Minister Rodriguez Promotes the New Creative Export Strategy While in Vancouver
Minister Rodriguez advocates for positive benefits of the new Creative Export Strategy; growing Canada's creative industries internationally with an investment of $125 million over 5 years
VANCOUVER, Aug. 24, 2018 /CNW/ - 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 Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, was in British Columbia's Lower Mainland. He took the opportunity to visit North Shore Studios in North Vancouver, a film and television production studio, to get a unique behind-the-scenes look at the industry and gain insight on the trends and challenges it faces.
He also met with students from the Vancouver Film School (VFS) in downtown Vancouver, highlighting the Government of Canada's investment of $125 million over five years for Canada's first-ever Creative Export Strategy. He described how the strategy strengthens and increases the presence of Canadian industries abroad, and positions them for export and sales in international markets. This results in the expansion, growth and creation of new firms. Minister Rodriguez emphasized how the strategy—including Creative Export Canada—translated into the creation of economic prosperity and jobs in film, TV, gaming, animation, digital applications industries and more.
Minister Rodriguez wrapped up his working trip with a meeting with various stakeholders from the artistic and cultural community at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond. While thanking them for their contribution in fostering a strong and vibrant cultural scene and stimulating the Vancouver economy, he described how this new strategy will let the Government of Canada help more Canadian companies and industry stakeholders expand their reach into key export markets and enable more people—including small and medium-sized businesses—to share in the resulting benefits, including job creation.
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, audiovisual, publishing (books and periodicals), interactive digital media, performing arts, visual arts 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 companies and organizations to obtain mechanisms and tools to promote and facilitate the export of Canadian creative content. In this way, the government is allowing the creative sector to shine around the world.
Quotes
"Our creative industries have a wealth of talent with incredible economic potential in international markets. Our goal is to support and strengthen our creative industries on the world stage. Our new Creative Export Strategy will not only do just that, but will also promote Canada's economic growth, create well-paying jobs and showcase Canadian talent throughout the world."
—The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
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.
Associated Links
Creative Canada: a vision for Canada's creative industries
2018 Creative Industries Trade Mission to China
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
For further information: (media only), please contact: Simon Ross, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]
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