Creative and Cultural Industries Strategy

What's happening now

Creative Potential: Advancing the Yukon’s Creative and Cultural Industries was released on November 30, 2021.

This strategy is the 1st of its kind for the Yukon. It lays out a long-term vision and 22 actions to achieve the sector’s full potential. It builds on current government supports. The aim is for the creative and cultural sector to develop and increase its contributions to the Yukon’s economy and society.

All actions in the strategy are based on what we heard during public engagement in 2019 and 2020. We collected input from many contributors, including:

• industry participants;

• creative and cultural sector organizations;

• First Nations governments; and

• municipalities.

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their thoughts in the development of the strategy.

Phase 1: COVID-19 recovery 

The creative and cultural industries have been severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. In the initial 3 years of implementation, we've prioritized 10 of the strategy’s 22 actions. These priorities:

• address the impact of the pandemic; and

• contribute to the Yukon’s broader economic recovery, and health and wellbeing.

Actions during this phase aim to support them to build digital capacity, reach new markets, and increase training opportunities, as well as contribute to employment and income.

Phase 1 actions:

• modernize and streamline existing funding supports;

• explore options to update branding and promotion of the Yukon’s creative and cultural industries;

• develop marketing and export strategies targeted to each industry;

• establish a dedicated sector-specific funding program;

• create a micro-grant program;

• create a new career advancement funding program;

• develop the Yukon cultural centres and museums policy;

• build industry understanding of complex issues such as rights, royalties and copyright;

• continue labour market supports to enable access to sector-specific training; and

• establish baseline data to regularly measure, monitor and report on the economic and social impacts of the sector

After Phase 1 is complete, we’ll do a review and evaluation in 2024–25 to determine:

• the next phase of implementation; and

• which actions to focus on.

How we developed the strategy

The departments of Tourism and Culture, Economic Development and Education, with guidance from the Women's Directorate, are developing the creative and cultural industries strategy.

Completed phases

Beginning in May 2019, we engaged with people who and organizations that work in the creative and cultural industries to gather input to help us develop a strategy that: 

• is effective and relevant;
• supports, strengthens and sustains a vibrant creative and cultural industries sector in the Yukon; 
• incorporates best practices from across Canada; and

• includes elements to support diversity and inclusivity.

Phase 1 – spring and summer 2019

Research report 

This information provides an overview of the creative and cultural industries in the Yukon in terms of their:

• current state; and
• demographic composition.

The report also provides insights into the sector in the rest of Canada.

View the research report highlights

Sector engagement session 

We held a day-long public engagement session on May 3, 2019. It brought the sector together to examine the:

• existing supports available;
• priorities;
• challenges; and
• opportunities.

Input from this session guided the engagement process.

Phase 2 – fall 2019 to winter 2020

Public engagement sessions 

We held 35 facilitated public engagement sessions across the Yukon. Participants came from the industries, as well as First Nation and municipal governments. Discussions focused on identifying what: 

• is working well for the sector;
• opportunities should be considered; and 
• improvements would be valuable. 

See a full schedule of the sessions

Survey

An online survey was open from October 8 to November 30, 2019.

What We Heard: Creative and Cultural Industries Strategy report

The What We Heard report provides a summary and broad analysis of the feedback we received during both phases of public engagement. This includes the online survey.

The report presents 9 key themes and associated information without any prioritization or weighting. The information in the report guided the development of the draft strategy.

We publicly shared the what we heard report on February 20, 2020. Feedback was welcomed on the content and considered for the draft strategy.

Phase 3 – remainder of 2020

Due to COVID-19, the development of the strategy was delayed. In order to ensure the draft strategy was relevant and would meet the needs of the sector we hosted 2 focus groups in November 2020. These groups included people from each industry.

The group sessions helped us to establish priorities and refine the draft strategy before it was shared publicly.

The draft strategy was available for public comment from January 6 to February 5, 2021. All feedback received was considered in refining a final strategy.

What are the creative and cultural industries?

The creative and cultural industries are a distinct and important part of the Yukon’s culture. They provide economic, as well as social benefits to the territory. 

These industries are quite diverse. Their targets are consumers and marketplaces. They generate products and content that can be cultural, artistic or heritage.

We’re using this definition of creative and cultural industries to inform the scope of the project.

Creative and cultural industries definition

The production or reproduction, promotion, distribution and commercialization of goods, services and activities of content derived from cultural, artistic or heritage origins.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• sound recording;

• visual and applied arts;

• crafting;

• audio-visual and interactive media;

• film;

• photography;

• graphic design;

• architecture;

• live performance;

• theatre;

• written and published works; and

• heritage and libraries; as well as

• the labour force and institutions required to support these industries.

The creative and cultural industries in the Yukon

The cultural industries contribute directly to the Yukon’s economy, and are poised for growth. According to Statistics Canada, the Yukon's culture GDP was $59.7 million in 2018 and amounted to 2% of the total territorial economy. For comparison, Canada’s culture GDP totalled $56.1 billion in 2018 and accounted for 2.7% of Canada’s total economy.

 

Culture’s contribution of 2% in the Yukon’s economy compared to 2.7% in Canada’s shows that there’s significant potential for the Yukon to grow this sector. A prosperous creative and cultural industries sector would not only strengthen our creative community, but also contribute to the development of other sectors such as:

• tourism;

• small business;

• manufacturing; and

• education.

Reports and documents

Phase 3 – public engagement on the draft strategy

• Draft strategy

Phase 2 – public meetings and survey

• What We Heard: Creative and Cultural Industries Strategy

• Appendix A: Handout from Phase 2 public engagement sessions

• Appendix B: Full schedule of Phase 2 public engagement sessions

• Appendix C: Survey questions

Phase 1 - public engagement session

• Phase 1: Discussion forum questions and responses

• May 3 event summary and notes

• May 3 presentation: Highlights of Findings by Inga Petri

Resources and examples of plans, policies and strategies

Government of Yukon resources

• Yukon Arts Policy and Action Plan

• Government of Yukon arts and culture – Programs and funding

• Yukon Media Development

• Yukon Film & Sound Incentive Program Annual Report 2017-18

• What We Heard report: Film Fund Review

Canada

• Creative Canada Policy Framework

• Government of Canada – Exporting for creative industries

• Canadian Culture Satellite Account

• On-Screen Protocols & Pathways – Working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts and Stories

Newfoundland and Labrador

• The Way Forward: cultural action plan

Nova Scotia

• Nova Scotia's Culture Action Plan: Creativity and Community

Prince Edward Island

• Cultivating Growth: A Five-Year Action Plan for Culture and Creative Industries

Saskatchewan

• Creative Saskatchewan – Useful information about investment programs and story-based reporting

Calgary

• The Cultural Plan for Calgary

• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: A Demographic Profile of Calgary's Arts Sector

USA

• Rural Prosperity Through The Arts & Creative Sector: A Rural Action Guide for Governors and States

Who's listening

Contact the team by email at ccis.engage@yukon.ca or on their phone numbers below.

Project contacts and representatives:

• Clare Daitch – manager, Tourism and Culture: 867-667-8383
• Ewa Dembek – project manager, Tourism and Culture: 867-667-8304
• Alicia Debreceni – communications analyst, Tourism and Culture: 867-332-3670
• Anton Solomon – director, Labour Market Programs and Services, Education
• Kevin Hannam  – senior policy advisor, Economic Development
• Collyn Lovelace – policy analyst, Women and Gender Equity Directorate

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