Creative Industries

Kingston is a city that fully supports the emerging Creative Industries ecosystem, where creative business and entrepreneurs can live, work and thrive. By working collaboratively, Kingston is a destination of choice for a wide range of creative industries, producers and consumers.

With access to 14.5 million people (40 percent of the total Canadian population), Kingston is uniquely positioned to leverage its market access and excellence in tourism performance to drive new growth potential for creative industry product development and delivery.

Creative Industries in Kingston includes Heritage, Arts, Media, and Functional Creations. The industry is supported by more than 236 Creative Industries assets including infrastructure, programs, services, amenities, community meeting places, historical sites, libraries, museums, and art galleries. Heritage assets are slightly larger, reflective of Kingston being Canada’s museum capital with 24 museums and historic sites, three art galleries, and numerous historical buildings.

Two primary sectors of Film and Music and a tertiary sector of Theatre have emerged as the leading areas for economic growth potential in Kingston based on trends in current performance, market research and business momentum.

Overall the City of Kingston’s Creative Industries had a total of 340 businesses in 2019, increasing 58 percent over the previous five-year period (2014 to 2019).

In April 2021, Kingston City Council approved a Creative Industries Strategy that outlines a framework and recommendations to support and expand the creative industries sector and enhance economic development opportunities. Key partners in implementing the Creative Industries Strategy are the City of Kingston’s Arts & Culture Services Department and the Office of Strategy, Innovation & Partnerships, Kingston Economic Development Corporation, and Tourism Kingston. Additional partners include the Kingston Film Office, the Kingston Theatre Alliance, St. Lawrence College, and Queen’s University.

Contact Rob Tamblyn

Business Development Manager,
Small & Medium Enterprises
613-544-2725 x 7261
Cell: 613-540-1843
tamblyn@investkingston.ca