade, taking a slight dip from 12 in 2015 to 11.5 in 2017.
- Canadian Urban Libraries Council. Key Performance Indicators. Accessed November 15, 2019.