Ontario’s Culture Sector: An Economic Powerhouse in Need of Bold Action

(TORONTO – March 18, 2025) – Amid recent trade disruptions, Ontario must strengthen its domestic economy by investing in key sectors—especially those often overlooked. A new policy brief from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) highlights the province’s culture sector (includes the arts and creative industries), as a critical driver of economic growth, global competitiveness, and community cohesion.

The brief, Ontario’s Arts, Culture, and Creative Industries: Strengthening Competitiveness and Communities, highlights the sector’s significant socio-economic impacts and challenges and offers recommendations to support its long-term growth. In 2022 alone, the province’s culture sector contributed over $26 billion to Ontario’s GDP. Ontario represents nearly half of Canada’s cultural economy, supporting 270,000 jobs across diverse industries such as film, music, galleries, and interactive digital media.

“Cultural industries strengthen our communities, make Ontario more attractive as a destination for investment, talent and tourism, and enhance our global business opportunities at a time of uncertainty in our trading relationships,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the OCC. “The Ontario Chamber’s latest policy brief finds our cultural industries brimming with potential to drive innovation, inclusion, and competitiveness. But bold and decisive action is necessary to secure their future.”

Despite its significant contributions, the sector faces critical challenges, including insufficient access to capital, labour shortages, and new challenges from the rise of artificial intelligence. Strategic investments and coordinated action across government, industry and academia can unlock the potential of the cultural industries, and the communities and businesses that they support.

Key recommendations include:

• Developing a comprehensive Ontario Culture Sector Strategy that integrates cultural development into Ontario’s economic planning.
• Enhancing talent development to address labour shortages and promote opportunity for underrepresented communities.
• Expanding and simplifying funding mechanisms while streamlining access to capital for small- and medium-sized cultural enterprises.
• Strengthening international competitiveness through marketing campaigns, trade missions, and cultural showcases.
• Investing in purpose-built cultural infrastructure, expanding transportation networks, and diversifying funding strategies to include rural, remote, Indigenous, and underserved communities.

The OCC extends special thanks to its lead partners, including OCAD University, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the City of Toronto, and its presenting partner, Ontario Creates, for their contributions.

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. It is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of 60,000 members. The OCC convenes, mobilizes and empowers business and local chambers in pursuit of its purpose: to bring inclusive and sustainable prosperity to Ontario’s businesses, workers, and communities.

For more information, please contact:
Andrea Carmona
Senior Manager of Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
andreacarmona@occ.ca | Mobile: (647) 234-0255

PARTNER QUOTES

“OCAD University is a crucial partner to Ontario in providing lifelong learning and skills to support the creativity and innovation our province needs. This brief demonstrates that when we invest in the competitiveness of our cultural and creative industries, the economy reaps the benefits. These sectors are critical to growing Ontario’s productivity and trade resilience and to supporting Ontario’s diverse communities and regions,” said Miriam Kramer, Executive Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, OCAD U.

“In a time when Ontario-made matters more than ever, Ontario’s Arts, Culture, and Creative Industries: Strengthening Competitiveness and Communities advances key policy priorities. The Ontario Arts Council’s ongoing investment in the arts fuels a future-proof economy, resilient communities, and the creative infrastructure that drives innovation, tourism, and global competitiveness. Ontario’s cultural industries are an engine of growth and social cohesion. Strengthening our commitment to the arts is essential to building a prosperous, inclusive future,” said Michael Murray, CEO, Ontario Arts Council.

“We are pleased to partner in this important report showing the vital contributions of the arts, culture, and creative industries to the livability and global competitiveness of Ontario. Toronto’s creative sector is a dynamic and powerful strategic asset for the entire province. Integrating the arts and creative industries in economic action plans will ensure that communities across Ontario are international destinations for investment, partnership, and tourism,” said Kelly Langgard, Director and CEO, Toronto Arts Council and Foundation.

“Ontario’s creative industries are a critical driver of the provincial economy, powering innovation, culture, and community across every corner of the province.  The OCC’s new report concisely and compellingly showcases the resilience and potential of this sector, laying out a pathway to unlock growth that will create jobs, attract investment, drive tourism, and, ultimately, strengthen our communities.  By highlighting opportunities and tackling barriers to growth, we can ensure Toronto, and Ontario, remain a global leader in creativity, commerce, and talent and that Ontario reaps the many benefits of a thriving creative industries sector for now and decades to come,” said Pat Tobin, General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, City of Toronto.

“Ontario’s screen, publishing and music industries are economic powerhouses, earning international recognition for excellence in people, production and content. We are proud to have partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to highlight the innovation, strengths and potential of these sectors through this policy brief, and we look forward to continuing this important conversation about how we can work together to enhance Ontario’s competitive position as an attractive business jurisdiction for investment,” says Karen Thorne-Stone, President and CEO, Ontario Creates.