[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_font_size=”40px” custom_margin=”-1px||-2px|||” custom_padding=”|135px||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|135px||||” custom_padding_phone=”|20px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Creative BC Annual Impact Report

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”67447826-2690-4a15-b48a-f1dfb32c84be” custom_margin=”10px|||||” custom_padding=”|0px|16px|||” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

FY2020/21

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://creativebc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2021_ImpactReport.png” title_text=”2021_ImpactReport” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”89%” module_alignment=”right” custom_padding=”|75px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|75px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|7px|7px|7px|7px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta title=”Click here to view our Impact Report Summary” button_text=”Click Here” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”1f60bf59-c89b-4976-97d9-b1374490f9b9″ custom_margin=”|75px|9px|70px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|75px|9px|70px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”37px|0px|37px|0px|true|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” link_option_url=”https://bit.ly/3MGkHh5″ link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

(.pdf)

[/et_pb_cta][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”119.6px” custom_padding=”||4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”67447826-2690-4a15-b48a-f1dfb32c84be” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” header_font=”Inter|700|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#EE2A7B” header_font_size=”41px” custom_margin=”21px|||||” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Leading through service to B.C.’s creative industries

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|37px|7px|37px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Panels moderated or participated on” number=”35″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Joint announcements with BC Government” number=”8″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Crew and experts consulted for ED&I initiative Creative Pathways” number=”171″ title_tablet=”Crew and experts consulted for ED&I initiative Creative Pathways” title_phone=”Crew and experts consulted for ED&I initiative Creative Pathways” title_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_line_height=”1.4em” custom_padding=”|37px||37px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|37px|7px|37px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Traditional media hits and engagement” number=”+57″ percent_sign=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Indigenous and racialized board members” number=”40″ percent_sign=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Women board members” number=”70″ percent_sign=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”17px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_toggle title=”In FY2020/21 Creative BC continued to provide collaborative sector leadership, bridging industry and government” open_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.14)” closed_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.14)” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Creative BC’s organizational achievements in service of the creative sector during FY2020/21 included:

[/et_pb_toggle][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”45px||0px|||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”67447826-2690-4a15-b48a-f1dfb32c84be” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” header_font=”Inter|700|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#EE2A7B” header_font_size=”41px” custom_margin=”21px|||||” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Moving through the pandemic together

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px|37px|7px|37px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Billion $ Total GDP” number=”$4.44″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”FTE’s, up to 92,880 people” number=”58,213″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”21px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”'||divi||400″ icon_color=”#000000″ icon_width=”76px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”|||||true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

10% YOY

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_toggle title=”Renewed purpose: COVID impacts and beyond” open_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.14)” closed_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.14)” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Sector Sustainability: Renewed Purpose

Bringing social change and environmental responsibility into economic development

B.C.’s creative industries continue to weather and adapt to the global pandemic that initially disrupted business activity in March of 2020 across the sector. While recognized as one of the hardest hit segments of the economy, CIERA 2020 discovered the industries’ resilience with only a -10% overall drop in Total GDP contributions to the B.C. economy, but a –14% drop in Total Labour between 2019 actuals and 2020 estimates. A unique set of economic challenges and even some opportunities now face each
of the industries, many of which were already grappling with (or in some cases seizing upon) disruptions due to the rapid expansion of tech and the ongoing digital revolution. But from within this variable and uncertain economic context, there is a strong and unifying theme across the entire sector as the people within it ask: what kind of economy do we want to rebuild? Deepening priorities for social justice are combining with close to home experience of the global climate crisis linked to B.C.’s devastating fires and floods in 2021. Altogether, the sector is adopting a new imperative for developing a “sustainability mindset”
– one that builds its economy with great purpose as an interconnected and that reprioritizes equity and the environment as equal considerations.

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Committed to our work for Reconciliation” open_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.14)” closed_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.14)” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Indigenous Creative Sovereignty and Partnership

Commitment and accountability

In the role of catalyst for B.C.’s creative industries, Creative BC has an important role to play in uplifting the activities and work of Indigenous creators and companies. Creative BC also prioritizes the leadership of, and partnership with, Indigenous-led organizations pursuing economic, social and cultural development across the creative sector locally and nationally.

The organization provides ongoing education for management and staff, and purposefully observes National Day for Truth and
Reconciliation in order to participate in relevant and supporting community events, to learn and listen, and as a quiet day of reflection. By doing so, Creative BC recognizes and commemorates the tragic and ongoing legacy of residential schools so it is never forgotten. The organization commits to embed Reconciliation and accountability for change as a foundational principle in all
spheres of its influence.

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Trusted to act by our partners” open_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.14)” closed_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.14)” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Collaboration

Opening doors, bridging industry and community

Creative BC works closely with many to inform our work and the progress we support in the sector. The FY2020/21 year brought new meaning to the value of collaboration and partnership – from adapting programs to serve industry needs during the pandemic, to understanding where Creative BC processes and systems could be improved to remove barriers, to facilitating for the motion picture industry to publish high-level Safety Guidelines assisting productions in a safe return to work. Paramount to Creative BC’s ability to deliver, are the relationships and growing network of partners and collaborators focused on mutual success and opportunity B.C.’s creative industries – from clients, creative industry associations, regional film commissions, labour organizations, and equity and sovereignty-focused organizations, to the government’s creative sector team, and many more public bodies and granting organizations from local to national with whom the organization is proud to continue adapting, co-creating and delivering.

[/et_pb_toggle][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px||16px|||” disabled=”on” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#EE2A7B” text_font_size=”40px” header_font=”Inter|700|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”41px” custom_margin=”21px|||||” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

FY2020/21 Industry Summaries

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Book Publishing” open_toggle_background_color=”#fffcd6″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#faee77″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ background_color=”#fefdd0″ custom_margin=”10px||24px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Update and Overview

Twenty-six members of the Association of Book Publishers of B.C. (ABPBC) form the nucleus of the province’s publishing industry. These businesses make financial investments into the cultural output they produce and share profits from that creative contents sale.

More broadly in the province, an additional 20 businesses include self-publishers, hybrid publishers and chapbook presses.

Together, these bring B.C.’s total publishing businesses count to 46, representing 20% of the English-language Canadian-owned publishing industry, slightly up as a proportion in 2020 from the previous year (ABPBC).

Book publishers ensure our province’s unique perspective is delivered to the world via this beloved storytelling medium. They re central to the overall network of 273 businesses in B.C. that contribute to B.C.’s book culture.

Estimated Impacts of COVID-19 in 2020

Total GDP in 2020 was remarkably down only 11% to $25M (source: CIERA 2020*) from $28M in 2019, after an 18% drop between 2018 and 2019. Although a turbulent year, and given these historic trends, B.C. publishers emerged as B.C.’s second-most resilient of the creative industries after Interactive + Digital Media.

Full-time and equivalent Total Jobs were also down 11% to 280, however these include up to 500 people and another 1,200 freelancers as estimated by ABPBC.

(Note: While CIERA 2020 figures reflect Statistics Canada data, real-time independent insights from the ABPBC of the industry’s broader economic impacts estimate GDP contributions at $76M. CIERA recognizes that book publishing industry activity generates a portion of the additional 11,899 Total Jobs and $1.02B Total GDP attributed to the Multi-Creative Industry Services segment of the creative industries overall.)

Cash flow issues were the main problem at the outset of the pandemic in 2020, however supply chain issues emerging that year have been exacerbated, posing a real and significant threat to ongoing business in 2021 and beyond.

Surprisingly, at the outset of the pandemic, direct sales via publisher websites and e-book sales (especially to schools) increased. As well, independent bookstore sales, those that prioritize and champion B.C. books, were only nominally impacted. However, larger bookstores that purchase high volume, like Chapters Indigo, were greatly impactedby the pandemic and many unsold books were returned to their original publishers, as is the decades-old market feature unique to this industry.

Although each publisher’s experience was individual, their overall outcomes compared with counterparts across the country were measured by a recent StatCan COVID-19 impacts assessment. It shows that B.C. publishers faired the pandemic best in Canada in terms of employment, with less than -1% impact to salaries, wages and benefits to staff (vs. -7.1% average in Canada), but more poorly in terms of impacts to operating revenue at 10.6% (vs. 5.5% average in Canada).

 

REFLECTING ON ADAPTATIONS, RESILIENCE AND THE FUTURE

 

The virus changed reading habits, writing ambitions and B.C.’s book biz.

–Andrea Bennett, The Tyee

 

Due to necessity, through the pandemic B.C. publishers adapted to incorporate far more online communication with clients and readers, an additional emphasis on digital content, and this produced tremendous results for many that may be sustained, with one publisher, Arsenal Pulp, unexpectedly seeing a 400% increase in website sales during the first four months of the pandemic.

In terms of supports, the government of B.C. acted by renewing the BC Book Publishing Tax Credit for five years in Budget 2021, increasing stability and competitiveness coming out of the pandemic. Creative BC’s programs offered flexibility for grants in play, through coverage of non-recoupable expenses, extended deadlines and timelines, and opportunity to reallocate funding for cancelled activities toward innovations and newly eligible activities. The Market Expansion Fund for Book Publishers targeted supports to B.C. publishers, delivering $101,850 to 18 recipients.

The industry continues to monitor supply chain issues, regional tourism, event cancellations, postponed payments, in-person market access, and ongoing digital disruption of traditional business models for the industry, all of which are issues for mitigation with ongoing collaboration and support for the sector.

Beyond COVID-19, the industry’s national association is engaging in consultation relevant to remuneration of rightsholders for use of copyright-protected material through reform of the Copyright Act, as well as relevant to impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things.

*Statistics Canada Methodology Change

Data collection and federal insights improve over time. As such, a new methodology by StatCan was applied to all five of the creative industries GDP and Output figures, with numbers adjusted federally each year back to 2017 and through 2019 (a process called back-casting). This new methodology (for the key public dataset of nine informing CIERA) increased insights and the scale of B.C.’s video game industry by 26% in 2017, showing growth of 16% through 2019 to arrive at $1.21B Total GDP that year. (Video games are the only portion of interactive and digital media that can be specifically measured by CIERA at this time as the North America Industry Classification System isolates it specifically but does not do so for the broader application development portion of this industry).

Articles and Resources: Supply Chain Issues

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Interactive + Digital Media” open_toggle_background_color=”rgba(168,181,182,0.52)” closed_toggle_background_color=”#a8b5b6″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

The interactive and digital media industry is a broad category. However, for Creative BC’s purposes, included in the industry’s definition are companies telling stories through entertainment and educational interactive games, experiences and applications. The field is changing rapidly, and even the definitions of the businesses and products within it are evolving more slowly than the companies and the marketplace itself.

This industry is part of the green and knowledge economies, with the core of B.C.’s interactive and digital media industry represented in 2020 by 79 video game companies, from world leaders in e-sports to emerging regional entrepreneurs and employers (Source: Creative Tech Report). Beyond this, B.C.’s virtual and augmented reality ecosystem was comprised of 230 immersive tech companies prior to the pandemic in 2019 (Source: VRARA) making it the second-largest centre in the world.

ESTIMATED IMPACTS OF COVID-19 IN 2020

Creative BC’s CIERA focuses solely on measurement of the video games segment of industry, as it is the only component of the industry within scope with clearly defined codes used by Statistics Canada (North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS). Creative BC’s ongoing collaborative research will seek to isolate and measure new fields like VR/AR that are difficult to measure at this time.

In 2020 COVID-19 immediately challenged the video game industry in B.C. Especially hard on small companies, impacts included deep, short-term disruptions to activity and deal flow affecting businesses of all sizes. However, this is the only creative industry to show year over year growth of 3% with Total GDP of $1.25B in 2020 (source: CIERA 2020). However, full-time and equivalent Total Jobs were down -1% to 12,583.

Note that video game industry activities generate a portion of the additional 11,899 Total Jobs and $1.02B Total GDP attributed to the Multi-Creative Industry Services segment of the creative industries overall.

It remains to be seen what the industry’s actual pandemic impacts will have been, especially with Business in Vancouvers (BIV) real-time insights to Electronic Arts’ employment figures. While CIERA overall industry estimates for 2020 are based on public datasets (and Statistics Canadas early corollary insights for the COVID-19 year), this single but major industry players negaive trends were measured by BIV recently: …Electronic Arts employment trends, which peaked at 2,085 in 2019 after growing 39% compared with 2018. However, that growth was short lived. In 2020, Electronic Arts B.C. staff numbers fell 37.6% to 1,300 employees. The decrease continued into the pandemics second year as employment dropped an additional 3.9% to 1,250 employees. While Electronic Arts hasnt recovered from 2020 pandemic employment losses, other digital arts companies on the list have.

REFLECTING ON ADAPTATIONS, RESILIENCE AND THE FUTURE

Affecting the sector earlier on during COVID-19, were a variety of factors including slow deal flow, no market access, work from home costs, and pre-existing competition from other jurisdictions. Small business closures, layoffs and issues for smaller project-focused companies may be responsible for the gap of 40 companies between The Creative Tech Report’s recent count of 79 companies and the 119 identified by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) in 2019.

Fortunately, the Creative Tech Report indicates video game companies surveyed saw record sales during the early days of the pandemic, and information released by StatCan confirms time spent playing video games in the first month of the pandemic increased among Canadians more than 35% for those aged 15 to 49 and another 7% by those over 50. Furthermore, another study by Real Canadian Gamer found that 65% of adults found gaming during the pandemic to make them feel better, as did 78% of teens, and players cite mental health, spending time with family, and staying connected to friends as reasons they play. These new habits formed because of restrictions may stay on to sustain the boost to the industry and its companies earning potential.

Supports to the sector centred around those through Small Business BC. In FY 2020/21, Creative BC and BC Arts Council’s Interactive Fund again delivered $607k to 12 interactive and digital media companies of the 169 that applied, with higher than ever demand for the program. Funding pivoted responsively to include costs associated with operating during the pandemic including new qualifying expenses, such as PPE, testing and cleaning.

Due to the issues mentioned, full visibility into the impacts of the broader interactive and digital media sector is difficult. However, for video games alone, and corroborating CIERA insights, the Creative Tech Report shows revenue in Canada grew for this sub-sector by approximately 20% between 2017 and 2019, which is four times the rate of economic growth in Canada overall. As a high-performing segment, it also pays workers well. The same research found average Vancouver wages for those with three to five years experience in a key role was over $83,000, and for intermediate developers in 2020 was approximately $87,500, close to 50% higher than WelcomeBC’s weekly wage for working British Columbians of $1,156.10 that annualizes to $60,000.

Of note for B.C., still valuable ESAC data from 2019 already showed the number of video game companies atrophying in B.C., unlike trends in other provinces, although this industrys economic contributions are growing at a rate that far exceeds that of most segments of B.C.’s economy. Important for long term stability of the video game industry will be ensuring small companies can thrive in the province as large ones do, because smaller firms are often both incubators for talent and agile innovators within this field. It may be important to understand more about a higher cost of living in B.C. and its potential contribution to higher local wages, or whether competition for talent is leading to our province’s above-average labour cost. The same study showed that in 2019 large companies employed 79% of labour in this industry (companies larger than 100 employees), and these larger organizations were multiplying in number in B.C., but that overall the total number of video game companies had decreased by 9% since 2015. Conversely, Quebec and Ontario were experiencing growth in the number of video game companies within their provinces aggressive growth in fact, with 57% and 118% respectively in only four years. Ensuring B.C.’s fair share of federal support may contribute to balance the ecosystem and sustain its competitiveness here in B.C.

From a demographic perspective, the ESAC annual survey results from 2019 show that B.C. employee average age is highest in B.C. at 36 years vs. 31 in Canada overall, and employment participation by those identifying as women is lowest nationally at 14% (with only 21% of those working directly on games) vs. 26% and 56% respectively in Ontario and Quebec (with 18% and 56% working directly on games in those provinces).

From an economic perspective, key to success for this industry continues to be export, with three-quarters (76%) of its revenue derived from markets outside Canada according to ESAC. Similarly, the Vancouver VR/AR Association study shows its segment of the industry to also be highly dependent on access to capital, infrastructure, investment attraction, and foreign markets (the latter being responsible for 65% of revenue for the companies surveyed).

Looking ahead to the future, the ESAC and Creative Tech reports both show that business models are rapidly changing in this industry, with digital downloads stealing an increasing share of the market away from physical products and leading to the Game as a Service model. The ongoing trend away from console and PC gaming to mobile gaming continues, which now accounts for nearly half of the global gaming industrys market. Gamers are increasingly social, cloud-based services are growing subscription models for consumers, and data analytics on player behaviours are informing product and service engagement and sales.

STATCAN METHODOLOGY CHANGE: Data collection and federal insights improve over time. As such, a new methodology by StatCan was applied to all five of the creative industries GDP and Output figures, with numbers adjusted federally each year back to 2017 and through 2019 (a process called back-casting). This new methodology (for the key public dataset of nine informing CIERA) increased insights and the scale of B.C.’s video game industry by 26% in 2017, showing growth of 16% through 2019 to arrive at $1.21B Total GDP that year. Additionally, StatCan made aggressive adjustments to video game employment figures, up 34% through this methodology change in 2017 to reflect improving insights; the industry showed both Total GDP and job growth of 16% between 2017 and 2019 for a trending comparison. Video games are the only portion of interactive and digital media that can be specifically measured by CIERA at this time as the North America Industry Classification System (NAICS) isolates it but does not do so for the broader application development portion of this industry. Currently there is no NAICS code for AR/VR.

Sources 

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Magazine Publishing” open_toggle_background_color=”#edf9ea” closed_toggle_background_color=”#cadecf” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

There are 49 members of the Magazine Association of BC and 284 B.C.-based magazines as of September 2020, representing 11% of the periodicals published in Canada overall. From general news, business, trade and research to lifestyle, literary, cooking, culture, health, travel and more, British Columbias long-form print media storytellers are critical thinkers. They anchor ideas and shape our narrative in print and digital magazine formats that we depend on for a distinctly west coast B.C. perspective. 

 

ESTIMATED IMPACTS OF COVID-19 IN 2020

The global pandemic exacerbated downward trends for this global industry in 2020 with B.C. Total GDP hard-hit, down 34% from 2019 to $107M (source: CIERA 2020). This after a 13% drop between 2018 and 2019. B.C. magazine publishers were B.C.’s second-most devastated of the creative industries after Music + Sound Recording. Full-time and equivalent jobs were also down 23% to 1,366 from 1,772 the previous year.  

(Note that magazine publishing industry activity generates a portion of the additional 11,899 Total Jobs and $1.02B Total GDP attributed to the Multi-Creative Industry Services segment of the creative industries overall. 

In B.C., insights to title counts through the Magazine Association of BC and Creative BC collaboration saw 13% fewer titles in 2020 from 2019. Challenges to the industry were reduced advertising investment and low revenues coupled with supply chain issues, shipment delays, postponed orders, delivery delays, and existing issues due to digital disruption of traditional business models. Like book publishing, declining trends continued through the pandemic, and supply chain issues have been exacerbated, posing a significant threat to ongoing business in 2021 and beyond. 

Periodical publishers operating revenues were slightly more affected by COVID-19 than newspapers, down 24% in Canada on average according to a recent StatCan COVID-19 impacts publication, with lower foot traffic at retailers being detrimental to their demand chain. The same report reflects that salary, wage, commission and benefit expenses were only down by 14% by comparison likely due to significant downsizing and restructuring in prior years. This industry was able to transition to Work from Home more easily than other creative industries, with those periodicals in digital formats further able to better adapt.  

 

REFLECTING ON ADAPTATIONS, RESILIENCE AND THE FUTURE 

Response to the pandemic by industry was swift, with a Canada-wide publisher survey of impacts submitted and resulting in federal support through the Special Measures for Journalism Fund. Creative BC support delivered grant-writing assistance and coaching for all publications seeking to apply and The Magazine Association of BC prepared a guide for B.C. periodicals to understand the funding, which came through Canadian Heritage. To increase successful federal leverage, Creative BC offered paid 45-minute Zoom or phone consultations with and experienced grant writer. 

The industry is operating within a highly competitive new media landscape and the ability to maneuver within it will enhance success rates.

Ongoing economic impacts of the pandemic and general trends are expected to continue but to slow in 2021, in terms of revenue volatility and reduced discretionary spending. The industry will monitor opportunities such as growing penetration of smartphones and tablets, access to new digital global markets, availability of a wide range of magazines, and the high public impact of printed magazines. Adoption of interactive advertisements in print magazines is a major trend with real-time adjustments to readers actions and personalized content to enhance reader experience. Looking for opportunities, questioning assumptions and finding ways to reinvent within the category will help magazines sustain, or maybe even enhance their competitive positioning. 

Magazine publishing in Canada is taking steps toward greater equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through industry-wide surveys and research, and with Magazines Canada committing to increase representation of Black and Indigenous directors on its Board in 2021 22. A summary of findings across Canada shows 82% of respondents agreed that EDI was important to the organizations they worked for, 70% felt EDI commitments were demonstrated by their organizations and another 70% said concrete steps hand already been taken by their organizations to promote EDI, and 47% said their organizations faced barriers to EDI. 

STATCAN METHODOLOGY CHANGE: Data collection and federal insights improve over time. As such, a new methodology by StatCan was applied to all five of the creative industries™ GDP and Output figures, with numbers adjusted federally each year back to 2017 and through 2019 (a process called back-casting). This new methodology (for the key public dataset of nine informing CIERA) increased insights and the scale of B.C.’s magazine publishing industry by 14% in 2017, showing year-over-year attrition trends due to digital disruption and reducing ad sales, to arrive in 2019 at $162M Total GDP. 

Sources: 

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Multi-Creative Industry Services” open_toggle_background_color=”rgba(235,229,217,0.32)” closed_toggle_background_color=”#EBE5D9″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

B.C.’s creative industries share many synergies. The result is that together, the five industries served by Creative BC catalyze the development and sustainment of a sixth component of the sector’s ecosystem. This sixth component is comprised of many relevant industry categories that directly feed and serve the creative industries overall, but none of the businesses within it can be attributed to a single creative industry. Rather they serve multiple creative industries each. Therefore, this segment of the sector stands as its own component of the ecosystem, and CIERA measures and refers to it as Multi-Creative Industry Services.

The economic impacts of this sixth area are accurately counted within the creative industries’ impacts, as its contributions have been identified as relevant only to this sector. The Multi-Creative Industry Services are scaled by CIERA to ensure only relevant activities specific to the five creative industries served by Creative BC are captured and reported.

From agents, artists’ managers and independent writers to periodical and book wholesalers and trade agents, this fluid and agile network of companies and creators is depended upon and fed by all of B.C.’s five creative industries.

Up modestly from $1.019B in 2019, Total GDP rose to $1.24B in 2020 (source: CIERA 2020). However, full-time and equivalent Total Jobs were down -15% to 11,899.

 

Skills over Jobs | A note on the new normal: gig work

Conference Board of Canada research indicates that people in the creative industries have more than one occupation, reflecting the gig work nature of this sector. Examples are sound recording, with an average 3.2 occupations each; in writing and publishing 2; in audio-visual and interactive media 1.5; and those in live performance 1.9. Given this, no segment of the creative sector may contain such a high concentration of gig-workers as the Multi-Creative Industry segment – where business services could support multiple creative industries.

Possibly the sharp drop in employment, compared with steadier Total GDP for this segment of CIERA insights is due to a larger proportion of independent gig workers that deliver skills to multiple industries in the cultural sector, having been impacted as contractors more quickly than more traditionally employed workers.

Improved measurement of the gig economy, that redefines the way many people trade skills for pay, will help governments understand the evolving nature of work beyond traditional FTEs. In Canada, arts, culture, recreation and sport have the highest percentage, and B.C. had the highest share, of gig workers in the country according to Statistics Canada.

Sources:

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Music + Sound Recording” open_toggle_background_color=”#e1ffff” closed_toggle_background_color=”#97dee0″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Update and Overview

The core of B.C.’s music and sound recording industry is represented by 200+ sound recording studios and 80+ record labels across the province. Recording in these studios are thousands of B.C.’s emerging and established artists, representing a full spectrum of communities and musical genres from hip-hop, indie pop and bangra to folk, country and classical. This segment of the creative industries also includes hundreds of industry professionals, service providers, promoters, venues, festivals, producers, agents and managers, all of whom drive B.C.’s music economy.

Estimated Impacts of COVID-19 in 2020

Within the creative sector, this industry was COVID-19’s hardest hit, and it continues to persevere as restrictions and requirements change, with business models needing to withstand safety costs and protocols. Total GDP in 2020 was down 36% from 2019 to $203M in 2020 (source: CIERA 2020*). This was due in major part to the lack of live music and festival activity but may reflect increased creation and recording activities as globally, live music is estimated to account for half of industry economic activity (Source: World Economic Forum). Full-time and equivalent labor paralleled the downward trend, at 37% to 4,067 Total Jobs (down from 6,414 the previous year) with an estimated 8,190 people working in the industry (Creative BC estimate based on Staying in Tune research study figures of 13,400 people adjusted down by -37%).

(Note: CIERA recognizes that music and sound recording industry activity generates a portion of the additional 11,899 Total Jobs and $1.02B Total GDP attributed to the Multi-Creative Industry Services segment of the creative industries overall.)

Challenges to this industry are obvious in that artists derive most of their incomes from live performance, which also supports employment of many other freelance workers to stage events and service eventgoers. In 2020 live performance was decimated as there were no gatherings, gigs or events due to pandemic restrictions. Live streaming activities serve as a lifeline and connection to fans but in no way replace the revenues generated by in-person activities. In 2021 restrictions are decreasing, but adjustments continue to negatively impact already slender margins for live performance presenters, jeopardizing activities as some continue to avoid financial risk by canceling events.

REFLECTING ON ADAPTATIONS, RESILIENCE AND THE FUTURE

A positive aspect does exist, however, in that early in the pandemic music creation and sound recording activities were also reduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, but research by Statistics Canada shows this portion of the industry demonstrated resilience and adapted successfully. In fact, the report shows creation and recording was affected to a lesser degree than most other cultural industries in Canada, including the creative industries served by Creative BC. The StatCan COVID-19 data insights report highlights that sound recording proper, as an aggregate, was the only culture sector segment not to experience a decline in operating revenue, while holding constant its labour-related expenses. This includes record production and distribution, music publishers, sound recording studios, that do not depend on live events for their income but derive a sizable portion of their revenue from streaming services. The study estimates that music publishers and sound recording studios both in fact experienced modest growth in operating revenue in 2020, and moderate declines in labour-related expenses.

Responses to the pandemic by Creative BC were swift and flexible, with the delivery of $623,000 to 742 recipients through ShowcaseBC the concert, the program, and the online hub for streaming events. Amplify BC grants to the industry that were already in play allowed for revised recording budgets in eligible studios and funding for expenses relevant to cancelled events was delivered, with events able to postpone or cancel and defer funding to 2021 (with new deadlines for those projects in October 2021). Scaled back projects were still eligible for funding and projects were able to be re-envisioned as online or alternative ways of serving audiences for live events were accepted. In addition, all Amplify BC programs were extended to December 15, 2020, and were designed and adapted through industry consultation with a focus on greater flexibility and 100% matching so companies would no longer have to pay for half the project. In addition, Music BC’s inspired SoundON initiative brought Amplify BC funding together with other sources providing BC presenters and artists with direct support to get back to creating unforgettable live music experiences.

Significantly, just after the fiscal year ended, the Province of British Columbia renewed Amplify BC for another two years, providing a total of $15M across FY21/22 and FY22/23 and giving greater certainty to the industry at a time of ongoing need, ensuring that funding would remain in place to endure continued restrictions while working toward recovery.

While creation and recording continue to operate with protocols, live music remains greatly restricted as it tries to return. New research by Mandolin, an online streaming platform, suggests that from a fan perspective, in-person concerts will come back in a big way, but livestream is here to stay. The report suggests a hybrid future for the industry, which will continue to reimagine venue spaces relevant to lingering requirements for health and safety. In fact, 91% of livestream audiences will continue to watch them, even as they go back to in person shows. This offers an opportunity for artists and venues to reach virtual audiences who otherwise cant attend shows. Importantly, 85% said they would take a chance to watch artists with whom they are not familiar, another opportunity for artists to acquire fans and gain audiences. Finally, 82% of fans said they would pay for perks including VIP experiences and exclusive merchandise. These insights may add impetus to add a virtual layer to live events in the future.

*Statistics Canada Methodology Change

Data collection and federal insights improve over time. As such, a new methodology by StatCan was applied to all five of the creative industries GDP and Output figures, with numbers adjusted federally each year back to 2017 and through 2019 (a process called back-casting). This new methodology (for the key public dataset of nine informing CIERA) increased insights and the scale of B.C.’s music and sound recording industry by 11% in 2017, showing year-over-year growth in the face of digital disruption through 2019 to arrive in 2019 at $315M Total GDP.

Sources:

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Motion Picture” open_toggle_background_color=”#fff5e2″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#ffbfa8″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

B.C.’s motion picture industry represents a mature, full-service global motion picture hub the largest in Canada and third-largest in North America. Spanning from domestic production to foreign activity, and from live action to animation, VFX and post-production, B.C. possesses truly world-leading storytelling expertise, supports and servicesfrom script to screen.  

ESTIMATED IMPACTS OF COVID-19 IN 2020  

Live action production companies came to a standstill, as did the expert supply companies servicing the industry. Forty-four productions on Creative BC’s go to In Production list all indicated temporary suspension from late March until official reopening June 24th when production activity was permitted and gradually picked back up.  

In calendar year 2020 there were an estimated 262 productions119 domestic and 143 foreign (Source: Creative BC tax credit administration data), down 36% from 411 in 2019. However, together these productions activities delivered $1.83B Total GDP (Source: CIERA) to the B.C. economy,only down 16% year over year from 2019, with higher value productions seeking to work in B.C. during the pandemic and strong expansion of that activity into B.C.’s regions, particularly the Okanagan and Vancouver Island. Given five straight months of paused production activity (March through July 2020), this figure demonstrates the strong rebound experienced by the industry as it returned from 0 productions to a peak of 70 simultaneous productions at one point during the fall of 2020. B.C.’s industry recorded both the lowest and the highest number of simultaneous productions in the province in 2020. This is attributed to the fact that early in the pandemic, B.C. was recognized for its excellent response to COVID-19 and the publics commitment to collaborate with Provincial Health Officer orders to bring counts down, thereby supporting a faster return to work than was the case in competitive jurisdictions.  

Measuring employment, FTE Total Jobs were 28,018, down -13% from 2019 (Source: CIERA) with an estimated 61,892 people working in the industry when freelance/gig workers are counted (Source: adjusted 2019 industry labour market study figures of 71,140 people down by -13%). This includes above-the-line (producers and directors), below-the-line (artists and technicians) and animation/VFX and postproduction creators combined in 2020. 

Note that motion picture industry activities generate a portion of the additional 11,899 Total Jobs and $1.02B Total GDP attributed to the Multi-Creative Industry Services segment of the creative industries overall. 

Reliable, annual data sources mirror CIERA insights and show that Canadian content production nationally was down by 12% and jobs were down 16% due to pandemic impacts (Source: Profile 2020). The report also shows that B.C. had 30% of total national production share (Ontario had 38% overall) bur 45% of foreign location service share (Ontario had 29% overall). 

REFLECTING ON ADAPTATIONS, RESILIENCE AND THE FUTURE  

Sector Supports: FY 2020/21 federal supports backstopped insurance for domestic creators, which had grounded Canadian productions. In the same fiscal year, the provincial government of B.C. announced a $2M domestic motion picture fund in September of 2020, and the first program through Creative BC, the Equity + Emerging Program, launched in FY 2021. Creative BC’s supports to through annual domestic industry granting programs included pivots and adjustments for increased flexibility relevant to deadlines and deliverables. In support of foreign activity, regional film commission operational grants through Creative BC were also flexible to recognize their higher-than-normal volume, and increased administrative and collaborative support through a new Regional Lead role established to support and unite the regional film commissions through Creative BC. Importantly, the organization took the lead on health and safety guidelinesto collaborate on the WorksafeBC Safety Protocols, to facilitate the publication of the Motion Picture Production Industry Coalition Safety Guidelines, and the Reel GreenTM | A Greener Return guide. Three more publications were created by industry including the Pandemic Production Guide (for live action), the Anim+VFX Alliance Return to Studio, and the BC Post-production COVID-19 Guidelines,  

Regional Activity: The industry was experiencing proportional regional growth as activities in the Lower Mainland increased and pushed production beyond the boundaries of this economic region. However, during the pandemic regional production activity has greatly increased, anecdotally, and regional film commission data will be important to analyze these ongoing positive trends. Regional physical production activity was first to resume with COVID-19 Safety Plans in place by each production. A Kelowna-based production was first to trial and implement WorkSafeBC Protocols for health and safety with a WorkSafeBC team member attending. The B.C. Motion Picture COVID-19 Best Practices Coalition published Safety Guidelines June 24th, 2020, the day Phase 3 of B.C.’s Restart Plan opened, with productions respectfully implementing them as quarantines remain in effect for those with valid work permits for B.C. Industry also produced a Pandemic Production Guide for use at the department level by any production.  As an example, filming in Kamloops and the Thompson-Nicola region has ramped up in 2021. From 2000 to 2020, there were approximately five productions in total that filmed in the city, and only for a few days each. In the beginning of 2021, five entire features were filmed in the City of Kamloops, one throughout the region and another seven are planning to do so by the end of 2021. 

Animation, VFX and Post Production: For animation companies, work slowed but was able to proceed once work-from-home arrangements were established, which required immense technical investments (est. $250k per company), legal agreements with clients to permit employees having files at home, and the navigation of low residential broadband speeds that arent built to handle the speed and file sizes necessary for industry. The Animation and VFX Alliance of BC published a Return to Studio Guide for Health and Safety. In VFX and post-production, the same arrangements were required although technical equipment in some cases could only be accessed in-studio. Resilience of the animation industry is seen in a recent Business in Vancouver (BIV) article offering insights to two of B.C.’s large animationa companies: Bardel Entertainment Inc. suffered a 19% employment drop to 405 employees in 2020 from 500 in 2019, but it was able to recover all of those jobs in 2020 with a one-year rise of 23.5%, and Mainframe Studios Inc. recorded the largest one-year increase in staff numbers among companies on the list: up 62.5% to 650 employees in 2021 from 400 in 2020.

STATCAN METHODOLOGY CHANGE: Data collection and federal insights improve over time. As such, a new methodology by StatCan was applied to all five of the creative industries GDP and Output figures, with numbers adjusted federally each year back to 2017 and through 2019 (a process called back-casting). This new methodology (for the key public dataset of nine informing CIERA) increased insights and the scale of B.C.’s motion picture industry by 9% in 2017, however growth trends in previous year over year figures were larger. The industry stayed stead during 2018 and 2019 (which aligns with Creative BC tax credit administration insights to arrive in 2019 at $2.176B Total GDP. 

ANNUAL INDUSTRY OVERVIEW 

Domestic Activity: B.C.’s domestic industry is an important part of motion picture overall in this province and consists of local production companies that develop B.C.-owned-and controlled intellectual property (IP). When produced (manufactured), these projects maintain revenues related to the ongoing sale and royalties from this creative product. The money remains in B.C.-based production businesses, and is reinvested into making more product. People in B.C.’s domestic industry include an estimated 200 domestic producers as estimated by the CMPA BC Producers Branch, with 120 of them active members of this industry association. B.C.’s above-the-line talent creates feature films, TV series, documentaries and factual content to critical acclaim. 

Foreign Activity: To service the sector, including foreign production activity that represents over 80% of B.C.’s total activity, the province boasts more than 120 sound stages representing over 2.5 million square feet, including purpose-built stages and conversions. In addition, there are 250+ B.C. supply and service businesses in this industry, defined as those where more than 80% of annual revenues are derived from motion picture industry-related services. Within this count, Creative BC has identified 99 companies of various sizes specifically in the animation and VFX segments of the motion picture industry, and 32 post production companies. The Vancouver Post Alliance (VPA) itself has 331 individual members. These state-of-the-art companies create original domestic products, for broadcasters such as CBC and Corus, service foreign content production, for studios from Disney and Warner Bros. to AppleTV+ and Netflix. A strong talent pipeline is of primary focus for this high pay, high demand industry vertical.The Motion Picture Production Industry Association(MPPIA), where the Animation + VFX Alliance, VPA and CMPA BC Producers Branch are members, represents the broader industry and foreign service production, which generates the majority of production spending in B.C. Ninety-seven percent are B.C. residents and 77% depend on the industry as their main source of income. Access to deep industry insights through the 2019 Labour Market Study has led industry to embark on the MPPIA workforce initiative, focused on increasing capacity through more fair and balanced participation. 

Sources 

[/et_pb_toggle][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”14px|||||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”67447826-2690-4a15-b48a-f1dfb32c84be” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” header_font=”Inter|700|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”41px” custom_margin=”61px|||||” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

FY2020/21 Supports + Services

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”FY2020/21 Focus” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

British Columbias creative industries experienced an intense and challenging year in FY2020/21 due to the destabilizing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like all industries globally, the impacts have been nuanced, ranging from disruption to devastation, and in some cases they are still ongoing. It is widely acknowledged that the creative industries are some of the hardest hit by impacts of the economic slowdown and social constraints on gathering.

Creative BC worked to directly advance the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport priorities generally and relevant to the pandemic, by aligning with BC’s COVID-19 Action Plan and monitoring and promoting federal supports for economic recovery to the sector.
Additionally, in FY2020/21 Creative BC sought to address the creative industries challenges by first surveying the sector to understand areas of greatest disruption and need. This assisted the organization to inform its integrated approach to COVID-19 programs and services.

All activities, despite the pandemic, continue to support the organizations four strategic pillars of:
1. maintaining competitiveness for BC’s creative industries;
2. sustaining a growth mindset within the current context;
3. focusing on discoverability for the creative industries products and capacity; as well as
4. development and support of the sectors B.C.-based talent.

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Provincial Film Commission” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Established in 1978, the Provincial Film Commission at Creative BC delivers and supports the resources that serve B.C.’s thriving motion picture industry. From high-calibre projects, fantastic indies and moving documentaries to beloved series, the entertainment content made in B.C. transports audiences, influences culture and employs thousands of skilled industry professionals from tech, trade, business and the arts. Creative BC’s provincial film commission is crucial to sustaining motion picture activity in B.C. It promotes and facilitates the province’s production capabilities that make B.C. both a global centre of creative excellence and a full-service hub. Policy facilitation, stakeholder relations, production and location services, and community affairs support are all offered by Creative BC. These film commission resources for the industry are provided free of charge to contribute to a responsible economy as well as one in which productions can enjoy smooth and efficient operations, whether shooting on urban streets or in wilderness locations. Serving province-wide, in collaboration with eight regional film commissions beyond the lower mainland, Creative BC collaborates with and between industry and government. The provincial film commission is committed to unite and champion a strong and sustainable industry that brings value at all levels, including to the communities in which it works.

Production Services from Script to Screen

Creative BC markets the provinces diverse settings and technical expertise. Through tailored location packages generated from Creative BC’s proprietary locations library, the location services team provides domestic and international producers with a World of LooksTM that reflect their cinematic stories creative requirements from the rugged landscapes of the Kootenays to the Okanagan’s sunny vineyards or the Lower Mainland’s urban settings. The digital locations library contains over half-a-million images. As the team reads through incoming scripts, they draw on an encyclopedic knowledge of suitable locations to identify and tailor images for the clients needs, turning packages around in 48 hours or less.

Creative BC and the regional film commissions also deliver familiarization (FAM) tours and location surveys for visiting producers. As additional support, Locations Caucus members of the Directors Guild of Canada BC Chapter may apply for direct digital library access, along with support and training through Creative BC.

FY2020/21 Impacts

Industry + Community Affairs Support and Collaboration

Creative BC provides leadership, consultation, service and support to sustain and strengthen the way motion picture works in B.C. As the first point of contact, the industry and community affairs team assists members of the public, industry, and government to respond to stakeholder inquiries, address issues related to policy, and support physical production and B.C.’s film-friendliness. The focus is always on swift, successful resolution and long-term collaborative success.

Ongoing collaboration with partners, specifically those of the Motion Picture Community Initiative Partners is fundamental to the Commission’s and industry’s continued success: ACFC West, Local 2020 Unifor (Association of Canadian Film Craftspeople); CMPA-BC (Canadian Media Producers Association – BC Producers Branch); CPAWC (Commercial Production Association of Western Canada); DGC BC (Directors Guild of Canada, B.C. District Council); IATSE Local 891 (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees); ICG 669 (International Cinematographers Guild of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees); MPA Canada (Motion Picture Association Canada); MPPIA (Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC); UBCP/ACTRA (Union of BC Performers/Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists); and Teamsters Union Local 155.

FY2020/21 Impacts

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Motion Picture Tax Credits” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Creative BC’s tax credits team increased tax credit application administration activities in FY2020/21 over the previous years levels. The team also added responsibilities for pre-certification application administration. All projected concerns and issues noted due to COVID-19 in the Business Plan, including those relevant to CRA disruptions and time lags, have been remedied.

Due to the implementation of a new technical system, Creative BC is now able to provide two distinctive datasets for greater insights to actual production activity taking place in British Columbia. The new system delivers higher quality client experience and permits greater agility for reporting. The two distinctive reporting methods are:

  1. CERTIFICATON METHOD: production volume based on tax credit certification data by Creative BC team reflects processing numbers and is based on tax credit applications certified by Creative BC. This historic method has served as a strong proxy for actual volume during the fiscal year.
  2. PPKA METHOD: production volume based on tax credit submission data by productions leveraging BC’s tax credits – reflects submission information from applicants and is based on productions with Principal Photography or Key Animation Start Dates during the Fiscal Year in question. This additional method provides insight to actual production volume during a fiscal year in B.C. and combines a) Pre-Certification insights b) uncertified tax credit application insights and c) certified tax credits insights.

FY2020/21 Impacts

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Funding Programs” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

In FY2020/21 Creative BC’s funding team focused services around the organization’s Guiding Principles for Response to COVID-19 Impacts:

  1. Flexible funding
  2. Innovative pursuit
  3. Distinctive considerations
  4. Strengthened workforces
  5. Rapid delivery in general, moved to electronic fund transfers
  6. Expert service in general, engaged at all levels of government to inform actions, collaborated with associations, innovated programs
  7. Partnerships and leverage – in general, participated in national committees, and promoted use of federal supports to stakeholders

Key Actions to Support the Sector’s Domestic Activities

FY2020/21 Impacts

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Reach + Engagement” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

In FY2020/21, the leadership team represented the sector by presenting or moderating on 35 panels; collaborating on 8 joint program, initiative, or
recipient announcements with government and industry; and designing CIERA to measure B.C.’s creative industries GDP, output and jobs.

All of Creative BC communications were greatly impacted by responsibilities during the outset of the pandemic to engage and support the industries, disseminating information on B.C.’s restart plan, engaging companies and creators in COVID-19 impacts surveys, staging ShowcaseBC the concert and its associated new website for music streaming events, and supporting government and industry requirements for increased communications including daily, then weekly government reporting and approvals of all media and direct distributions during the early days of the pandemic.

From a statistical perspective, the following datapoints demonstrate the depth and breadth of communications and engagement across three websites, four social channels and four distinct newsletters:

Creative BC Website Users: 281,282

BC Creates Website Users: 31,227

Showcase BC Website Users: 15,000

Social followers: 27,535

Newsletter Subscribers: 9,785

Traditional Media Hits: 2,228

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_cta title=”Funding Programs and Recipients” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”b2ca7033-b2ce-4851-a3af-0fa4f4760b87″ header_text_color=”#ffffff” body_text_color=”#ffffff” min_height=”118px” custom_margin=”15px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”16px|21px|16px|21px|true|true” link_option_url=”https://knowledgehub.creativebc.com/s/funding-recipients/fy2020-21″ link_option_url_new_window=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” background_color__hover=”#1E2A2F” background_enable_color__hover=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

->

[/et_pb_cta][et_pb_cta title=”Motion Picture Tax Credit Tables” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#ffffff” body_text_color=”#ffffff” min_height=”118px” custom_margin=”15px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”16px|21px|16px|21px|true|true” link_option_url=”https://knowledgehub.creativebc.com/s/research-reports?tabset-8ccd0=2″ link_option_url_new_window=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” background_color__hover=”#1E2A2F” background_enable_color__hover=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

->

[/et_pb_cta][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” header_font=”Inter|700|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”41px” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”61px|||||” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

FY2020/21 Collaborations + Initiatives

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Reel Green™” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Reel Green™ continued its successful evolution and trajectory even during the pandemic, strengthening workforces with exponentially more crew trained on foundational best practices for sustainability on set. More crew (341) were trained during the pandemic than in the previous year (244). This was due in part to the training being more accessible, as it was adapted for increased relevance to an online delivery method, as well as to the fact that crews were off work for five months during the pause in production due to PHO health and safety restrictions.

During FY2020/21, the Reel Green™ initiative did the background work to support investing partners in the initiative to establish a service resource in-house at Creative BC, jointly funded by industry and supported in kind via the organization.

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Creative Pathways” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Significant investment was made in FY2020/21 by the CEO, B.C. Film Commissioner and Director of Production Services, and Director of Business Operations together with Notio Media’s expertise, both in terms of time and resources, to activate Creative Pathways. An innovative collaboration, this industry-led, Creative BC-supported initiative supports work to diversify the composition of B.C.’s film industry workforce.

The Creative Pathways initiative seeks to transform the industry, with more fair and balanced representation among the workforce for members of equity-seeking groups. In FY 2020/21 the initiative successfully attracted over $45k in investments from industry partners for Creative BC to design and test a strategic action plan, including 39 stakeholder consultations, 12 subject matter expert reviews of the strategy, 10 industry roundtables with 120 participants facilitated by Creative BC, and 7 specific summaries of insights for each of MPPIA, the unions and guilds.

The work has culminated in an additional $100k investment attracted from a major Hollywood studio, WarnerMedia, as an anchor investment that is leveraged and augmented by $400k by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Trainings Sector Labour Market Partnerships office, for a $500k two-year initiative for which the contract was signed in late March.

Visit the Creative Pathways website

[/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_cta title=”CIERA™ 2020 | The Creative Industries Economic Results Assessment” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#ffffff” body_text_color=”#ffffff” min_height=”118px” custom_margin=”15px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”16px|21px|16px|21px|true|true” link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjEyNzM5In19@” link_option_url_new_window=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” background_color__hover=”#1E2A2F” background_enable_color__hover=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Follow the link to see methodology and tables; read the print report that contextualizes CIERA™ data for 2020 in the FY2020/21 Impact Report.

->

[/et_pb_cta][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”67447826-2690-4a15-b48a-f1dfb32c84be” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” header_font=”Inter|700|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”41px” header_2_font=”Inter|800|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”40px” custom_margin=”61px|||||” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Creative BC Economic Input Mechanisms

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”db8ca099-e64a-4336-81d2-055f67f7cba1″ text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-13px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Investment Inputs

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10px|24px||24px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#EE2A7B” icon_width=”141px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”|||||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Grants

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

We reviewed our data to see how many client companies, creators, projects, initiatives, productions and commissions were supported by Creative BC, and what the estimated economic investment was compared to last year’s numbers.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffbfa8″ icon_width=”141px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”37px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”|||||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Service

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

We surveyed our staffing resources, service departments and funding partnerships to review how many services were delivered by Creative BC to industry and partners leveraging our capacity to run programs that invest in B.C.’s creative industries.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffbfa8″ icon_width=”141px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”37px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”|||||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Programs

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

We compared the number and diversity of development programs and initiatives run year-over-year in total, and also the number of programs available to each of the specific industries we serve and those with unique targets such as regional and diversity objectives.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2px|24px||24px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffbfa8″ icon_width=”141px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”|||||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Reach

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

We compared our traditional and non-traditional media, newsletter, website and social media reach, as well as our presence at markets and participation in trade missions. 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#EE2A7B” icon_width=”141px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”37px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”|||||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Engagement

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

We reviewed the number of applications, requests, inquiries and collaborations across the departments, online and via invitations from governing bodies, ministries, associations and industry organization partners who leveraged our expertise.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”67447826-2690-4a15-b48a-f1dfb32c84be” text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” header_font=”Inter|700|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”41px” header_2_font=”Inter|800|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”40px” custom_margin=”61px|||||” inline_fonts=”Acme,Karla” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

B.C. Economy Output Results

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”db8ca099-e64a-4336-81d2-055f67f7cba1″ text_font=”Inter|500|||||||” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-13px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

ROI Outputs | Source: CIERA™ 2020

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10px||10px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Billion $ Total GDP” number=”$4.44″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”58px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_number_counter title=”FTE Jobs, up to 92,880 people” number=”58,213″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_number_counter title=”FT + Equivalent Direct Jobs ” number=”38,122″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_icon font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#1E2A2F” icon_width=”141px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”44px|||||” custom_margin_tablet=”44px|||||” custom_margin_phone=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_icon][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”|||||true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

10% YOY

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”8px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.14.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_toggle title=”About Creative BC and this report” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”e401bff7-dcd5-4d68-a98e-95574f0167c9″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Creative BC is an independent society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbias creative industries: motion
picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The society delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. These activities include: administration of the provincial governments motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The Society acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.’s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental and creative potential both at home and globally.

Creative industries have an economic objective and are defined as those generating original creative content for commercial production and global distribution.

The views, opinions, conclusions and/or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s). These materials do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Government of British Columbia. The Government of British Columbia does not endorse, nor has it confirmed the validity of the information contained in these materials.

[/et_pb_toggle][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]