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Workshop: Leveraging Culture to Strengthen Canada’s Global Power

Workshop: Leveraging Culture to Strengthen Canada’s Global Power

By Clara Godbillon-Vasseur, Policy Advisor, Cultural Policy Hub

A photograph of the workshop where Miriam Kramer, Executive Director of Government Relations & Public Policy at OCAD University, introduces the program of the day to participants, with the Cultural Policy Hub banner visible and the Hub’s Policy Advisor Clara Godbillon-Vasseur in the background

On April 17, 2026, the Cultural Policy Hub at OCAD University held a workshop at the 2026 DemocracyXChange, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut, with representatives from creative industries, government, the not-for-profit sector and public agencies to reflect on how Canada can leverage its culture to strengthen its global power.

Workshop participants identified the current moment of opportunity for Canada to shine on the international stage for the diversity of its cultural outputs and for the values it defends. Arts and culture are a powerful tool of influence and of economic diplomacy in an era marked by geopolitical fragmentation, digital disruption, and intensifying economic competition.

Despite the assets at its disposal, Canada has not yet fully articulated how culture can advance its geopolitical, economic, and democratic interests. Workshop participants identified two structural obstacles to Canada’s cultural trade as it stands: inconsistent policy-building and a fragmented leadership that does not include all players.

To address these issues and bolster Canada’s cultural economy globally, participants phrased four main recommendations:

  1. Develop an outside-of-government entity to promote cultural internationalization as a form of economic diplomacy.
  2. Systematically embed culture into external government strategies, including inbound trade missions.
  3. Increase collaboration between federal, provincial and local governments.
  4. Be intentional and proud to build a Canadian cultural brand, domestically and abroad.

Click here for a graph summarizing the challenges and action items highlighted by participants or read the full Summary Report below:

Download the Report