Two Professors launch book on Creative Industries in Canada

The creative industries in Canada are a burgeoning, multi-billion dollar powerhouse fueled by nearly 200,000 Canadian creators, innovators and producers, and the industry is looking anything but bleak moving forward. Gearing up for their book launch on November 2, 2022 (external link, opens in new window)  at The Creative School Catalyst (opens in new window) , Performance and Creative Industries Professors Dr. Cheryl Thompson (opens in new window)  and Dr. Miranda Campbell (opens in new window)  have created a must-read collection of texts for anyone looking to pursue a career as a Canadian in the field of creative industries.

The creative industries in Canada have a long but under-documented history. With a large percentage of academic case studies and examples coming from the United States, Europe and Asia, it can be challenging for Canadian students and budding professionals to relate to the things they are taught in their undergraduate and professional careers. 

This was the impetus for Dr. Thompson and Dr. Campbell to create a textbook centring the creative industries and how they’re organized, experienced and operate within a Canadian context. In this sense, this textbook delivers an additional level of relatability: a text for Canadian creators that can see their country and communities reflected in rich and relatable case studies. As the creative industries sector becomes an increasingly significant industry in Canadian markets, this level of relatability becomes ever more critical.

Creative Industries in Canada: a foundational text for the next generation of leaders

Creative Industries in Canada guides its reader through the current landscape and future possibilities of Canadian creative industries via three thematic sections. 'Production' collects chapters focused on how national discourses and identities are produced through creative industries and the tensions that exist between policy and media. 'Participation' explores how we engage with these industries in different roles: as consumer, creator, policy-maker, and more. 'Pedagogies' explores how education impacts inclusion and visibility in creative industries. These sections come together to offer a wide and diverse view of Canadian dependent creative issues from various perspectives.

By centring the text through a Canadian lens, the book capitalizes on the strengths of Canada's creative markets. "Canada's brand is niche," remarked Dr. Thompson. "Whether it's pioneering new future possibilities in the industry like comedy, gaming, podcasts or performance art, our brand is quite niche, and that's not a bad thing. This text will help its readers understand how to commercialize their work rather than just selling it off to an American company."

A joint effort of creativity

After being approached by a publisher in late 2019, Dr. Thompson involved Dr. Campbell to co-edit the project with her, and the two created a draft for submission in March 2020. They were met with an outpouring of support and submissions, working together on editing the collection over the next year. Although their academic research focuses on their respective fields, they were united by their critical perspective of representation: who's at the table and who isn't. 

Thompson remarked how meaningful the editing process was working alongside her colleague and that the final product was only possible through the joint efforts of each other. "When people co-edit a book, they're not usually colleagues at the same university, let alone the same faculty," stated Thompson. "I think that it's so meaningful that we had the chance to edit a book about the creative industries while also being a part of The Creative School. I'm not sure we could have done it if we weren't part of the same faculty, and it speaks to the collaborative culture that The Creative School embodies. There is a definitive culture that encourages people to work together.”

Contributing to the creative industries in Canada

By providing an intersectional approach to the creative industries in Canada, the text serves as a comprehensive guide full of practical industry knowledge, outlines of core concepts and suggested activities in each chapter to propel the next generation of creators and leaders. Additionally, examining the impact of diversity, inclusion and equity broadened its scope and was a central consideration when drafting the text. 

“Creative industries in popular media are usually depicted from the top down with the largest market players like Apple, Sony and Amazon in the spotlight,” commented Campbell. “It was important for us to frame this book from the bottom up. Who’s making a living in the creative industries, whose voice is not being heard, how can we be more inclusive? ”

Join us at the Creative Industries in Canada book launch on November 2 at The Catalyst

To commemorate the publication of Creative Industries in Canada, Dr. Thompson and Dr. Campbell are hosting a celebratory book launch open to the public on November 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Catalyst located in the Rogers Communications Centre (RCC 230). The two-hour launch will feature opening remarks from both editors alongside other key speakers and light refreshments. Registration for the free event (external link, opens in new window)  is currently open, and more information about the text (external link, opens in new window)  is also available.

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.