THE economic value of Far North Queensland's creative industries is higher than the fishing industry and approaching that of sugar, an economic report reveals. 

The report, prepared by economist Bill Cummings and released at the launch of Arts Nexus' Tropical Innovation Week yesterday, puts the value of creative industries in the region at $300 million a year.

Mr Cummings' report found there were 6000 people involved in some form of income-earning activity in creative fields, equating to 3000 fulltime jobs.

The creative industries' field includes visual arts and crafts, architecture and design, photography, film and TV, the performing arts, writing, publishing, media and journalism.

There is also a growing field of IT and computer-related creative activities covering website design, programming and computer games.

"This means that to date the creative industries of Far North Queensland have not been recognised as a significant contributor to the regional economy and employment and a growing economic driver," Mr Cummings said in his report.

Mr Cummings said comparative data indicated the Cairns/Far North region was a hot spot of creative industry, employing more people than other areas of the north and in regional Queensland.

"Activity in the Cairns/Far North region compares favourably with the recognised regional hot spots like Richmond Tweed, including Byron Bay and Lismore in northern New South Wales, Gippsland in Victoria and the Margaret River region in Western Australia."

Factors contributing to Cairns’ position at the top of the creative industries tree included the growing population, domestic and international tourism, the high level of cultural diversity, the natural environment and a growing "critical mass leading to penetration in some fields of outside markets".

"There is evidence that sales outside the region have been increasing and that the indigenous sector is making a significant contribution in breaking into national and international markets," Mr Cummings said.

The report is the second baseline study on the value of creative industries done by Arts Nexus.

When the last was done in  1995, Cairns did not have a university or regional gallery and these had contributed greatly to the sector’s growth, Arts Nexus chairman Jim Bitomsky said.

Share this article