YT Government: Preliminary creative and cultural industries strategy out for public review

Press Release

06/01/2021

Today, the Government of Yukon released Creative Potential: Advancing Yukon’s Creative Economy for public comment.

This draft strategy for supporting the creative and cultural industries is the first of its kind for Yukon, presenting 22 specific actions under four strategic objectives: stimulate growth, focusing policies, developing programs and services, strengthening connections and fostering knowledge.

Building on current government supports, the strategy lays out a long-term vision for the creative and cultural sector to increase its contributions to positive social outcomes and economic sustainability in Yukon. All of the actions in the strategy build on input gathered from individuals and organizations who work in the industries, during two phases of public engagement held in 2019.

This final round of feedback will ensure the government finalizes a strategy that will be effective and achievable, and address the needs and challenges expressed by those in the sector.

Creative Potential: Advancing Yukon’s Creative Economy is open for review and feedback until February 5, 2021. A final strategy is anticipated for release in April 2021.

The strategy is being developed collaboratively between the departments of Tourism and Culture, Economic Development and Education with guidance from the Women’s Directorate.

Yukon’s creative and cultural industries are integral to our well-being as a society and to maintaining a diverse economy. This strategy puts a focus on supporting these industries to flourish and acknowledges the immense value they contribute to Yukon. We want to make sure the proposed actions reflect the needs of the industries to ensure the final strategy will be successful in making notable change and improvements for the sector.

Minister of Tourism and Culture Jeanie McLean

The importance of Yukon’s creative and cultural industries cannot be understated. This sector contributes so much to how our territory is presented on the global stage while helping to diversify our economy. By creating opportunities to access new markets, we can showcase Yukon’s vibrant communities, their stories, knowledge and traditions to the world.

Minister of Department Economic Development Ranj Pillai

Quick facts

• The creative and cultural industries facilitate the production or reproduction, promotion, distribution and commercialization of goods, services and activities of content derived from cultural, artistic or heritage origins.
• The creative and cultural industries include sound recording, visual and applied arts, crafting, audio-visual and interactive media, film, photography, graphic design, architecture, live performance, theatre, written and published works, sound and lighting technicians, heritage and libraries as well as the labour force and institutions required to support them.
• According to Statistics Canada, Yukon’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) derived from the cultural sector, was $59.7 million in 2018 and accounted for two per cent of our economy.
• Previous public engagement phases included a one-day gathering in Whitehorse on May 3, 2019 and 35 facilitated public engagement sessions across Yukon from September to December 2019 in conjunction with an online survey.
• Two focus group sessions were held in November 2020, with participants in the creative and cultural industries to review the draft strategy and proposed actions prior to public engagement.

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