Abstract
Analyzing Canadian business and census data from 2001 to 2011, this paper examines local area characteristics associated with arts organization growth. We consider five hypotheses: (1) Critical Mass: arts growth will occur in existing arts districts. (2) Gentrification: arts growth will occur in low-income and low-rent areas. (3) Rising Tide: arts growth will parallel general economic growth. (4) Urbanity: arts growth will occur in urbanized areas. (5) Perfect Audience: arts growth will occur in neighbourhoods with demographic groups most likely to consume the arts. We test these hypotheses at three levels: qualitative descriptions of Canada's top three arts growth neighbourhoods, ecological analysis of arts growth in Canada's three largest metropolitan areas, and a national hierarchical linear regression. Our findings demonstrate strong support for Critical Mass, Urbanity, and Perfect Audience. Mixed findings for Gentrification and Rising Tide reveal that arts growth occurs in a diversity of local economic conditions. Our conclusion articulates the utility of ‘ecological’ approaches to arts production and consumption more generally.
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