Creative industries in Northern Ireland

The creative sector in Northern Ireland 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

While definitions vary, creative industries typically include:

• advertising
• architecture
• arts and antiques
• computer games
• crafts
• design
• designer fashion
• film
• publishing
• music
• performing arts
• software/digital media
• TV and radio
• cultural heritage (museums, libraries and galleries)

Locally, employment in the creative industries accounted for 39,000 jobs in 2023. This represented 4.4% of total employment in Northern Ireland (source: Creative Industries economic estimates for Northern Ireland 2024).

Strategy for supporting NI creative industries

Government strategies identify innovation, creativity, and research and development as key economic drivers for future growth. While the Department for Communities (DfC) leads on creative industries policy in Northern Ireland, organisations such as the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen and Invest Northern Ireland play a key role in supporting and nurturing the creative industries across the region.