Since 1990, there has been a drastic decline in the number of people participating in cultural life; consumption of culture and arts activities decreased in all fields. There is a certain correlation between the decrease in the number of infrastructures and the consumption of and participation in cultural activities, for example: as the cinema infrastructure collapsed, the number of cinema audiences was sharply reduced.
Data show a general stabilisation and improvement in participation levels starting from the late 1990s. In 2007-2008, the highest attendance rate at cultural events occurred. A decline started again along with the economic crisis in 2009.
Culture consumption and participation studies are carried out every second year (the list of the studies is available here). The latest study was carried out in 2018[1] and offers conclusions based on the quantitative representative survey of permanent residents of Latvia (n=1040, age group 15-74), focus group discussions (n=6), quantitative electronic survey of cultural operators and event organisers (n=651).
The most popular activities of the Latvian population in 2018 are the celebration of community or city festival (69%); watching cultural broadcasts on TV (53%); visiting cultural activities at the local community centre (52%); and visiting heritage sites (52%). About half of the population has been reading books (48%), visited museums (46%), attended performances of the local collectives in their city or municipality (46%) and popular music concerts (46%).
In general, it is observed that cultural activity of the population during the period 2008-2018 has decreased. Most significantly the decrease of those, who watch cultural TV broadcasts on TV (-22%), read books (-17%), attend libraries (-7%). Increase is observed in the visits of amusements parks (+8%), community festivals (+7%), popular music concerts (+6%) and theatres (+5%).
In 2018, less active socio-demographic groups regarding cultural consumption are: 65-74 year olds, people with a lower income, those having only secondary education, Russian speaking and those who live alone. Rural residents are just as active as urban residents when it comes to cultural consumption, although their patterns differ r: rural residents have limited access to professional art events.
About 10% of all respondents take active part in amateur arts, while 28% is active in other cultural activities (filming, making photos, crafts, playing music instrument etc.). Altogether, 55% of the residents are active in different social activities (participate in joint work, donate, do sports etc.) and one third of the residents does not take part in any of such activities.
Table 4: People who participated in or attended a certain cultural activity during the last 12 months in Latvia at least once during the year (in % of the population, in 2010, 2014, 2018)
| 2010 | 2014 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activities heavily subsidised by the state | |||
| Theatre | 36 | 40 | 42 |
| Opera (and ballet) performances | 12 | 18 | 14 |
| Zarzuela | – | – | – |
| Dance | – | – | – |
| Concerts of classic music (and contemporary music) | – | – | 18 |
| Libraries | 41 | 36 | 34 |
| Museums | 38 | 54 | 46 |
| Monuments (cultural sites) | – | – | 52 |
| Cultural centres | – | – | 52 |
| Activities without large public subsidies* | |||
| Cinema | 35 | 29 | 29 |
| To read books not related to the profession or studies | 67 | 55 | 48 |
| In paper format (Usually use) | |||
| In digital format or on the Internet (Usually use) | 7,3 | ||
| Directly on the Internet (Usually use) | – | ||
| To listen to music (Usually listen) | 47 | ||
| Directly on the Internet | 31,8 | ||
| To read periodic publications (and books) (Usually read) | 41 | ||
| Directly on the Internet | – | ||
| To watch videos (Usually watch) | – | ||
| Directly on the Internet | – | ||
| To watch television (and films and videos) (Usually watch) | 72 | ||
| Directly on the Internet | – | ||
| To listen to the radio (Usually watch) | 30 | ||
| Directly on the Internet | – | ||
| To play videogames (Usually play) | – | ||
| To use computer (and internet) for entertainment or leisure (Usually use) | 44 | ||
| Internet for entertainment or leisure (Usually use) | – | ||
Source(s): Culture consumption and participation studies:
Kultūras patēriņš 2010 (Stratēģiskās analīzes komisija, 2011); Latvijas iedzīvotāju Kultūras patēriņš un līdzdalība Kultūras aktivitātēs 2007-2014: pētījumu dati un statistika (Culturelab, 2014); Kultūras patēriņa un līdzdalības ietekmes pētījums (Latvijas Kultūras akadēmija, SKDS, Culturelab, 2018)
*Due to different formulations, it is not possible to compare data
Table 5: People who have carried out artistic activities in Latvia in the last 12 months by type of activity, in % of total population, period 2008; 2014; 2018
| 2008 | 2014 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing | 2,3 | 3 | 2 |
| Painting or drawing | – | – | – |
| Other visual arts (including painting, drawing) | 4,1 | 4 | 4 |
| Photography (and filming) | – | 18 | 13 |
| Making videos (creative work on computer) | 6,5 | 3 | 3 |
| Designing web pages | – | – | – |
| Drama | 1,3 | 2 | 2 |
| Dance and ballet (folk dance) | 2,8 | 3 | 2 |
| Playing an instrument | 4,1 | 5 | 4 |
| Singing in a choir | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Source(s): Culture consumption and participation studies:
Kultūras
patēriņa pētījums 2008 (Analītisko pētījumu un stratēģiju laboratorija, 2009);
Latvijas iedzīvotāju Kultūras patēriņš un līdzdalība Kultūras aktivitātēs
2007-2014: pētījumu dati un statistika (Culturelab, 2014); Kultūras patēriņa un
līdzdalības ietekmes pētījums (Latvijas Kultūras akadēmija, SKDS, Culturelab,
2018).
[1] Kultūras patēriņa un līdzdalības ietekmes pētījums (Latvijas Kultūras akadēmija, SKDS, Culturelab, 2018).
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