Creative Industries

Kingston’s creative sector is thriving, powered by strong infrastructure, strategic investment, and a collaborative ecosystem of municipal, academic, and community partners. Centrally located between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, Kingston provides access to 14.5 million people, or 40% of Canada’s population, making it an attractive hub for creative businesses to grow, scale, and connect.

The city’s creative industries span film, music, visual arts, and theatre, with each sector supported by targeted strategies and dedicated resources:

Film: Kingston’s reputation as a filming destination continues to grow, with over 30 productions completed in 2024 alone. The Kingston Film & Media Office supports filmmakers with location scouting, permitting, and industry guidance. The Kingston Canadian Film Festival showcased a record five locally produced films in 2025, highlighting the city’s growing talent pipeline and contribution to the local economy.  Kingston’s thriving film scene has inspired J Joly of Branded to Film, a local production studio, to create a thesis on making film production HYPERLOCAL.

Music: Home to the Tragically Hip, Kingston’s dynamic music scene includes more than 200 venues, studios, and festivals, employing over 1,100 people. The city’s Music Strategy and a dedicated Music Commissioner support business development and artist promotion. Music festivals and events are regular features that generate both community engagement and tourism.

Visual Arts & Heritage: As Canada’s museum capital, Kingston offers a rich cultural experience with 24 museums, three art galleries, and a network of public art spaces. In 2023, the Kingston Arts Council distributed over $600,000 in grants to support artists, exhibitions, and community programming, helping foster a strong ecosystem for professional creatives.

Theatre: Kingston’s theatre scene is expanding, anchored by the Kingston Theatre Alliance and supported through municipal partnerships. With year-round performances and accessible venues, theatre is a recognized growth area in the city’s Creative Industries Strategy.

Kingston Economic Development Corporation continues to support the City of Kingston’s Creative Industries Strategy, approved in 2021, fostering regional growth in artistic industries. Ongoing initiatives include workforce development, data collection, and tourism planning, with support from partners such as Tourism Kingston, the Kingston Film & Media Office, Queen’s University, and St. Lawrence College. Between 2014 and 2025, Kingston saw a 60% increase in creative businesses, with over 400 firms now operating in the sector.

Whether you’re an established company or a start-up, Kingston offers the space, talent, and support to bring your creative vision to life.

“One of the things that I love about working and living in Kingston, you’ve got that big city ambition and dynamism, there’s new people coming in and out with ideas, but it really retains that small town friendliness, that idea that we are all in this together and working towards a common goal.  That can’t be replicated anywhere else.”

Contact Rob Tamblyn

Business Development Manager,
Small & Medium Enterprises
613-544-2725 x 7261
Cell: 613-540-1843
tamblyn@investkingston.ca

Contact Shelley Hirstwood

Director of Business Development
613-544-2725 x 7232
Cell: 613-331-1692
hirstwood@investkingston.ca