ARTS & CULTURE
Arts and culture make a community a vibrant and enriching place to live. An active and diverse mix of cultural offerings increases our sense of satisfaction with our environment and community pride.
LIBRARY USE
In 2023, the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) reported the following visits, circulation, and engagement across its 12 branches in the region:
3.3Million Total Visits 1.7M in person
22000New Cardholders 16% of total cardholders as of December 31, 2023
5.9Millon Total Circulation 3.8M physical items, 2.1M digital items
137000Public Computer Logins
28000in Total Program Participation
SOURCE: GREATER VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
GPVL rankings in 2022 (most recent year of data) among 17 reporting urban library systems in Canada
- 1st for total circulation
- 3rd for in-person visits
- 8th for total number of cardholders per capita
SOURCE: CANADIAN URBAN LIBRARY COUNCIL
The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) serves Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and the Central Coast. It operates 39 branches, including two in the capital region: Sidney/North Saanich and Sooke.
In 2023, the two branches combined recorded:
- 363,000 Total Circulation
- 252,000 Physical Items
- 111,000 Digital Items
- 16,000 Total Cardholders (20% new applicants)
of Sidney/North Saanich residents have a library card
of Sooke residents have a library card
Since opening in 2022, the Sooke library has become a go-to community consultation space for all levels of government. In 2023, the Sidney/North Saanich library worked with municipal partners to establish an on-site bike repair station that loans repair kits and started loaning board games and puzzles with huge success.
SOURCE: VANCOUVER ISLAND REGIONAL LIBRARY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TARGETS
4.7: Acquire appreciation of cultural diversity and culture’s contribution to sustainable development
8.3: Support decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises
11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
ARTS FUNDING
Regional Funding in 2023
Funds distributed by Capital Regional District (CRD) Arts and Culture Support Service:
$2.6Million to 93 local non-profit arts organizations and artist-led partnerships of whom 13 were first-time recipients
9460events and performances hosted by CRD grant recipients in the region with over 929,000 participants and audience members
5297arts workers were employed by grant recipients, including artists and full- and part-time staff
SOURCE: CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT
Federal Funding in 2022/23
Funds awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts:
$6.1Million to 147 recipients in the Victoria CMA, including 99 individuals, 3 groups, and 45 arts organizations
Grants ranged from $1,000 to $670,000
$19007average grant received by individuals
$93436average arts organization grant
$57Million awarded to 1,500 artists, groups, and organizations in 106 communities in BC
SOURCE: CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
EMPLOYMENT IN THE ARTS
Approximately 8,500 people worked in arts, culture, recreation, and sports occupations, except management, in Greater Victoria in 2023 continuing an upward trend since 2019
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA
COMMUNITY IN FOCUS
UVIC INAUGURAL INDIGENOUS STORYTELLER-IN-RESIDENCE
Award-winning Tłı̨chǫ Dene author Richard Van Camp was named the University of Victoria’s inaugural Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence.
Van Camp, an alumnus of UVic’s creative writing program, began his residency in September, where he is offering two online courses called ‘Recovering Family Medicine Through Story’ in the English and Continuing Studies departments. He is also offering one-on-one writing workshops to students, and an on-campus graduate seminar in 2025.
The new Storyteller-in-Residence program is part of UVic’s commitment to ʔetal nəwəl — which means relationships with the lands, waters, and all living beings — by welcoming students and community members to explore the healing power of stories.
SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA