Creative industries in Northern Ireland

The creative sector in Northern Ireland is diverse and covers a broad range of business activities. It takes in industries that:

• have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent, and
• have a potential for wealth and job creation by utilising intellectual property

Creative industries sub-sectors

There are various definitions of the sector. However, creative industries commonly include:

• advertising
• architecture
• arts and antiques
• computer games
• crafts
• design
• designer fashion
• film
• publishing
• music
• performing arts
• software/digital media
• TV and radio

Locally, employment in the creative industries accounted for 33,000 jobs in 2020. This represented 3.9% of total employment in Northern Ireland (source: Creative Industries economic estimates for Northern Ireland 2022).

Strategy for supporting NI creative industries

The economic strategy for Northern Ireland identifies innovation, research & development and creativity as key economic drivers for future growth.

While the Department for Communities (DfC) is the government lead for the creative industries in Northern Ireland, organisations such as the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen play a key role in supporting and nurturing the creative industries across the region.