The study on participation in culture collects data on the attendance of Estonian residents in cultural institutions, access to culture, cultural hobbies and general attitudes towards culture. On the blog of the Ministry of Culture Kuva, the main expert of data, Karl Viilmann, summarized the study.
It is Estonian the only and largest cultural study that provides comprehensive information on the habits of Estonian residents to participate in culture, visits to cultural institutions and cultural and sporting events (including theatres, concerts, cinema, museums, libraries), including through virtual or digital solutions, provides an overview of the popularity of engaging in cultural activities, the benefits of media consumption by the population and the reasons for not participating in cultural life.
The results of the study can be analysed by various important indicators such as place of residence, gender, age, education or labour market status, and the relationship of different social groups with culture can be thoroughly discussed and the county differences in cultural participation and the change over time can be described.
The results of the survey make it possible to assess the effectiveness of national cultural policies by describing how the participation of the population in cultural life and the habits of cultural consumption have changed over a long period of time.
Based on the results of the survey, the Ministry of Culture implements policies and activities in the fields of arts, cultural values, integration and sports, and it supports the furnishing of various support measures and programs. The data from the study on cultural participation are used in the "Cultural Development Plan 2021-2030"1 as a metric for the overall goal, as well as several other national development plans – "Estonian 2035 development plan"2 and "Sustainable development"3 – to measure indicators in the field of culture.
As a result of the study on participation in culture, it is possible to clarify the possibilities of participating in cultural events and cultural hobbies in different Estonian regions. In this way, the state and local level will receive data that will allow an analysis of how to create opportunities that would encourage people to visit cultural events and institutions and participate in cultural activities. The same data can be used to plan the organisation of cultural institutions, activities and events as an additional option.
The survey has been carried out by Statistics Estonia as part of official statistics since 2015. 10,000 Estonian residents participate in the survey. The population includes Estonian residents who are at least 15 years old, the results are extended to the entire population. The survey period for the 2023 survey ran from 1 January to 31 December 2023. Asked about participation in cultural life in the last 12 months. The study collected data through an online survey, over the phone and by the method of face-to-face interviews.