Question Period Note: Creative Export Canada - Contribution of $7 million

As part of the Creative Export Strategy, the Department of Canadian Heritage launched a new export funding program in June 2018, named Creative Export Canada. The landmark investment of $35 million over five years (2018-2019 to 2022-2023) provides funding to Canadian organizations for high-potential export projects that amplify the creative industries’ global reach.

• The Creative Export Canada program was launched in 2018 as part of the Creative Export Strategy with an investment of $35 millions over five years.
• The program provides $7 million per year to support projects that help creative industries maximize their export potential and stand out in the global market.
• To date, 32 projects from the audiovisual, interactive digital media, music, performing arts, publishing, visual arts, and design industries have received funding. The program’s third application period closed on March 11, 2020.

Creative Export Strategy (CES):
• The CES is a comprehensive strategy put in place in 2018 to support Canadian creative industries in achieving success in international markets. The Strategy is comprised of a set of tools and initiatives to ensure that Canada’s creative businesses are export-ready and well-positioned to take advantage of international trade opportunities.
Creative Export Canada (CEC):
• A key component of the CES was to launch a new program called Creative Export Canada, administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
• The total program envelope is $7 million per year, with non-refundable contributions that can represent up to $2.5 million per application. There is no set amount per creative industry.
• Eligible recipients are Canadian for-profit companies with a maximum of $500 million in annual revenues and Canadian non-profit organizations. To be considered, submitted projects must support the discovery of Canadian works abroad, be focused on maximizing results, and support creative industries.
• Projects must have a minimum budget of $300,000 and target one or more of the eligible creative industries (audiovisual, interactive digital media, music, performing arts, publishing, visual arts, and design).The program is significantly oversubscribed, therefore only a limited number of projects are funded each year:
• The first cohort (2018-2019) funded 20 projects on a total of 109 applications received and announcement occurred in April 2019.
• The second cohort (2019-2020) funded 12 projects on a total of 186 applications received and the announcement occurred in September 2019.
• The majority of funded projects are from recipients based in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver as these locations are considered to be Canada’s main creative hubs with a high number of export-ready applicants that meet the program’s objectives.
• That said, the program receives applications from all the regions and some of the funded projects were from Nunavut (Qaggiavuut! Nunavut Performing Arts Centre) and Nova Scotia (Discovery Centre International and Screen Nova Scotia)
• The deadline for the third cohort was March 11, 2020, and submitted applications are under assessment. Projects must start between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, and eligible applicants were given the opportunity to adjust or modify their proposal, following the developments of the pandemic.
• Recipients that received funding for the first intake (2018-2019):
• Apollo Music Store Inc., Discovery Centre International, La Boite à Livres Éditions, Éditions Chouette, Festival Fantasia, Guru Animation, Inner City Releasing, LyricFind, Moment Factory, Organisme Schéma, Partenariat Quartier des spectacles, Peggy Baker Dance Projects, Playmind, Productions Folle avoine, Qaggiavuut! Nunavut Performing Arts Centre, SING! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Squeeze Studio Animation, Trio Orange, Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), and Why Not Theatre.
• Recipients that received funding for the second intake (2019-2020):
• Cavalia, Canadian Creators Collective, Independent Digital Licensing Agency, Les 7 doigts de la main, Metanaut, Normal Studio, Piknic Électronik, Screen Nova Scotia, Sinking Ship Entertainment Inc., Torn Banner Studios Inc., Urbania and Moonray Studios.

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