In the visual effects sector (VFX), Adelaide is home to world-renowned production houses such as the $26 million state-of-the-art MPC Film Studio (part of Technicolor), and leading visual effects company Rising Sun Pictures, who’s notable clients include Disney, Marvel, Warner Bros., Netflix, Amazon, and MGM, among others.
Adelaide is also home to a growing augmented, virtual and mixed reality ecosystem, including the development of augmented reality applications by global defence company SAAB Australia, Microsoft’s first Australian enterprise partner for its HoloLens augmented/mixed reality technology.
Image: South Australian Tourism Commission
Adelaide is an international cultural capital with an unrivaled calendar of festivals and events throughout the year. There are 11 major arts and cultural festivals including Womadelaide, Adelaide Festival and the Adelaide Fringe.
Those 11 festivals alone contribute $116.7 million to the local economy, and helped Adelaide rank #4 in the world as the top destination for festivals, events and concerts.3
There are many other events such as the UCI WorldTour ranked Tour Down Under, Tasting Australia, and the AFL Gather Round.
Adelaide is the only city in Australia to be designated a UNESCO City of Music, and joins an exclusive list of 295 UNESCO Creative Cities around the world.
If you neeed further evidence of why Adelaide is an international cultural capital, The Adelaide Fringe, which is the largest arts festival in the southern hemisphere, is the first festival in Australia to sell one million tickets.
3 Festival City Adelaide, January 2024
Image: Odd Games
Adelaide has an expanding independent games industry, with businesses like Odd Games, Mighty Kingdom, Team Cherry and Team Fractal Alligator having an international impact in mobile and PC gaming. Monkeystack, a leader in serious games, is currently expanding across Australia from its Adelaide headquarters.
Game development companies require a wide range of skilled talent. Areas of work within the game development sector could include animators, game designers, advertising and marketing professionals and script writers just to name a few.
Keywords Studios is a global gaming development company with more than 10,000 employees worldwide, and recently opened a new studio in Adelaide as well.
Image: South Australian Film Corporation / David Solm
A record AUD $2.29 billion was invested in 2021-22 on screen production in Australia. These record levels of investment in screen production are being driven by demand for content from streaming platforms like Netflix, amongst other factors.
In Adelaide, the number of people working in screen production (like film and television) has tripled in the last 6 years to around 2,300 jobs.1
The surge in demand for content, not just in Australia but around the world, continues to drive demand for skilled workers in screen production.
1 South Australian Film Corporation, April 2023
Image: Department for Infrastructure and Transport
Architecture is the art and science of designing and engineering large structures and buildings. This career gives you the opportunity to transform and shape external and internal environments to influence the human experience of being inside a space or environment.
A degree in architecture will give you creative, practical, visual and design-based skills which are very appealing to employers. This career will challenge, fascinate and inspire you by improving people’s lives through new and creative technology.
Discover some of the occupations available in the creative industries in Adelaide.
ANZSCO: 212312
Demand Level: Stable | Projected Growth: 0.8% | Yearly Salary: AUD $94,432
Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors (ANZSCO 2123) direct the artistic and production aspects of film, television, radio and stage productions.
A Director (Film, Television, Radio or Stage) interprets and approves selection of scripts, and directs and instructs cast and crew during filming, recording or performance of productions.
This occupation requires high levels of creative talent or personal commitment and interest as well as, or in place of, formal qualifications and experience.
ANZSCO: 399512
Demand Level: Moderate | Projected Growth: 4.3% | Yearly Salary: AUD $75,452
Performing Arts Technicians (ANZSCO 3995) provide technical and other assistance for the production, recording and broadcasting of artistic performances.
A Camera Operator (Film, Television or Video) sets up and operates cameras to photograph scenes for film, television or video productions.
ANZSCO: 212411
Demand Level: Moderate | Projected Growth: 7.1% | Yearly Salary: AUD $91,156
Journalists and Other Writers (ANZSCO 2124) research and compile news stories, write and edit news reports, commentaries and feature stories for presentation in print and electronic media, and compose written material to advertise goods and services.
A Copywriter designs and composes written material to advertise products and services.
ANZSCO: 212314
Demand Level: Stable | Projected Growth: 0.8% | Yearly Salary: AUD $94,432
Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors (AZNSCO 2123) direct the artistic and production aspects of film, television, radio and stage productions.
A Film and Video Editor makes and implements editorial decisions regarding mood, pace and climax of films, television programs, video productions or commercials.
ANZSCO: 232411
Demand Level: Very Strong | Projected Growth: 21.7% | Yearly Salary: AUD $96,096
Graphic and Web Developers and Illustrators (ANZSCO 2324) design information for visual and audio communication, publication and display using print, film, electronic, digital and other forms of visual and audio media.
Graphic Designers plans, design, develop and prepare information for publication and reproduction using text, symbols, pictures, colours and layout to achieve commercial and communication needs with particular emphasis on tailoring the message for the intended audience.
ANZSCO: 1322
Demand Level: Very Strong | Projected Growth: 21.7% | Yearly Salary: AUD $96,096
An Illustrator plans, designs, develops, and prepares pictures and diagrams to communicate messages, clarify meaning, assist in presentations and illustrate stories, using traditional and digital media such as drawing, painting, drafting, collage, models, photography, and image capture and manipulation software.
ANZSCO: 2223
Demand Level: Very Strong | Projected Growth: 21.7% | Yearly Salary: AUD $78,104
A Multimedia Designer plans, designs and develops the production of digitally delivered information, promotional content, instructional material and entertainment through online and recorded digital media using static and animated information, text, pictures, video and sound to produce information and entertainment tailored to an intended audience and purpose.
ANZSCO: 2223
Demand Level: Very Strong | Projected Growth: 21.7% | Yearly Salary: AUD $78,104
A Multimedia Designer plans, designs and develops the production of digitally delivered information, promotional content, instructional material and entertainment through online and recorded digital media using static and animated information, text, pictures, video and sound to produce information and entertainment tailored to an intended audience and purpose.
ANZSCO: 399599
Demand Level: Very Strong | Projected Growth: 21.7% | Yearly Salary: AUD $78,104
Performing Arts Technicians (ANZSCO 3995) provide technical and other assistance for the production, recording and broadcasting of artistic performances.
A Sound Technician operates audio equipment to record, enhance, mix and amplify sound in support of television, radio, film or video productions, or stage performances.
ANZSCO: 1323
Demand Level: Stable | Projected Growth: 0.8% | Yearly Salary: AUD $94,432
Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors (ANZSCO 2123) direct the artistic and production aspects of film, television, radio and stage productions.
A Program Director (Television or Radio) compiles and directs programs for television or radio.
ANZSCO: 399516
Demand Level: Moderate | Projected Growth: 4.3% | Yearly Salary: AUD $75,432
A Sound Technician operates audio equipment to record, enhance, mix and amplify sound in support of television, radio, film or video productions, or stage performances.
ANZSCO: 212316
Demand Level: Stable | Projected Growth: 0.8% | Yearly Salary: AUD $94,432
A Stage Manager plans, organises, supervises and coordinates the activities of workers responsible for placing sets and properties, and operating lighting and sound equipment as part of film, television or stage productions.
ANZSCO: 212317
Demand Level: Stable | Projected Growth: 0.8% | Yearly Salary: AUD $94,432
A Technican Director controls the quality of pictures and sound for television or radio programs by directing technical teams and planning and organising technical facilities.
ANZSCO: 212318
Demand Level: Stable | Projected Growth: 0.8% | Yearly Salary: AUD $94,432
A Video Producer creates films, television programs, video productions or commercials by filming, adding sound and editing in digital or analogue format. This occupation requires high levels of creative talent or personal commitment and interest as well as, or in place of, formal qualifications and experience.