The following is a press release issued by Film Nova Scotia/Economic and Rural Development and Tourism/Communities, Culture and Heritage on November 30, 2012:

Nova Scotia’s creative businesses will expand into new markets, create more jobs, and build stronger cultural communities with legislation introduced today, Nov. 30.

“Twenty-eight thousand Nova Scotians work in the arts and culture industries, generating almost $1.2 billion, and we are only scratching the surface,” said Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism.

“As part of the province’s jobsHere plan, we will work with the industry and help provide the support needed to grow the creative economy and expand opportunities for all Nova Scotians.”

Changes to the Film Nova Scotia Act will expand Film Nova Scotia’s mandate so the agency, which will be called Film and Creative Industries Nova Scotia, will be a one-stop shop for Nova Scotia’s creative businesses. It will provide the expertise needed to help those entrepreneurs become more productive and globally competitive.

“Nova Scotia’s artists are translating their ideas, skills, and talents into innovation, jobs, exportable products and services,” said Leonard Preyra, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. “While the province will continue to support artists through initiatives like the Status of the Artist legislation, this new agency will give them better access to funding that will help them grow Nova Scotia’s economy.”

To provide better access to programs, funding and supports, five programs will move from Communities Culture and Heritage to the new agency and Economic and Rural Development and Tourism will commit funding for resources and branding.

Film and Creative Industries Nova Scotia will be required to produce a five-year strategic plan by Sept. 30, 2013, after extensive consultations with industry partners.

“This new agency will further advance the development of creative and cultural industries throughout the province and enable them to access investments, develop new markets, and create more jobs,” said Ron Bourgeois, chair, Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council. “It will have a positive economic impact on the sector and the province as a whole.”

The province is recruiting a president and chief executive officer for the new agency.

“The Conference Board of Canada estimates the direct value of Canada’s creative economy at over $40 billion per year,” said David MacLeod of Big Motion Pictures, the Nova Scotian production company behind local series Haven and Call Me Fitz. “Expanding Film Nova Scotia’s mandate to encompass the entire creative sector in the province is a smart move. It will allow strategic long-term planning for the sector and a prosperous future for our creative businesses.”

As part of the province’s focus on the creative sector, the Digital Media Tax Credit will be extended until Dec. 31, 2013. This one-year extension will allow the province to work with partners on how the credit can best serve the industry.

How do you think this will affect Nova Scotia Artists? Is this a positive change? Share your view and be part of the conversation: leave your comments in the section below: