CULTURAL STRATEGY ANNEX 2020–2025

Republic of Newfoundland – Ministry of Education and National Heritage (MENH)

Tabled in the House of Assembly, St. John’s – 1 July 2021

1 · Purpose and Mandate

The Cultural Strategy Annex 2020–2025 defines the Republic’s roadmap for:

• Expanding Newfoundland’s cultural influence across the North Atlantic and global media markets;

• Strengthening national institutions in film, broadcasting, and heritage;

• Integrating digital infrastructure and renewable technologies into the creative economy;

• Promoting unity through shared national narratives in a modern, multilingual context.

2 · BCN WORLD — The International Voice of Newfoundland

2.1 Global Broadcast Network

Launched 2019, BCN World broadcasts in English, French, and Inuttitut from St. John’s and Corner Brook, linking the Republic to audiences across Europe, Africa, and the Americas via under-sea fibre and satellite.
It operates under the Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland (International Mandate) Order 2020.

2.2 Programming Mandate (Amended)

• World News and Current Affairs: balanced coverage of international developments, North Atlantic cooperation, and maritime trade.

• Documentary Series: Voices of the Banks, Arctic Frontier, The Republic at Sea.

• Arts and Culture: weekly features highlighting Newfoundland music, literature, and design.

• Education and Innovation: open-access lectures from Memorial University and the Open University of Newfoundland, plus science and technology programming.

2.3 Revenue and Employment

BCN World employs 1 800 citizens, generates ₦ 280 million NFD annually, and contributes ₦ 90 million NFD to the Sovereign Fund.

3 · THE NEWFOUNDLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (NIFF)

3.1 Founding and Mission

Formally chartered 2021, the Newfoundland International Film Festival (NIFF) is held every September in St. John’s, the Republic’s cultural and broadcasting capital.

“To showcase cinema that reflects the North Atlantic experience — human resilience, environmental stewardship, and the creative independence of a maritime nation.”

3.2 Structure and Programming

Centred within the St. John’s Cultural District—the BNF Theatre Complex, Signal Hill Open Stage, and BCN World Broadcast Pavilion—NIFF features:

• Atlantic Competition – films from Newfoundland, Ireland, Iceland, and Norway;

• Arctic Documentary Forum – environmental & Indigenous productions;

• New Voices Lab – training for emerging directors with the NFC and Memorial University;

• Virtual Festival Platform – global streaming via the Labrador Fibre Spine.

3.3 Economic Impact

Metric	Value
Annual Attendance	74 000 in-person / 190 000 online
GDP Impact	₦ 82 million NFD
Tourism Increase (St. John’s region)	+ 26 %
Permanent Creative Jobs	≈ 600

Local hospitality and service industries reach peak activity during NIFF week, while BCN World coverage promotes St. John’s as the cinematic heart of the North Atlantic.

3.4 Cultural Diplomacy

NIFF co-founded the North Atlantic Festival Network (NAFN), partnering with Reykjavik, Galway, and Tromsø.
A permanent BCN World Festival Window airs premieres and panels to 25 countries in English, French, and Inuttitut.

4 · THE DIGITAL HERITAGE NETWORK (DHN)

4.1 Overview

The Digital Heritage Network (DHN) connects museums, archives, and universities through a national cloud at Goose Bay AI Campus, preserving Newfoundland’s heritage in high-resolution 3D for global access.

4.2 Core Functions

• Digitization of all archives by 2024;

• Virtual-reality tours of Signal Hill and Torngat Mountains;

• AI-assisted cataloguing in English, French, and Inuttitut;

• Open access for schools and researchers.

4.3 Economic and Educational Value

The DHN supports 1 200 jobs and adds ₦ 160 million NFD annually to education exports.

5 · CREATIVE EXPORT AND TAX FRAMEWORK

Category	Credit Rate	Conditions
Music & Sound Recording	30 %	≥ 70 % local production
Interactive Media & Games	35 %	≥ 60 % Newfoundland employees
Heritage Digitization	25 %	Approved under DHN
Renewable-Energy Bonus	+ 5 %	Certified clean power source

A ₦ 500 million NFD annual Sovereign Cultural Fund underwrites BCN World and creative-export expansion.

6 · INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITY CULTURE

The Labrador Cultural Grant Program (LCGP) funds Inuit and Innu film collectives, language apps, and storytelling archives.
Community archives are digitized through the DHN and broadcast via BCN North, keeping northern voices central to national identity.

7 · METRICS AND TARGETS FOR 2025

Indicator	2020 Baseline	2025 Target
Creative Sector GDP Share	4 %	6 %
Creative Employment	10 000	15 000 +
Cultural Exports	₦ 1.1 B NFD	₦ 1.8 B NFD
BCN World Viewership	12 M	25 M
NIFF Attendance (total)	≈ 260 K	400 K +
Heritage Digitized	45 %	100 %

8 · FUNDING AND GOVERNANCE

Administered jointly by:

• Ministry of Education and National Heritage (MENH)

• Newfoundland Film Corporation (NFC)

• Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland (BCN)

• National Archives and Heritage Council (NAHC)

Quarterly reports go to the House of Assembly; metrics are published via the DHN dashboard.

9 · INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 2021–2025

• Expansion of NACC Cultural Exchange Grants to 15 nations;

• Co-production agreements with Denmark and Finland;

• Participation in UNESCO Digital Oceans Program for maritime heritage;

• Joint documentaries with the Icelandic Film Centre and BBC World Service.

10 · VISION STATEMENT — “THE ATLANTIC LIGHT”

“Our stories travel on the same wind that once carried our ships.
Through film, music, and memory, Newfoundland speaks to the world —
not as a small nation, but as a bright one.”
— Prime Minister Elena Hanrahan, Cultural Strategy Address (2021)