Building a Thriving Future for Ontario’s Arts, Culture, and Creative Workforce

Written by Miriam Kramer, OCAD University’s Executive Director, Government & Community Relations and Public Policy

Ontario’s culture sector workforce is the largest in Canada, comprising more than 270,000 direct jobs, and has grown considerably over the past decade. In 2022 alone, the province’s culture sector contributed over $26 billion to Ontario’s GDP. This remarkable growth, especially amidst challenges like the pandemic, inflation and rising living costs, highlights the sector’s resilience and its increasing importance to the provincial economy.

As Ontario’s only art and design university, OCAD University plays a pivotal role in developing the creative talent that fuels these sectors. According to OCAD U alumni data, there have been 25,357 graduates since the 1960s. A recent survey revealed that approximately 84% of graduates are based in Ontario, and about 58% work in a field related to arts or design, including in design, visual art, music, publishing, performing arts, interactive digital media, artistic craft, and audiovisual fields.

These cultural subsectors are critical to Ontario’s economy and its cultural identity, particularly as the province navigates global economic shifts, trade challenges, and technological disruption. As we look to the future, it’s essential to implement policies and programs that enhance workforce development and build the data capacity to further support the evolution of Ontario’s arts, culture and creative industries. 

Promoting Career Opportunities and Skills Development

A critical component of workforce development is fostering inclusive pathways into the arts and creative fields. Academic institutions, like OCAD University, are already making strides in this area.

Through the university’s Centre for Emerging Artists and Designers and experiential learning programs like OCAD U LiVE, students can gain valuable professional experience to prepare them for a career in the creative industries. OCAD U LiVE’s studio at TIFF Lightbox in Toronto offers students access to state-of-the-art equipment, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Since its launch in 2020, OCAD U LiVE has employed over 200 students and produced a range of programs. By offering these hands-on learning experiences, OCAD U LiVE bridges the gap between education and industry, preparing students for careers in Canada’s booming content creation and film sectors.

Academic institutions and industry stakeholders should collaborate to expand local workforce and skills development programs. These programs could focus on high-demand positions and transferable skills that span multiple sectors, which includes remaining up to date on technical innovations and how they are reshaping cultural work. By providing mentorship, placement, and experiential learning opportunities, we can equip students with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-evolving job market, while addressing the growing talent gap.

To address the growing demand for skilled professionals, institutions like OCAD University need to ensure that more people—especially those from equity-deserving and Indigenous communities—are aware of and have access to opportunities within the creative economy. Promoting careers in the arts, culture and creative industries as viable, sustainable career paths begins with intentional outreach programs. Integrating arts and culture-related programming into earlier educational stages, from K-12, can help spark interest in these fields at a young age.

Leveraging Data and Collaborative Partnerships

Another vital aspect of building a robust talent pipeline is developing a clear, data-driven understanding of the sector’s workforce needs. Ontario could greatly benefit from the creation of an accessible Cultural Data Research Centre—a platform that maps real-time data on culture investments, workforce trends and demographic composition. Similar tools already exist in the UK and USA; a Canadian model would provide Ontario and Canada’s arts, culture and creative industries with valuable insights into regional gaps and opportunities while supporting more targeted workforce development efforts.

Such a resource could also inform policies, help track representation across sectors and ensure that investments are directed where they are most needed. For businesses, this data would be invaluable in identifying hiring trends, forecasting workforce needs, and shaping corporate investment in creative talent.

Future-Proofing the Workforce: Digital Transformation and AI

In a world increasingly shaped by digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI), the creative economy must adapt to new realities. This transformation requires new digital skills and greater digital literacy, particularly in fields like creative technology, digital media and AI-based content creation. To remain competitive on the global stage, Ontario must continue to invest in digital skills training for the creative sector workforce, ensuring that workers are equipped to thrive in a technology-driven environment.

In this context, OCAD University’s School of Continuing Studies plays a crucial role in retraining and upskilling workers. Offering courses on digital transformation, AI and emerging creative technologies can help future workers navigate the rapidly changing landscape and emerge equipped to meet industry demands.

Building a resilient creative workforce requires collaboration between government, academic institutions, industry and community stakeholders. Ontario’s creative economy is stronger when we work together to support local talent, create inclusive opportunities and invest in future growth.

To position Ontario as a global leader in arts, culture, and creative industries, the business community and policymakers must take action by:

• Scaling up experiential learning initiatives through stronger partnerships between post-secondary institutions and businesses.
• Expanding mentorship and apprenticeship programs to address immediate talent shortages.
• Investing in data-driven workforce planning tools that provide insights into hiring needs and skills demand.
• Ensuring the sector has robust upskilling opportunities to adapt to emerging digital and AI-driven trends.

We invite business leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to engage with us in shaping the future of Ontario’s creative workforce.

Learn more in our collaborative brief: Ontario’s Arts, Culture, and Creative Industries: Strengthening Competitiveness and Communities.