Simon Fraser University professor Rowland Lorimer believes he has solutions to create low-rent space for local artists and bolster B.C.’s tourism sector: a provincial government that is more attentive to the creative sector.
In his January 7 report Dreamcatcher: Towards a Creativity/Innovation Strategic Plan for British Columbia, Lorimer argues that B.C. should follow the lead of other jurisdictions and recognize cultural subsidies as infrastructure investments that create jobs and drive economic growth.
He advocates creating a branded strategic plan to make creativity and innovation a central element of the social identity of B.C. in an effort to promote the province as a hub of creative production.
“B.C. [has] paid little attention to the creative economy,” Lorimer said. “Very few statistical analyses have been undertaken at the provincial level.”
Lorimer argues that the lack of attention to the creative sector is “surprising” given its influence in the economy.
His numbers show that the creative sector employs 85,000 people, not including volunteers, making it the second largest of B.C.’s six industrial sectors.
He estimates that the sector contributes $4 billion in economic activity, making it the fifth largest sector in the B.C. economy. The creative sector is also growing faster than the economy as a whole and has the potential to boost tourism, Lorimer adds.
