Istanbul Barometer Survey: Nearly Half of Istanbul Residents Cannot Attend Cultural and Artistic Events

According to the July report of the Istanbul Barometer published by the Istanbul Planning Agency, 45.8 percent of Istanbul residents did not attend any cultural or artistic events in the past year. The survey revealed that high ticket prices and economic conditions significantly restrict participation in cultural life.

Participation Rates and Preferences in Cultural Events

In the survey conducted by the Istanbul Planning Agency with 758 people, it was determined that 45.8 percent of Istanbul residents did not attend any cultural or artistic events in the past year. The most preferred activity among those who attended events was concerts, at 33.9 percent. Concerts were followed by theater and stand-up shows, and visits to museums and art galleries, respectively.

High Prices as the Biggest Obstacle to Participation

According to the survey, the biggest reason why Istanbul residents cannot attend cultural events stood out as the high cost of tickets and admission fees, at 45 percent. In second place was the inability to find time due to work and school busy schedules, at 38.1 percent. Due to economic conditions, 41.4 percent of participants saved on restaurant and cafe expenses, while 37.6 percent saved on concert and theater tickets.

Digital Content Preferences and Screen Times

The rate of those who prefer digital content and social media over physical events was recorded at 28.5 percent. Among those who prefer digital platforms, 34.3 percent explained this by its practicality in times of time constraints, while 29.6 percent explained it by being more affordable and accessible. While the participants' average daily digital entertainment time was measured as 3 hours and 8 minutes, it was noteworthy that this duration was very close to their total free time.