Burlington Performing Arts Centre Economic Benefits – Frequently Asked Questions
1. How will the Burlington Performing Arts Centre help Burlington’s economy?
Communities with performing arts centres report a number of benefits. In addition to creating a civic meeting place and enhancing public pride, there are many economic benefits that can be measured. The Burlington Performing Arts Centre will help create jobs as a result of design and construction and long-term jobs associated with the ongoing operation of the centre.
It is estimated that the construction of this facility will generate 240 person years of direct employment. If spin-off jobs are included, the total is 340 person years of employment. Once opened, the centre will generate 16 full-time equivalent positions and help to sustain employment for its suppliers.
Once built, the centre is expected to have a direct economic impact of $7 million a year to the local and regional economy. This includes direct spending related to performances and indirect spending related to food and drink, transportation and other activities
2. What impact will the Burlington Performing Arts Centre have on the city’s downtown?
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre will contribute to the vitality and appeal of the city’s beautiful downtown. Downtown merchants will benefit from the purchasing power of the 100,000 people anticipated to attend the Burlington Performing Arts Centre each year.
3. What effect will the Burlington Performing Arts Centre have on increasing tourism and attracting conferences?
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre will help to attract cultural tourists who would enjoy high quality entertainment as well as points of interest in the city. An expected 20 to 25 per cent of the audience will be from out of town.
4. What about attracting and retaining business. Does a performing arts centre have an impact?
Companies looking to locate in a city consider all the city’s amenities, as well as its cultural offerings as part of an overall package. The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is one more way of increasing the attractiveness of a city rated as the overall best in the GTA by Moneysense magazine.
Burlington companies, and Burlington branches of national and international companies, have made donations to, and shown strong support for, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. They recognize the value a performing arts centre adds to the city and to its economy.