Creative Industries IN HAMILTON

Did you know that Hamilton is home to ~ 30,000 creative workers; 2,500 creative industry businesses; and a city that recognizes creative industries as an important economic driver? In the past decade, Hamilton’s growth in creative industries businesses and workforce has helped raise the city’s profile as a vibrant place to live, visit, open and expand businesses across many different sectors.

Hamilton has attracted a large number of talented creators such as visual artists, writers, musicians, poets, fashion designers, actors, directors, playwrights and photographers who are young (50% are between the ages of 25-44) and highly educated. Hamilton has the talent that the industry and businesses need to grow and expand as this sector recently experienced a 16% increase in employment. 

The City’s focus areas for business and industry growth are in film, music and fashion. Hamilton is home to 9,140 film workers; 7,725 music industry workers, and 7,540 fashion workers. The city has a collaborative business community that strives and succeeds at creating products, experiences, and services that are innovative, long-lasting, and authentic.  Hamilton’s creative industry community includes numerous and awesome live music venues and performance spaces, cool and inviting recording and film studios, long standing arts organizations, a strong festival and events scene covering all disciplines (music, film, art, fashion, live performance, and literature), unique artist spaces/buildings, retailers who excel in customer service, award winning architectural and graphic design firms, and fantastic businesses that make apparel, instruments, film and tv series, books, albums, and all forms of art.   

If you’ve seen it, heard it, or wear it – there’s a good chance it was made in Hamilton!

If you have a Creative Industries business or investment and are looking for help from Hamilton’s Economic Development Office to start a company, expand your operations, and/or find new markets in Hamilton, please contact us!

From census period 2011-2016, Hamilton had the 4th largest rate of employment growth in Canada’s fashion industry and the number of occupations in Hamilton’s fashion sector grew by 25%.

All year-round, Hamilton attracts both tentpole and mid-tier productions who want to work with local film companies and talent.  Hamilton is an excellent film city because it is adaptable, diverse, gritty, beautiful, and offers a wide range of quality film locations.  In addition to filming outside the GTA, production companies can access an additional tax credit in Hamilton.

Hamilton is 7th in the world for independent musicians per capita and has 100+ live music venues and spaces.

For the Full Picture, Contact City of Hamilton’s Creative Industries Lead: Devon Hogue