The United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise the awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.
The creative economy builds on the interplay between human creativity, ideas, intellectual property, knowledge and technology. It is a knowledge-based economy and in British Columbia it brings together our province’s storytellers.
Did you know?
B.C.’s Creative Industries generate $5.4B Total GDP to the economy and there are 120,000 people across the sector!
April 21 also marks the end of Creative Industries Week in British Columbia. Over the week, creative industry leaders, industry associations, businesses, unions, guilds, service and supply companies, studios, artists, key stakeholders, and creators came together with government for the opportunity to connect with one another, share their work, and build relationships.
Creative Industries Week is a celebration of the creative industries and the talented people who drive them forward. The showcases provided insight into the many successful companies, organizations and initiatives that exist within the creative sector. The week-long events provided a platform for industry experts, entrepreneurs, creative professionals, and aspiring creatives to come together with government to share, strategize, network, and exchange ideas.
Historic Provincial Announcement: $42M Multi-Year Investment Promotes Stability and Jobs in B.C.’s Creative Industries
On Wednesday April 19th, 2023, the Province announced a historical contribution of $42 million to support the nearly 120,000 people working in motion picture, music, publishing and interactive digital media industries across British Columbia. It allows the industries to continue fostering development, innovation, and partnerships, keeping B.C.’s creative industries on the global stage.
The new funding includes:
• $22.5 million over three years for Amplify BC to build the province’s music talent and help launch careers;
• $15.9 million over three years to support B.C.’s domestic motion picture productions, workforce and creators, which includes $900,000 for programs that focus on developing workers skills, recruiting more workers from under-represented groups, and supporting practices that are environmentally friendly;
• $3 million over three years for a new program to support innovation and growth for independent B.C.-owned interactive digital media companies; and
• $600,000 over three years for the publishing industry, as announced on April 17, 2023, to address immediate supply-chain challenges and provide additional support for a sustainable future.
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Recap of the Week’s Events and Announcements
Throughout Creative Industries Week, the sector showcased their work at the legislature, and by proclamation, on April 17, B.C. Book Day, and on April 19, Creative Industries Week were recognized.
April 17, 2023
Creative Industries Week Day 1: BC Book Day
Proclamation: BC Book Day by the Honorable Lana Popham, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
Support: Provincial Investment of $600,000 for Publishers over 3 Years
On BC Book Day, the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia, Magazine Association of BC, government and industry converged to meet, develop, and celebrate the literary ecosystem of our province.
April 18, 2023
Creative Industries Week Day 2: Music + Sound Recording
Event: Let’s Hear It Victoria
On Tuesday, April 18 Music BC presented a special Victoria instance of their Let’s Hear It series Celebrating Creative Industries Week, at the Duke Saloon. B.C. musicians Desirée Dawson, Nicky Mackenzie, and XL the Band kicked off celebrations for the historic investment and renewed commitment to B.C.’s music fund, Amplify BC.
We're heading to Victoria tomorrow to celebrate Creative Industries Week with the #YYJ edition of Let's Hear It at @thedukesaloon!
Grab your tickets ➡️ https://t.co/lJCOMh2hc0 pic.twitter.com/XxmAaa4FHt
— Music BC (@musicbc) April 17, 2023
April 19, 2023
Creative Industries Week Day 3: B.C. Motion Picture Day + All Industries Celebration
Proclamation: Creative Industries Week by the Honorable Lana Popham, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
Announcement: Multi-Year Provincial Investment of $42M into B.C.’s Creative Sector
National Day: National Canadian Film Day
Creative Industries Week was officially proclaimed on Wednesday, April 19. All creative industries met together with government at the Reception Hall of Honour (Rotunda) in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia to showcase the sector.
Event: Showcase Program
• Creative BC CEO Prem Gill provided a territorial acknowledgment and invited the Honorable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport who made the official proclamation of Creative Industries Week 2023 and announced the historic $42M multi-year provincial investment
• Erin Haskett, Chair of the CMPA National Board of Directors and President and CEO of Lark Productions spoke together with Ruth Nanda, award-winning Co-showrunner and Executive Producer, about the new Lark Productions reality show “Farming for Love”
• Executive Director of the Association of Book Publishers of BC Matea Kulić spoke with Grace Gorman, Sales and Social Media Coordinator for Rocky Mountain Books, and with author Nathalie Chambers who wrote Saving Farmland, the Fight for Real Food
• Sustainability champion and production manager Hans Dayal spoke about a major Disney production for which his implementation of sustainable practices production-wide reduced carbon emissions by 75%, including via use of Reusables, a company founded by Jason Hawkins and Anastasia Kiku that boosted its entrepreneurial business through a lasting partnership with the film industry
• Veteran film industry leader and educator Doreen Manuel, Director Bosa Centre for Film & Animation and Leader for Inclusive Community Projects and Economic Diversification, spoke along with award-winning Motion Picture Costumer Carmen Thompson (awarded for costumes in BONES OF CROWS, produced by Marie Clements) about the gap in Indigenous representation in film, and the work to be done to ensure more and authentic, respectful, safe representation of Indigenous people and their experience on screen. Traditionally trained by her Ktunaxa grandmother and by her mother, Doreen is also a costumer and a textile artist. Her original collection of contemporary works and heirloom traditional pieces of leatherwork and beadwork were on display and can be rented as collections for film.
• Michael Walbrecht, Vice President, Public Affairs, Warner Bros. Discovery and Erika Kumar, Director, Access Canada, Warner Bros. Discovery shared their work and collaboration with community partners to ensure opportunities for below-the-line entrants to the industry from underrepresented communities through the company’s program, Access to Action Canada
• Spencer Kent, co-Chair of the Animation & VFX Alliance of British Columbia, MPPIA Board Member and Executive in Charge, Industrial Light & Magic Vancouver & San Francisco spoke along with colleague Oscar Nominee Jeff White, Creative Director/VFX Supervisor about behind-the-scenes effects and technology such as the world’s largest LED Volume at ILM, and their work on productions from Percy Jackson to Return of the Jedi with Grogu (Baby Yoda) on display.
• Lindsay MacPherson, Executive Director of Music BC introduced Desirée Dawson accompanied by Matt Storm to perform a song.
Rotunda Showcase Displays
Sony Imageworks
Departure Lounge / DigiBC
DNEG/Warner Bros. Discovery
Rel’sh Animation
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
Directors Guild of Canada, BC District Council
Creative BC Reel Green™ + Creative Pathways™
Magazine Association of BC
IATSE 891
UBCP/ACTRA
Doreen Manuel
MBS Equipment Co. Canada
April 20, 2023
Creative Industries Week Day 4: B.C. Creative Technology Day
Announcement: Report: Levelling Up: Growth Strategy for B.C.’s Creative Technology Talent Pipeline
DigiBC opened April 20 as B.C. Creative Technology Day with the release of its report made in partnership with the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), and B.C.’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSFS), Levelling Up: Growth Strategy for BC’s Creative Technology Talent Pipeline. The report examines how industry, educators, and government can work together to ensure all British Columbians are aware of and have access to the spectrum of career opportunities available across creative technology. It identifies critical building blocks that can be leveraged throughout the creative technology ecosystem in B.C. to attract, educate, hire, and support the next generation of workers.
DigiBC also released its 2023 Sizzle Reel, showcasing content from British Columbia’s talented studios offering services spanning animation, visual effects (VFX), video games, virtual production, and virtual/extended/augmented reality (VR/AR/XR).
Learn more about British Columbia’s Creative Sector
Industry Associations
Sector and Industry Overviews
Creative BC CIERA™ sector measurement tool
Industry Contacts
Map of Creative Sector companies in B.C.
