Culture

Estonian people love culture. The tradition of song and dance celebration has been a part of the Estonian identity for one and a half centuries, and it has helped people feel connected even in difficult times. Nowadays, people often go to concerts and the library, visit cultural objects, see films and plays, participate in amateur folk culture groups or cultural life in general.

Culture statistics provide data, for example, on theatre, cinema, music, exhibitions and publishing. 

Every three years, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, we conduct the Cultural Participation Survey to collect information on the Estonian residents’ rate of participation in cultural activities, access to culture, preferences concerning cultural activities and hobbies.

The results of the survey allow us to assess national cultural policy, which in turn informs the Culture Development Plan. The same indicators also feature in several key national strategies, such as “Estonia 2035” and the sustainable development goals.

Culture statistics give an overview on:

• how often people go to the cinema, theatre, concerts and museums in Estonia;
• how popular are libraries;
• how many choir singers, folk dancers and other folk culture amateurs there are;
• how many films are produced, new exhibitions opened and plays staged;
• how many newspapers, magazines and books are published;
• the activity of audio-visual content producers and broadcasters.

Culture statistics give an idea of the extent of the love of culture in Estonia. Cultural statistics are a basis for making decisions about the preservation and development of culture, which are included in development plans.