05 Sep Vital People/Vital Causes September 2025

Drawing on key data and themes from our Vital Signs 2024 report, we will continue presenting a new Vital People/Vital Causes every quarter this year.

Vital Cause: Arts & Culture’s Contribution to Economic Health

Arts and culture are more than a source of inspiration on the Sunshine Coast—they’re a key contributor to economic health. The Sunshine Coast Foundation’s Vital Signs 2024 highlights a 2021 report finding the SCRD was home to 440 professional artists, making up 2.7% of the total workforce—nearly double the provincial average of 1.4% and almost triple the national average of 1.0%. With more working artists per capita than much of the province, the Coast is one of BC’s most concentrated creative communities.

Signature events like the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl draw visitors from across BC and beyond. Since its launch in 2010, the Art Crawl has generated nearly $5 million in sales and commissions.

The event has grown from 75 venues in its first year to 189 in 2024 and continues to thrive, even through the challenges of the pandemic and shifting economic times. In 2021, the event pivoted to a restricted-access version with artists reporting their highest-ever combined sales and commissions, totalling $608,000.

Events like the Art Crawl don’t just attract audiences—they create opportunities for business growth, employment, and long-term investment in the Coast’s cultural identity.

Held in October to extend the tourism season, the Art Crawl brings visitors who stay in local accommodations, dine in local restaurants, and explore the Coast’s creative offerings. In 2019, 49,000 studio visits were logged over three days—the highest attendance to date and a benchmark for future events.

Vital Person: Linda Williams

Linda Williams has been shaping the Sunshine Coast arts scene for nearly 30 years. A founding member of the Coast Cultural Alliance, she currently serves as its Operations Manager and manages the Art Crawl—an event she helped launch and continues to guide with heart and vision.

Her leadership is marked by trust, data, and a deep understanding of what artists need—and how their work fuels the local economy. “People often forget it’s not just buying the art that supports the economy,” says Williams. “Making the art does too—from canvases and paint to framing, local businesses see a surge before the Crawl.”

Her work with the Art Crawl, as well as the Purple Banner Tour and Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival, has helped build a community where creativity is visible and valued.

“There’s a moment during the Art Crawl when you see someone engage deeply with an artist,” says Williams. “That connection, seeing people build relationships through the arts—that’s what it’s all about.”

The 16th Sunshine Coast Art Crawl takes place October 17-19, 2025.

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The Sunshine Coast Foundation holds more than $1.8 million in 26 endowments dedicated to local arts and culture.

From organizing events to supporting artists, Vital People like Linda Williams have become a cornerstone of the Coast’s cultural life and play a vital part in its economic health.

If this Vital Cause speaks to you, donors can contribute to an existing fund or start one that reflects their own artistic passions, ensuring long-term and sustainable support for arts and culture in our community.

STAY TUNED! The next Vital People/Vital Causes will be out in December. All previous editions can be found on our website.

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Article by Lisa Furfaro. Photo by Gary Sean Loewen.