8%
In its broadest definition, which includes the arts, entertainment, heritage and leisure, therefore artists, artistic leaders, but also all professions in the cultural field – such as graphic designer, editor, translator, architect, agent public relations, librarian, archivist, etc. –, Montreal has 91,400 workers, or 8% of the metropolis’ active population. More than the Quebec (4.8%) and Canadian (4.4%) average.
20,900
If we stick to a more literal definition of artistic activities, the City has 20,900 professional artists, or 1.8% of the metropolis’ active workforce. According to this census, one in 55 Montrealers works as an artist. Among them, however, 8,200 would occupy a leadership role in the arts: producer, director, choreographer, conductor, composer, curator, manager, etc.
43 100
In Quebec, there are 43,100 artists, or 0.9% of the active population or one person in 110. Among them, 14,900 workers occupy a leadership role in the arts. So as in the case of Montreal, we are talking about the professions of producer, director, choreographer, conductor, etc.
55%
The level of education is high among Montreal cultural workers. In fact, 55% of Montreal artists hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, 11 percentage points more than all Montreal workers (44%) and 9 percentage points more than all Quebec artists (46% ).
47%
We can almost speak of parity, women representing 47% of Montreal artists, approximately the equivalent of Montreal workers (48%) and all artists in Quebec (49%). Please note, some non-binary people are included in this category.
45%
In total, 45% of Montreal artists speak English. Still a high proportion for a language classified as minority, but which is in line with the percentage of Montreal workers who express themselves in the language of Shakespeare (44%). In Quebec as a whole, the percentage of artists who speak English drops to 32%.
15%
Barely 15% of Montreal artists are people from racialized groups. A much lower percentage than all Montreal workers (37%), but a bit higher if we consider all Quebec artists from diverse backgrounds (barely 11%).
$17,000
The revenue analysis was conducted at the worst time imaginable: in the middle of a pandemic. We must therefore interpret this data with great caution, given that several artists were not working at the time of the survey or had very little income. Other artists had completely suspended their practice. That said, the median income of Montreal artists was $17,400 in 2020-2021. In Quebec, the median income was barely $15,200. On the other hand, if we include their other income (PCU, income from teaching, from a restaurant or bar, etc.), the annual personal income increases to $35,600.
29%
In Montreal, the most represented artists are producers, directors and choreographers (29%, 6,100 people); musicians (15%, 3200 people); writers (15%, 3100 people); actors, comedians and circus artists (11%, 2,200 people); painters, sculptors and other visual artists (9%, 1900 people); photographers (7%, 1500 people); dancers (4%, 860 people); conductors, composers and arrangers (3%, 640 people).
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