B.C. is the third-leading exporter of culture goods in Canada behind Ontario and Quebec, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
Culture goods can be described as any item that contains cultural content including literature, film, music, paintings, architectural plans, advertising materials, museum exhibits, coin and stamp collections and antiques.
B.C. exported $113.3 million worth of culture goods last year, a decline from $263.7 million in 2004.
Exports of culture goods at the national level have also fallen in recent years from $2.47 billion in 2004 to $1.5 billion last year.
Ontario is the top exporter of culture goods in Canada, exporting $869 million worth of such goods in 2009.
Quebec is second with $450 million worth of culture goods exported last year.
Among the nation’s top cultural exports in 2009 were film ($381 million), books ($328 million), video ($209 million) and advertising ($168 million).
B.C and the rest of the country still import more culture than export. Canada imported $3.8 billion in culture goods last year with writing and published works the top import at $2.8 billion. In 2004, the country imported $4 billion in culture goods.
B.C. imported $319 million worth of culture goods last year compared with $265.6 million in 2004.