The government of Ontario has renewed efforts to boost the province’s entertainment industries, and will put $12 million over the next four years into its Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund.

Ontario Minister of Culture Aileen Carroll announced the renewal of the fund on Thursday during a speech to the Economic Club of Canada.

‘By supporting innovation, development and research, we help Ontario compete and succeed in the lucrative global entertainment and media market,’ said Carroll.

The fund was introduced in 2006, set to run for three years on $7.5 million, and is administered jointly by the ministry and the Ontario Media Development Corporation. The fund has put cash into media outlets including the Hot Docs festival and the Niagara Interactive Media Generator, a new media ‘incubator’ with ties to Brock University.

In a related move the ministry earlier this month boosted the budget of the Ontario Arts Council by $5 million.