Arts Professionals Survey Update
In October 2023, Calgary Arts Development conducted a survey of arts professionals to better understand their living and working conditions in Calgary. The online survey was an update to the 2020 Calgary Arts Professionals Survey, building upon past survey questions and findings as well as asking new questions relevant to harassment in the workplace.
The survey asked 141 questions related to the following topics: individual’s careers, finances, health and well-being, housing, spaces and resources for artistic practice, perceptions and participation in community, training and professional development, experiences of workplace harassment, as well as basic demographics. Survey questions sought to better understand how income, gender, ethnicity and ability relate to their careers as arts professionals.
Key Findings
- COVID-19 has left a lasting impact.
- Incomes are rising — but not fast enough.
- Arts professionals are feeling disconnected from Calgary’s arts scene.
- Fewer arts professionals want to leave Calgary, but they are increasingly working outside the arts sector.
- Artists are struggling.
- There is a lack of opportunity in Calgary.
- It is difficult to secure appropriate working and presenting space.
- Incidents of ableist, audist, gender, racial and sexual harassment in the workplace are extraordinarily high, with low rates of reporting these incidents within the organizations in which they take place.
Open Data
Calgary Arts Development is committed to providing open data. Aggregated data and the full question list from this survey are available upon request at impact@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Learn more and download the publication here.
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