While Ottawa residents reap the cultural benefits of art festivals such as the International Writers’ Festival and the International Animation Festival, art festivals boost the city’s economy, according to studies by the City of Ottawa.
From Sept. 21-25, animators and filmmakers could be found in the Chateau Laurier lobby. Janet Perleman, a filmmaker from Montreal, says she’s been to the festival since it started in 1976.
During the festival, Perleman stays at a hotel. This year, she was at downtown Ottawa's Novotel.
In fact, hotels are one of the biggest festival sponsors in Ottawa.
Kimberly Wilson, Novotel sales and marketing director, says sponsoring festivals shows support for the city and helps business.
“The city needs support because it is competing with other cultural hubs like Toronto and Montreal.”
Arc Hotel sponsors the writers’ festival among other art festivals.
“Being as we are an artistic design hotel, these festivals make sense to us," says Dean Lake, director of sales at the Arc.
Studies compiled by the City of Ottawa report the total spending by non-local visitors from 21 festivals is about $57 million, and festivals and arts contribute $48.8 million to the city’s GDP.
A study by the City of Ottawa Revenue/Income Study found arts and festivals generate $41.3 million in Ottawa annually.
Sean Wilson, director of arts for the writers' festival, says the revenue from festivals is substantial. Wilson has spent more than 15 years in the industry and seen how funding has changed.
“Government now looks at festival funding as tourism funding,” Wilson says. “When you support a festival all the money goes back into the community.”
The Mayfair Theatre on Bank Street hosts events for the writers' festival.
Lee Demarbre, a Mayfair employee, says it brings publicity to the theatre. “The outside of Mayfair is kind of beaten down, so some people don’t really consider coming here. But when . . . they get inside and see how beautiful it is,” he says.
Back at Chateau Laurier, Perleman admits the animation festival is good for business. “I always go walking through the mall on my way back to Novotel and shop. I can’t help getting sucked in to all the stores.”