November 19, 2004 Halifax, Nova Scotia The cultural industries in Atlantic Canada are generating revenues and jobs at an increasing rate and have excellent export potential according to a study released today by the Canadian Institute for Research on Regional Development. The study was co-sponsored by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Canadian Heritage. The study, entitled The Cultural Sector in Atlantic Canada: Economic Impact and Export Potential, examined key arts and culture disciplines in the Atlantic region, including music, literature, performing arts, fine arts and film. The Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of ACOA, was in attendance as results of the study were launched today. "These are welcome results for cultural industries in Atlantic Canada, which are extremely important both in economic and social terms," said Minister McGuire. "ACOA is proud to support the growth of Atlantic Canada's cultural industries by providing access to research, trade education, management skills training, and export development activities such as cultural trade missions." The study found that Atlantic Canadian cultural industries account for $2.1 billion of the region's GDP ¿ an increase of 42 percent since 1996 ¿ and generate 34,557 direct jobs for the regional economy. According to the study, the greatest opportunity for growth in this sector lies in international markets. Although the total value of exports of cultural products from Atlantic Canada increased by over 75 percent from 1998 to 2002, reaching $17.4 million in 2002, they only represent one percent of the Canadian total. "The research illustrates that the cultural sector is a far more important and productive part of the regional economy than most people might have assumed," states Nicole Barriault, author of the study. "In fact, when productivity of work in this sector is measured by the GDP per job, the Atlantic provinces have led the country since 1996." Donald J. Savoie, executive director of the Canadian Institute for Research on Regional Development, applauds the findings of the report and ACOA's decision to support the study. "We need to update our perspective on culture and cultural industries. The lack of capital is a serious problem for Atlantic Canada's cultural entrepreneurs. The culture sector depends heavily on public spending, which is not only uncertain but often distributed on a one-time basis in amounts that can vary from year to year. This can play havoc with exportation, which requires a medium and long-term strategy." The Canadian Institute for Research on Regional Development is an independent, non-profit organization whose mandate is to promote informed public debate on regional development and disseminate objective analyses and information on the subject. A copy of the study, The Cultural Sector in Atlantic Canada: Economic Impact and Export Potential, is available on the ACOA website: www.acoa.gc.ca . - 30 - For more information, contact: Valérie Poulin Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (613) 941-7241 Étienne Allard Senior Communications Officer Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (506) 851-2893 Erica Claus, Director Canadian Heritage (819) 997-3765 Nicole Barriault, Researcher Canadian Institute for Research on Regional Development (506) 858-4467
