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Program directory · Canadian Heritage

Arts

Program code
BSD01 (CH)
Core responsibility
Creativity, Arts and Culture
In Departmental Plans
2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan

What it does

Provides opportunities for Canadians to engage with the arts, contributes to the vitality of the arts sector and deepens the connections between cultural organizations and their communities. It encourages access and participation, resilience and excellence in the arts for all Canadians by supporting institutions that offer artists and performers training of the highest calibre in preparation for professional careers, the presentation of professional arts festivals or performing arts series, the improvement of cultural infrastructure, the improvement of business practices of arts and heritage organizations, and the development of partnerships in the sector. This program also provides advice on policies, legislation and regulatory measures for the arts sector.

Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.

History and lineage

First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).

2018-192019-202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-262026-272027-282028-29Arts 2018-19: $151MArts 2019-20: $167MArts 2020-21: $169MArts 2021-22: $243MArts 2022-23: $289MArts 2023-24: $185MArts 2024-25: $200MArts 2025-26: $195MArts 2026-27: $121MArts 2027-28: $110MArts 2028-29: $93.7MArts
Bars: spending by fiscal year (dark: actual; light: actual restated on the 2017-18 program structure; outlined: the latest plan's forecast; grey: related programs). Bands: each program in the lineage over the years it has data.
ProgramRelationYears with dataActual spending over those years
ArtsThis program2018-19 – 2028-29$1.4B

No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.

Significant changes in scope and budget

Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.

YearWhat changedSource
2021-22Spending $243M, against $169M in 2020-21 (+44%).Actual spending (GC InfoBase)
2022Budget 2022 measure “Supporting a More Inclusive Arts Training Sector”: $22M in total over its years (linked to this program by name, a best-effort match).Budget 2022, PDF page 218
2023-24Indicators added: Percentage of Canadians with access to new or improved cultural facilities in their community.Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase)
2023-24Indicators dropped: Number of communities with improved cultural facilities.Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase)
2023-24Spending $185M, against $289M in 2022-23 (−36%).Actual spending (GC InfoBase)
2026-27Planned spending $121M, against $195M in 2025-26 (−38%).Latest Departmental Plan

Success criteria

The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.

Historical: targets against results

Dollar amount raised through private-sector donations by arts organizations applying to and eligible for Endowment Incentives component.
Expected result: Arts and heritage organizations demonstrate sound organizational, administrative and financial health.
$31.4M2018-19✓ met$28.1M2019-20✓ met$30.1M2020-21✓ met$36.6M2021-22✓ met$29.3M2022-23✓ met$33.8M2023-24✓ met$36.2M2024-25✓ met

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2018-19≥ $20M2018$31.4MMet
2019-20≥ $20M2020$28.1MMet
2020-21≥ $20M2021$30.1MMet
2021-22≥ $20M2022$36.6MMet
2022-23≥ $20M2023$29.3MMet
2023-24≥ $20M2024$33.8MMet
2024-25≥ $20M2025$36.2MMet
Number of attendees to arts events funded by the Canadian Arts Presentation Fund.
Expected result: Canadians have access to and experience the work of Canadian artists.
20,200,0002018-19✓ met19,771,6262019-20✗ not met2,853,9772020-21✗ not met1,900,3652021-22✗ not met19,270,2452022-23✗ not met20,104,5722023-24✓ met20,734,1342024-25✓ met

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2018-19≥ 19,500,000201920,200,000Met
2019-20≥ 21,500,000202019,771,626
Results are nearly attained. Target for 2019-2020 is met at 92%.
Not met
2020-21≥ 21,500,00020212,853,977
In 2020-2021, the result is well below the target for this indicator due to restrictions on public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not met
2021-22≥ 20,000,00020221,900,365
Calculated with 5.5% of 2021-22 Final Reports. In 2021-22, the result is well below the target for this indicator due to restrictions on public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not met
2022-23≥ 20,000,000202319,270,245
Given the timing of the reporting requirements, results are based on a 5-year rolling average (with the exception of 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 fiscal years due to social distancing restrictions and cancellation of events as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic).
Not met
2023-24≥ 20,000,000202420,104,572Met
2024-25≥ 20,000,000202520,734,134Met
Percentage of arts graduates of institutions supported by the Canada Arts Training Fund that are employed professionally in their field in Canada or abroad.
Expected result: Graduates of arts training institutions have professional careers in Canada and internationally.
86%2018-19✓ met86%2019-20✓ met83%2020-21✓ met78%2021-22✓ met82%2022-23✓ met84%2023-24✓ met88%2024-25✓ met

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2018-19≥ 75%201886%Met
2019-20≥ 75%202086%Met
2020-21≥ 75%202183%Met
2021-22≥ 75%202278%Met
2022-23≥ 75%202382%
Given the timing of the reporting requirements, results are always for the previous fiscal year for the Canada Arts Training Fund.
Met
2023-24≥ 75%202484%Met
2024-25≥ 75%202588%Met
Percentage of Canadians with access to new or improved cultural facilities in their community.
Expected result: Canadians have access to cultural facilities in their communities.
38%2023-24✗ not met34%2024-25✗ not met

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2023-24≥ 40%202438%
The difference between actual results and the target is due to the unpredictability of the geographical location of construction and renovation projects and specialized equipment projects.
Not met
2024-25≥ 41%202534%
Due to program spending reductions, the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund budget was cut, limiting the number of approved projects and available funding.
Not met
Number of communities with improved cultural facilities.
Expected result: Canadians have access to cultural facilities in their communities.
932018-19✓ met962019-20✓ met1012020-21✓ met912021-22✓ met892022-23✓ met

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2018-19≥ 80201993Met
2019-20≥ 80202096Met
2020-21≥ 802021101Met
2021-22≥ 80202291Met
2022-23≥ 80202389Met

Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets

Dollar amount raised through private-sector donations by arts organizations applying to and eligible for Endowment Incentives component.
Expected result: Arts and heritage organizations demonstrate sound organizational, administrative and financial health.
$25M2026-27

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2026-27≥ $25M2027—Planned
Number of attendees to arts events funded by the Canadian Arts Presentation Fund.
Expected result: Canadians have access to and experience the work of Canadian artists.
20,000,0002026-27

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2026-27≥ 20,000,0002027—Planned
Percentage of arts graduates of institutions supported by the Canada Arts Training Fund that are employed professionally in their field in Canada or abroad.
Expected result: Graduates of arts training institutions have professional careers in Canada and internationally.
80%2026-27

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2026-27≥ 80%2027—Planned
Percentage of Canadians with access to new or improved cultural facilities in their community.
Expected result: Canadians have access to cultural facilities in their communities.
35%2026-27

Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.

Report yearTargetDueResultStatus
2026-27≥ 35%2027—Planned

Future goals: targets due after 2026-27

No targets with a later due date.

Spending and employees: planned against actual

Spending

2018-19: $153M2018-19: $151M2018-192019-20: $153M2019-20: $167M2019-202020-21: $161M2020-21: $169M2020-212021-22: $153M2021-22: $243M2021-222022-23: $265M2022-23: $289M2022-232023-24: $167M2023-24: $185M2023-242024-25: $171M2024-25: $200M2024-252025-26: $195M2025-262026-27: $121M2026-272027-28: $110M2027-282028-29: $93.7M2028-29
Outlined bar: planned in that year's Departmental Plan (dashed: the latest plan, for years not yet reported). Filled bar: actual.
Show the numbers
Fiscal yearPlannedActual
2018-19$153M$151M
2019-20$153M$167M
2020-21$161M$169M
2021-22$153M$243M
2022-23$265M$289M
2023-24$167M$185M
2024-25$171M$200M
2025-26$195M—
2026-27$121M—
2027-28$110M*—
2028-29$93.7M*—

Employees (FTEs)

2018-19: 1482018-19: 1492018-192019-20: 1402019-20: 1452019-202020-21: 1482020-21: 1372020-212021-22: 1442021-22: 1482021-222022-23: 1622022-23: 1672022-232023-24: 1482023-24: 1382023-242024-25: 1392024-25: 1302024-252025-26: 1382025-262026-27: 1192026-272027-28: 1092027-282028-29: 922028-29
Outlined bar: planned in that year's Departmental Plan (dashed: the latest plan, for years not yet reported). Filled bar: actual.
Show the numbers
Fiscal yearPlannedActual
2018-19148149
2019-20140145
2020-21148137
2021-22144148
2022-23162167
2023-24148138
2024-25139130
2025-26138—
2026-27119—
2027-28109*—
2028-2992*—

Planned spending, plan by plan

Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans

Plan2018-192019-202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-262026-272027-282028-29
2018-19 plan$152,981,743$146,513,114$146,513,114
2019-20 plan$152,869,500$151,722,251$146,969,963
2020-21 plan$160,935,604$154,023,453$154,027,027
2021-22 plan$152,596,537$153,693,248$152,699,859
2022-23 plan$264,737,893$160,230,000$152,474,180
2023-24 plan$167,112,854$158,086,683$158,199,005
2024-25 plan$170,551,498$152,318,737$136,731,619
2025-26 plan$195,248,048$140,009,650$136,835,002
2026-27 plan$121,028,678$109,911,531$93,686,848
Actual$151,176,359$167,195,002$169,208,310$243,231,332$288,850,570$185,104,166$199,632,740

Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.