Dr Pat Collins provides economic survey for Galway’s bid to join UNESCO’s Creative Cities network as a City of Film

As part of the bid an economic survey of the sector in Galway has just been completed by Dr. Patrick Collins, a Geographer with the Whitaker Institute. The information gathered shows that in economic terms, the audiovisual sector had a direct contribution to the economy of Galway in the region of €72 million in 2012. The sector employed 610 people in county Galway last year (470 on a full-time basis and 240 FTEs on a part time basis), and many more were employed indirectly in a supporting capacity (catering etc.). This reflects a vibrant and growing sector with an average growth in production company employment of 24.5% over the past 5 years.

UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network is designed to promote the Educational, Social, Economic, Scientific and Cultural development of cities. Currently there are 34 member cities around the world in the Creative Cities Network, including cities of film, literature, music, design and other art forms. Sydney and Bradford only two other designated Cities of Film in the world.
The bid was officially launched by Bill O’Herlihy, Chairman of the Irish Film Board, Mayor of Galway Padraig Conneely, and Mayor of County Galway Liam Carroll.

See recent media coverage in an article in The Western People.