With Creative Canada, the Government of Canada has a plan to help Canada’s creative industries open up opportunities in new markets around the world. This will not only improve their competitiveness and ensure their long-term success, but also contribute to Canada’s economic growth, job creation and prosperity.
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, in close collaboration with the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is highlighting the Government of Canada’s investment of $125 million over 5 years to implement Canada’s first Creative Export Strategy. This includes the launch of Creative Export Canada, a new funding program that will help creators stand out in the global market.
The Creative Export Strategy will promote Canada’s creative industries by strengthening Canada’s presence in international markets where the business relationships are being built, the deals are being made, and the jobs are being created. The Strategy will also equip Canadian exporters with the tools they need to successfully export their projects.
The budget allowance of $125 million will be divided among the following three key pillars:
Pillar 1: Boost export funding in existing Canadian Heritage programs
To help Canada’s creative industries maximize their export potential, the Government of Canada is increasing export funding for existing Canadian Heritage programs, including the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, the Canada Book Fund, the Canada Music Fund and the Canada Periodical Fund, and Telefilm Canada.
Pillar 2: Increase and strengthen the presence of Canadian creative industries abroad
On-the-field services and support that meet the needs of creative goods exporters are essential. In collaboration with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, the Creative Export Strategy supports Canadian artists with additional resources in key Canadian embassies and consulates, such as New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, Berlin, Shanghai, Mumbai, Mexico City, Tokyo and Sydney.
By developing practical tools to support creative entrepreneurs, such as research, data gathering and statistics, the Strategy will provide exporters with relevant information to help them better understand their targeted markets and make strategic decisions.
Pillar 3: Create a new creative export funding program and build the relationships needed to make business deals
The creation of Creative Export Canada, a new $7-million-per-year export program, will provide companies and organizations with funding to make it easier for buyers and audiences abroad to discover Canadian content. The program is for Canadian companies and organizations that are ready to export and work in a creative industry or in support of one. Examples include music, film, books, video games, virtual and augmented reality or design.
Strategic trade missions, like the mission to China in April, make it possible to develop creative markets. This one-of-a-kind mission allowed the 56 Canadian companies that accompanied Minister Joly to meet Chinese business partners, establish new partnerships and sign 23 business deals worth nearly $125 million.
The development of creative markets also relies on Canada’s participation in international events to increase the export capacity of Canadian creative industries, as with Canada’s participation as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair—the world’s largest book fair—in 2020.
The Creative Export Strategy, including the new Creative Export Canada funding program, responds to the request of Canadian creative companies and organizations to obtain mechanisms and tools to promote and facilitate the export of Canadian content. In this way, the government is allowing the creative sector to shine around the world.
Quick Facts
In 2016, Canadian culture product exports totalled $16 billion. This represents 2.5 percent of all Canadian exports.
The arts and culture sector provides jobs to more than 650,000 Canadians, in addition to the numerous indirect jobs created by cultural products. It contributes 2.8 percent to Canada’s GDP.
Creative Canada supports high-quality content, in both French and English, intended for Canadians and international audiences.
The Government of Canada has invested $1.9 billion in arts and culture, currently the biggest investment by any G7 country.
