IPA Survey: 45.8% of Istanbul Residents Did Not Attend Any Culture and Arts Events in the Last Year
According to research by the Istanbul Planning Agency, nearly half of Istanbul residents could not attend any events in the past year, with high ticket prices being the biggest obstacle.
The July issue of the Istanbul Barometer research, published by the Istanbul Planning Agency affiliated with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, highlighted culture and entertainment habits in the city. Accordingly, 45.8% of Istanbul residents did not participate in any culture and arts events in the last year, with high ticket prices cited as the primary obstacle to participation.
Participation Rates in Culture and Arts Events
In the research conducted by the Istanbul Planning Agency with 758 people as part of the July edition, 45.8% of the participants stated that they did not take part in any culture and arts events within the past year.
While concerts were the most common choice among those who participated in events at a rate of 33.9%, concerts were followed by theater and stand-up events at 21.8%.
Factors and Obstacles Hindering Participation
It was determined that the biggest obstacle to participating in culture and arts activities was the high cost of tickets and admission fees, at 45%.
Following high prices, not finding time due to work or school was included in the report as the second significant reason, with a rate of 38.1%.
Economic Conditions and Spending Preferences
Due to worsening economic conditions, citizens have cut back on culture and entertainment spending, and in this context, the highest reduction was made in social venue expenditures such as restaurants and cafes, at 41.4%.
While 39.8% of the participants stated that they did not make any cuts in any expenditure items, the rate of those who went without concert and theater ticket purchases was determined as 37.6%.
Rise of Digital Content and Screen Time
The proportion of those stating that they prefer social media and digital content over physical events was recorded at 28.5%.
While the average daily consumption time for digital entertainment content was 3 hours and 8 minutes, it was calculated that almost all of their free time was dedicated to digital platforms.