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Creative Industries
DCAL is the Northern Ireland government lead on the creative industries. The creative industries are recognised across the globe for their potential for wealth and job creation. They are emerging as one of the fastest growing and increasingly important sectors of the economy. In Northern Ireland, over 36,000 people are employed in the creative industries or in creative occupations. This represents 4.6% of the workforce.
The creative industries are commonly considered to include 13 sub-sectors: Advertising; Architecture; Arts and Antiques; Computer Games; Crafts; Design; Designer Fashion; Film; TV and Radio; Music; Performing Arts; Publishing; Software/Digital Media.
The creative industries are important drivers of economic and social innovation with considerable ‘spill over’ impact on wider society. The Northern Ireland Executive has established growing a dynamic and innovative economy as its primary strategic objective in the Programme for Government and included a commitment to grow the creative industries.
In 2008 DCAL launched the Strategic Action Plan for the Creative Industries which outlined the main issues and opportunities for the growth of the creative industries in the region.
This Action Plan guided the priorities for action of the Creative Industries Innovation Fund which provided funding over 2008-11 to creative enterprises and sectoral development bodies to develop and exploit new creative content, products, services and experiences capable of serving local, national and international markets; and to ensure that Northern Ireland has the required supply of creative talents and skilled people oriented towards and equipped to work in creative businesses. The fund was administered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and further details can be found on their website
The Arts Council and Northern Ireland Screen play a key role in supporting and nurturing the creative industries across the region. DCAL is also committed to harnessing the catalytic potential of Northern Ireland’s creative and cultural infrastructure – the museums, libraries, W5, the Armagh Planetarium and Observatory etc to inspire new collaborations and initiatives to support the creative industries .
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