At the top of the webinar, Nik Nanos presented the latest findings from the Arts Response Tracking Survey (ARTS), offering new insights into participation, audience motivations, and perceptions of arts and culture events across Canada.

The session explored what drives Canadians to attend arts and culture events, how cultural experiences can strengthen connection and pride in communities across Canada, and what barriers may prevent audiences from feeling welcome. Together, arts and culture leaders reflected on the findings and discussed how organizations can strengthen audience connection as we head into summer and peak season across the country.

Moderator:

• Aubrey Reeves, President & CEO, Business / Arts

Speakers:

• Danielle Hitchcock, Principal + Creative Director, Twin Design (Brand Director, Hamilton Fringe Festival)
• Nazanin Shoja, Director, BC Culture Days
• Scott Tresham, CEO, Symphony Nova Scotia
• Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist and Founder, Nanos Research

Read the June 2026 Arts Response Tracking Survey

Access previous editions of ARTS

Additional Links & Resources

• Telling Tales Festival
• Hamilton Fringe Festival
• SPARK Teen Performance Program
• BC Culture Days
• Symphony Nova Scotia
• Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra
• Destination Canada

What is ARTS? 

ARTS is a partnership between Business / Arts, the National Arts Centre, and Nanos Research that conducts quarterly surveys of over 1000 Canadian culture-goers. Since its launch in May 2020, ARTS has offered valuable insights into audience behaviours and trends. With each quarter touching on a specific topic area, winter focuses on marketing, spring on sales, summer on public perceptions and engagement, and fall on fundraising. Read more.