The Lithuanian Ministry of Culture commissions representative surveys of the Lithuanian population (15 years and over) about participation in culture and satisfaction with cultural services since 2013. The survey is carried out every 3 years. Currently, data from the surveys of 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023 are available. The questionnaire used in the first two surveys has been prepared within the full scope of the cultural participation questionnaire of the ESS-net Culture. The scope of the questionnaire of 2020 is broader. According to the authors of the survey report, the survey consisted of two phases: during the first phase, 1 200 residents were surveyed by way of face-to-face interviews at their homes, and during the second phase, 1 963 respondents were additionally surveyed. The questionnaire used in the second phase was expanded to include additional topics, which, according to the authors, allows for the identification of links between involvement in culture and social capital and to start observing the trends of cultural consumption by residents from less favourable cultural backgrounds. The results of the survey of 2020 cover the period of 12 months before the introduction of the first quarantine on 16 March 2020; therefore, reference is normally made to the cultural activity, participation or cultural consumption by the population during the period from March 2019 to March 2020. The 2023 survey was conducted in July–August. It interviewed 3,307 residents of Lithuania about their cultural activity over the past 12 months. The questions addressed: (1) engagement in culture, i.e., involvement in cultural activities and in creative or artistic expression, such as singing, painting, sculpting/modelling, filmmaking; (2) social participation/volunteering, i.e., involvement in voluntary social activities related to cultural clubs, societies, groups, or organisations, contributing to their activities with one’s time or resources. Such participation includes patronage, charitable and community activities related to culture; (3) use of culture, i.e., attending events, using cultural services, and consuming cultural products. There was also a block of questions on the evaluation of cultural accessibility and quality.
According to surveys from 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023, cultural participation intensified by 2023: the share of people who consumed at least four cultural products or live cultural services rose from 42.6% (2014) to 56.2% (2023), i.e. +13.6 percentage points. Among live services, the largest increase was in museum visits — 37.8% → 59.5% (+21.7 pp) — while the steepest fall was in in-person library visits — 36.7% → 31.4% (−5.3 pp). In virtual consumption, the biggest increase was watching/listening to programmes about museums and cultural heritage — 41.4% → 45.2% (+3.8 pp) — and the biggest decrease was watching/listening to recordings of performing-arts events — 79.3% → 65.0% (−14.3 pp). Performing arts events have been and remain the most popular form of cultural service (85.6% of people attend), while watching films and videos is the most common form of cultural consumption (96.8% watch).
Table 31: Persons (≥15 years) who have consumed cultural products during the last 12 months in Lithuania in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023, %.
|
Persons (≥15 years) who in the last 12 months…, % |
2014 |
2017 |
2020 |
2023 |
Difference 2014/2023 |
|
Percentage of the population that consumed at least 4 cultural products/live cultural services in the last 12 months. |
42.6 |
44.3 |
49.5 |
56.2 |
+13.6 |
|
1. attended events of performing arts, watched or listened to programmes |
89.7 |
85.0 |
84.9 |
85.6 |
-4.1 |
|
1.1 attended performing arts events in Lithuania |
57.5 |
61.4 |
63.7 |
70.2 |
+12.7 |
|
1.2. watched live broadcasts of events while not at home (e.g. outdoors, at a cinema, public library or elsewhere) |
32.7 |
31.2 |
36.6 |
32.69 |
-0.1 |
|
1.3. watched or listened to recordings of events |
79.3 |
70.0 |
69.1 |
65.0 |
-14.3 |
|
2. attended events of visual arts, architecture, crafts and design, watched/listened to programmes |
47.9 |
50.4 |
51.9 |
56.7 |
+8.8 |
|
2.1. attended exhibitions of painting, graphic art, photography, sculpture, or crafts in Lithuania |
28.2 |
25.0 |
27.4 |
25.0 |
-3.2 |
|
2.2 attended exhibitions of crafts (professional or amateur) in Lithuania |
– |
– |
25.7 |
25.3 |
|
|
2.3 took interest in architecture (visiting objects of architecture), visited exhibitions of architecture or went on tours related to architecture in Lithuania |
– |
– |
20.3 |
24.4 |
|
|
2.4 attended design exhibitions in Lithuania |
– |
– |
8.9 |
8.6 |
|
|
2.5 attended virtual exhibitions of paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, crafts in Lithuania or abroad |
12.2 |
13.7 |
12.2 |
11.5 |
-0.7 |
|
2.6 watched or listened to a Lithuanian programme on fine arts, architecture, design or crafts (on TV, radio or online) |
37.7 |
39.7 |
33.2 |
32.4 |
-5.3 |
|
3. visited museums or cultural heritage sites, watched/listened to programmes |
72.6 |
71.0 |
78.2 |
81.8 |
+9.2 |
|
3.1 visited a museum in Lithuania or abroad |
37.8 |
31.5 |
36.6 |
59.5 |
+21.7 |
|
3.2 visited cultural heritage sites, historical places, buildings, or travelled on cultural routes in Lithuania or abroad |
50.0 |
53.0 |
60.4 |
60.8 |
+10.8 |
|
3.3 virtual visits to museum exhibitions, cultural heritage sites, historical or archaeological sites, famous buildings in Lithuania |
– |
– |
21.2 |
15.7 |
|
|
3.4. watched or listened to a Lithuanian or foreign programme about museums, cultural heritage sites, historical or archaeological sites, famous buildings or places of interest |
41.4 |
41.3 |
42.6 |
45.2 |
+4.2 |
|
4. visited or contacted the archive live or virtually in Lithuania or abroad |
5.5 |
3.4 |
9.5 |
8.9 |
+3.4 |
|
4.1 visited archives in Lithuania live |
3.7 |
1.6 |
4.9 |
4.0 |
+0.3 |
|
4.2 visited Lithuanian archives online |
3.3 |
2.8 |
6.9 |
6.3 |
+3.0 |
|
4.3 visited, contacted or browsed the websites of archives abroad |
2.2 |
– |
3.7 |
2.0 |
-0.2 |
|
5. read books and press |
97.1 |
96.3 |
94.0 |
90.4 |
-6.7 |
|
5.1. read books in print or digital format |
63.1 |
66.3 |
69.4 |
69.6 |
+6.5 |
|
5.2 read periodicals (magazines or newspapers) in print or digital format |
88.2 |
86.7 |
80.3 |
85.5 |
-2.7 |
|
6. have used library services |
38.3 |
35.3 |
39.2 |
35.1 |
-2.9 |
|
6.1 visited a library in Lithuania live |
36.7 |
31.2 |
34.7 |
31.4 |
-5.3 |
|
6.2 visited a library abroad live |
|
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
6.3 visited a library online |
13.4 |
11.9 |
17.2 |
13.1 |
-0.3 |
|
7. watched films and video art |
89.0 |
91.4 |
95.5 |
96.8 |
+7.8 |
|
7.1 attended a cinema festival |
35.1 |
40.8 |
36.2 |
37.0 |
+1.9 |
|
7.2 watched Lithuanian films on TV |
– |
– |
80.8 |
79.1 |
|
|
7.3 watched Lithuanian films online |
46.0 |
49.5 |
28.7 |
34.4 |
-11.6 |
|
7.4 watched foreign films on TV or online |
– |
– |
93.4 |
91.5 |
|
|
8. listened to the radio |
80.4 |
81.3 |
80.1 |
88.2 |
+7.8 |
Source: Participation in Culture and Satisfaction with Cultural in Lithuania, 2023
The comparison of the data about the consumption of state-funded cultural activities and activities without large public subsidies shows the latter to be more popular, because they’re mostly mass-media habits you can do at home. Figures demonstrate an increase in their consumption in almost all categories except watching TV and reading periodicals. The largest increase (by 21 % and 10 %) of the consumption in the group of state funded activities is in the categories of museum and monuments visiting (see the table below).
Table 32: Persons (≥15 years) who attended a certain cultural activity during the last 12 months in Lithuania (in % of the population, in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023)
|
|
2014 |
2017 |
2020 |
2023 |
Difference 2014/2023 |
|
Activities heavily subsidised by the state |
|
|
|||
|
Theatre |
31% |
34% |
36% |
36% |
+5% |
|
Opera performances, musical |
12% |
13% |
15% |
15% |
+3% |
|
Dance (ballet or modern dance) |
8% |
8% |
9% |
9% |
+1% |
|
Concerts of classic music |
11% |
14% |
15% |
20% |
+9% |
|
Libraries |
38% |
37% |
39% |
35% |
-3% |
|
Archives |
4% |
2% |
5% |
4% |
0% |
|
Museums |
34% |
27% |
31% |
55% |
+21% |
|
Monuments |
47% |
50% |
58% |
57% |
+10% |
|
Activities without large public subsidies |
|
|
|||
|
Cinema |
35% |
41% |
36% |
37% |
+2% |
|
To read books not related to the profession or studies |
63% |
66% |
69% |
70% |
+7% |
|
In paper format (Usually use) |
62% |
63% |
66% |
66% |
+4% |
|
In digital format (Usually use) |
15% |
21% |
23% |
23% |
+8% |
|
To listen to music (Usually listen) |
– |
– |
– |
|
|
|
In a computer or directly on the Internet |
– |
– |
– |
|
|
|
To read periodic publications (Usually read) |
96% |
94% |
89% |
84% |
-12% |
|
Directly on the Internet |
50% |
56% |
58% |
64% |
+14% |
|
To watch videos (Usually watch) |
89% |
91% |
95% |
97% |
+8% |
|
Directly on the Internet |
46% |
46% |
49% |
– |
|
|
To watch television (Usually watch) |
98% |
97% |
94% |
91% |
-7% |
|
Directly on the Internet |
20% |
30% |
25% |
– |
|
|
To listen to the radio (Usually watch) |
81% |
81% |
80% |
88% |
+7% |
|
Directly on the Internet |
19% |
22% |
25% |
– |
|
|
To play videogames (Usually play) |
– |
– |
– |
|
|
|
To use computer for entertainment or leisure (Usually use) |
– |
– |
– |
|
|
|
Internet for entertainment or leisure (Usually use) |
62% |
71% |
81% |
86% |
+14% |
Source: Participation in Culture and Satisfaction with Cultural in Lithuania, 2023
According to the data of 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023, the most popular participatory cultural activity in Lithuania was making textile works; 15% of the population was engaged in creating textiles. Painting and drawing as forms of cultural participation take second place; 12% of the population was engaged in these activities. In 2023, the largest increase was in the number of residents engaged in photography (+6%), and the largest decrease in acting in theatre (-2%) (see table 33).
Table 33: People who have carried out artistic activities in Lithuania in the last 12 months by type of activity, in % of total population, period 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2023
|
Type of activity |
2014 |
2017 |
2020 |
2023 |
Difference 2014/2023 |
|
Writing literature |
6 % |
4 % |
6 % |
6% |
0% |
|
Painting or drawing |
8 % |
10 % |
11 % |
12% |
+4% |
|
Making textile works |
11 % |
12 % |
12 % |
15% |
+4% |
|
Photography |
5 % |
8 % |
12 % |
11% |
+6% |
|
Making videos |
3 % |
3 % |
6 % |
5% |
+2% |
|
Designing web pages, games, blogs |
3 % |
4 % |
6 % |
4% |
+1% |
|
Acting in theatre, directed a play |
4 % |
4 % |
3 % |
2% |
-2% |
|
Dancing |
4 % |
5 % |
6 % |
5% |
+1% |
|
Playing an instrument |
6 % |
6 % |
6 % |
6% |
0% |
|
Singing |
5 % |
6 % |
6 % |
5% |
0% |
Source: Participation in Culture and Satisfaction with Cultural in Lithuania, 2023
Regarding barriers to participation in cultural life, the most frequently cited personal reasons are lack of time, lack of interest, and the cost of cultural services. Reported shares were, respectively, 47/45/43/42% (2014/2017/2020/2023) for lack of time; 25/28/34/25% for lack of interest; and 37/36/23/23% for cost. Thus, lack of time shows a steady decline, lack of interest peaked in 2020 and returned to its 2014 level by 2023, and cost dropped markedly after 2017 and then stabilised. In 2023, cost was cited far less often than in 2014–2017 (23% vs. 36–37%), while lack of interest slightly exceeded cost (25% vs. 23%, +2 pp) (see table 34). Regarding barriers related to the supply of and access to cultural services, the most commonly cited problems in 2023 were poor accessibility and lack of information (each 16%; previously 16%/16%/18% and 8%/10%/15% in 2014/2017/2020, respectively). Limited choice was the third most frequent concern (12% in 2023; 11%/10%/13% in 2014/2017/2020). Overall, however, the principal reasons for non-participation are personal rather than supply-side. Notably, the share of respondents reporting no obstacles to cultural participation increased steadily from 5% in 2014 to 17% in 2023 (see table 34).
Table 34: Reasons of non-participation in culture in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023
|
|
2014 |
2017 |
2020 |
2023 |
Difference 2014/2023 |
|
Lack of time |
47 % |
45 % |
43 % |
42% |
-5% |
|
Too expensive |
37 % |
36 % |
23 % |
23% |
-14% |
|
Lack of interest |
25 % |
28 % |
34 % |
25% |
0% |
|
Poor health |
20 % |
17 % |
17 % |
15% |
-5% |
|
Difficult to access |
16 % |
16 % |
18 % |
16% |
0% |
|
Lack of information |
8 % |
10 % |
15 % |
16% |
+8% |
|
Limited choice |
11 % |
10 % |
13 % |
12% |
+1% |
|
Poor quality of cultural activities in your area |
6 % |
6 % |
8 % |
8% |
+2% |
|
Inconvenient opening hours of cultural institutions |
4 % |
5 % |
7 % |
7% |
+3% |
|
Other |
3 % |
1 % |
1 % |
6% |
+3% |
|
None |
5 % |
7 % |
10 % |
17% |
+12% |
Source: Participation in Culture and Satisfaction with Cultural in Lithuania, 2023
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