The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service

Canadian Heritage and the Virtual Trade Commissioner: Bringing Canada’s cultural exports to the world

May 16, 2006

In partnering with the Virtual Trade Commissioner (VTC), the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) now offers small and medium-sized enterprises online access to arts and cultural export development services offered by its Trades Routes program.

Canadian Heritage, via Trade Routes, is focused on actively supporting exports of Canadian cultural products and services and increasing the number of Canadian cultural exporters.

Trade Routes helps Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises to strategically increase export capacity and sell internationally. The program offers market entry support, in-market assistance, financial assistance (through a contributions program) and market intelligence (through a research program). Support is available across all cultural sectors: film, television, new media, publishing, sound recording, performing arts, design, visual arts, crafts and heritage.

Global success: It’s about who you know

Through the VTC, you can connect with PCH/Trade Routes officers serving the cultural industries from International Trade Canada’s regional offices across the country, and from Canada’s missions abroad.

PCH/Trade Routes officers across Canada offer sector-specific market entry support directly to arts and cultural entrepreneurs who are ready to export or want to build on existing international business. Through consultations, these officers provide export counselling and skills development. They work with organizations to forge productive alliances with key cultural network partners. For example, the officer in St. John’s brought international buyers and presenters to Contact East, Atlantic Canada’s performing arts showcase and conference, resulting in on-the-spot bookings and plans for attendance at future events.

PCH/Trade Routes officers at missions abroad provide in-market assistance to arts and cultural enterprises interested in exporting to specific markets. These officers conduct outreach programs and connect with potential partners for Canada’s arts and cultural sectors. They also work with local partners seeking Canadian contacts.

The officer in Paris, for example, arranged for the General Commissioner of ARTéNÎM—one of the Mediterranean's largest art trade shows—to visit the Association des galleries d’art contemporain’s spring trade show in Montreal. The result? In a first, 10 Canadian galleries were invited to ARTéNÎM.

Whether in Canada or abroad, PCH/Trade Routes officers are well-versed in arts and cultural exports. They know how to successfully promote Canadian content within those markets.

Connect to financial assistance through the VTC

You can also access information on the Trade Routes Contributions Program through the VTC. The Contributions Program offers financial assistance to help arts and cultural organizations become more export-ready and build their capacity for successful international sales. Through the Contributions Program, you can access strategic support for key trade shows and events, innovative in-market tools, trade and buyers missions, new markets visits and networking opportunities.

Growing your global advantage

The VTC now provides access to more of Canada’s international trade experts than ever before, facilitated by a growing number of partnerships with government departments and trade promotion organizations: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Export Development Canada, the Canadian Commercial Corporation, International Trade Canada and PCH. Your personal Virtual Trade Commissioner is a sophisticated and increasingly valuable trade service and informational online tool. The more often you use it, the more you leverage your global advantage.

Find out more at www.infoexport.gc.ca.