Creative Industries in Canberra

Some of Australia's - and the world's - most accomplished and imaginative creative workers are based in Canberra. The creative industries represent a significant industry sector in Canberra and enrich the city's social and cultural life.

A wealth of highly educated people as well as a concentration of creative talent and expertise spanning a range of media, technologies and applications, has spawned the growth of a significant but diverse Creative Industries Sector.

The significance of the creative industries in the ACT is enhanced by the fact that Australia's most important cultural institutions, such as:

• National Library of Australia ;
• National Gallery of Australia ;
• ScreenSound Australia ; and
• National Institute of the Arts are located in Canberra.

The lifestyle advantages being created by the strong presence of creative industries in the ACT are also proving beneficial in helping to attract highly educated and talented people to the ACT.

A concentration of creative talent and supporting infrastructure

Canberra has world leading artisans and crafts people in design in a number of mediums including glassware, ceramics, furniture, textiles, jewellery and metal smithing.

Canberra can also claim leading expertise in art and museum display, and exhibition delivery and management.

Successful publishers, interior designers, environmental designers, musicians, performing artists, visual artists and other creative enterprises also call Canberra home.

Local creative industries infrastructure includes world class educational institutions such as:

• the Academy of Interactive Entertainment;
• the ANU's School of Music;
• the School of Art;
• the Australian Centre for New Media Art and the Canberra School of Art Glass Workshop;
• the University of Canberra's School of Design and Architecture; and
• the Australian Choreographic Centre.

More than 500 cultural and leisure businesses operate in the ACT employing approximately 7000 Canberrans. They contribute to the city's vibrancy, creativity, social progressiveness and cultural richness.

Canberra also holds a number of public festivals and events throughout the year including:

• Multicultural Festival ;
• National Folk Festival ;
• Floriade ; and
• a number of film festivals.

Film, television and digital media

The ACT's film, television and digital media industries continue to grow strongly with the support of the ACT Government's dedicated Office of Film, Television and Digital Media, ScreenACT .

ScreenACT is dedicated to assisting and developing the local film, television and digital media industry sectors, as well as providing production liaison services for the region.

The ACT is home to an innovative and rapidly developing games cluster. The region is strongly represented by some of Australia's best game developers and related service providers, supported by nationally recognised education and training institutions.

The ACT hosts a fast growing community of filmmakers, production houses, and allied facilities and service providers to support all aspects of film and television production.

The ACT and surrounding region offer unique low-cost film and television production opportunities, within around an hour's flight of Sydney and Melbourne.

Occupying a compact 2,400 square kilometre area, the ACT provides a variety of urban and rural locations within just minutes of each other. The capital, Canberra, with its modern cityscape and national institutions, is on the magnificent Lake Burley Griffin. The landscape around Canberra boasts bushland, mountains and hills - much of which is national park.

The region surrounding the ACT offers a wide range of locations, from spectacular coastal areas to rugged Snowy Mountains. Low pollution levels, the clarity of light and consistent weather patterns combine to make this an excellent location for film and television production. With a population of little over 300,000 people and a modern roads infrastructure, the ACT is a location easy to get in, out and around.