Advocacy in Action
Arts and culture
Cultural tourists punch above their weight, spending three times the average of other tourists. The Shaw Festival alone brings a quarter-billion dollars of economic activity to Niagara; together with other cultural attractions, the arts and cultural sector makes an outsize contribution to Niagara’s economy – one which the GNCC is determined to grow.
Top Initiatives
Include performing arts in apprenticeship programs
Despite the high skill and training involved in jobs in the performing arts, these are not included in formal apprenticeship programs, making training haphazard, non-standardized, and underfunded.
Extend the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster program
The Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster program leverages relatively small grants into huge economic impacts, particularly in the tourism sector, and there is room to expand this effectively.
Create a Live Arts Tax Credit
The performing arts are a big economic driver, but live arts are not offered the same tax credits as those granted to recorded and broadcast arts.
Enhance tourism supports for downtowns and depressed areas
Many downtown cores and urban areas not only in Niagara but across Ontario and Canada are facing economic depression and stagnation. Events and festivals have a proven track record of attracting tourist spending and creating business, which can be harnessed to revitalize these areas.
Develop the Niagara Wine Supercluster
As Canada’s largest wine region, Niagara has the potential to develop a “supercluster” of industries that revolve around the wine sector – if given the proper supports to grow.