ARTS AND CULTURE

How do Torontonians contribute to, and benefit from, the city’s exciting cultural environment?

Attendance at cultural events reflects our deep engagement in arts, culture, and heritage and brings economic benefit to the city:

> Arts and culture contribute $11.3 billion annually to Toronto’s GDP.

> Attendance at City-funded or -programmed cultural events reached 19 million last year.

> More than half a million people visit the 21 City-operated museums, historic sites, cultural centres and art galleries every year.

> 71% of Torontonians attend a cultural location, or an arts-related event, program, or place on a regular basis.

> On-location filming in Toronto hit a new high of $1.23 billion in 2014, over the $1 billion mark for the fourth straight year.

> The 2014 World Pride Festival directly contributed $313 million to Toronto’s GDP.

Toronto has much to be proud of around the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Am Games:

> Supported by more than 20,000 volunteers, the Games were the largest multi-sport event in Canadian history.

> More than 5,500 Pan Am athletes competed in 36 sports, and 1,608 athletes competed in 15 parasports.

> Canadian Pan Am and Parapan Am athletes won a combined 385 medals.

How well does our world-class library system serve the city? The Toronto Public Library continues to be among the world’s largest and busiest public library systems:

> Last year was a banner year with the opening of its 100th branch (Scarborough Civic Centre), increasing the number of programs offered by 9.3%, and seeing its busiest year since 2005. Total uses surpassed 100 million, up 18.7% from 2007.

> The direct benefits of a library membership made it worth $502 for the 72% of Torontonians who used it.

> For every $1 invested in the Toronto Public Library, Torontonians received $5.63 of economic value.