Cultural consumption in Latvia is increasing, but the pre -andemicemic indicators are not reached / day

The latest cultural consumption study Cultural Activity Barometer 2024 The results of the Minister of Culture Agnese Lace and Anda Laķe, Head of the Institute of Culture and Arts at the Latvian Academy of Culture (LKA), presented the Ministry of Culture (KM) at the media event on April 10.

« Regular research on cultural consumption and participation provides us as cultural policy planners with data and current information, creating evidence -based cultural policy, while it helps policy promoters to ensure the development of cultural supply and marketing activities, » Agnese Lace (P), Minister of Culture, said again.

« The study confirms that the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in the cultural sector are still felt-although the performance and attendance rates are increasing, they still do not reach pre-pandemic rates, while the demand for digital offers created by the pandemic time has not remained in the long term, but still providing about 10% of the additional audiences in the cultural sector. »

It is observed that the involvement of the population has diminished for all online activities over the last 4 years. This may be due to a change in postpandemic habits when residents switched back to face -to -face events and activities from online activities. 2024 indicators for many activities are around the 2018 level: for example, music online in 2024 listened to 39% of the population, 2020-2022. 54%over the years, but 32%in 2018; Latvian films online watched 19%in 2024, 45-48%in 2020-2022, but 16%in 2018; E-books read 10% in 2024, 2020-2022. 17-19%over the years, but 7%in 2018. Overall, this shows that the demand for digital products generated by the pandemic time does not maintain long -term demand.

Cultural consumption in Latvia is characterized by the use of local cultural supply, demand for more financially accessible measures and activities, expressed in demand for entertaining and educational content. The most popular cultural activities, which were attended by Latvian residents in 2024, are: parish, city or county festival (50%of the population), popular music concerts (34%), attending cultural and historical sites (33%), reading of printed books (33%), attending cultural events at a local cultural center (32%).

About one in four people has visited cinema, museums, theaters, but one in five – entertainment or amusement parks, libraries. Visiting other activities does not exceed 1/5 of the population.

Mobility of attending cultural events and activities has increased – the study confirms that in recent years, residents have become more active in attending cultural events outside their place of residence (city, parish). In their city or parish, 72% of the population (61% growth) has attended events, 35% (growth from 26%), 27% (from 22%) in another region. The share of events that have attended events in Lithuania or Estonia (8%), as well as in other countries (8%) has also increased slightly.

The people of Latvia prefer individual creative and social activities. The study confirms that in 2024, a total of 50% of the population was involved in some activities in person. 8% are involved in amateur art and 18% in other cultural activities. But 44% have participated in some social, civic, continuing education or sports activities. Relatively more people are involved in crafts (6%), as well as multimedia (photo, video) (6%). The choir sings 4% of the population, and as many do a creative work on a computer or do visual art. In contrast, donating money to charity (25%), continuing education (16%) and sports activities (14%) are the most common activities.

According to the study, 43.1% of the Latvian population admit that cultural and artistic experience allows them to feel belonging to other people in Latvia. 54.6% of Latvians, 54% of the population with an income of over 800 euros per month, 53.9% of people with higher education, 51.5% of managers/entrepreneurs, 51.3% in the public sector, 47.2% of young people aged 25 to 34, 46%. In contrast, 25.3% of non -Latvians, 37% of cities, especially the inhabitants of Riga and people living alone, with lower income and lower education, do not see.

When it comes to the importance of cultural consumption and participation in society, nearly ¾ of the Latvian population (73%) believes that cultural and art events have a great cohesive power. These notions are distinctly different in groups of Latvian and Russian respondents: 79% of Latvians and only 59% of Russian respondents recognize the power of cultural and artistic events. At the same time, the absolute majority of society (77%) agrees with the statement that the success of Latvian artists outside Latvia is boosting the pride of the country.