The place of art: Local area characteristics and arts growth in Canada, 2001–2011

• We examine neighbourhood characteristics associated with arts growth in Canada.
• We synthesize five hypotheses that predict particular types of neighbourhoods.
• Hypotheses are tested using census and business data at three geographic levels.
• Findings suggest that arts growth occurs on the edge of existing arts districts.
• We conclude by arguing for an ecological approach to the study of culture.

Analyzing Canadian business and census data from 2001 to 2011, this paper examines local area characteristics associated with arts organization growth. We consider five hypotheses: (1) Critical Mass: arts growth will occur in existing arts districts. (2) Gentrification: arts growth will occur in low-income and low-rent areas. (3) Rising Tide: arts growth will parallel general economic growth. (4) Urbanity: arts growth will occur in urbanized areas. (5) Perfect Audience: arts growth will occur in neighbourhoods with demographic groups most likely to consume the arts. We test these hypotheses at three levels: qualitative descriptions of Canada's top three arts growth neighbourhoods, ecological analysis of arts growth in Canada's three largest metropolitan areas, and a national hierarchical linear regression. Our findings demonstrate strong support for Critical Mass, Urbanity, and Perfect Audience. Mixed findings for Gentrification and Rising Tide reveal that arts growth occurs in a diversity of local economic conditions. Our conclusion articulates the utility of ‘ecological’ approaches to arts production and consumption more generally.