Statistical presentation

Data description

The Cultural Habits Survey is a sample-based survey that sheds light on the population's consumption of cultural and leisure activities. The survey shows how many people participate in and make use of cultural activities.

The following cultural areas are covered by the study: - Music - Performing arts - Visual arts - Films and series - News - Museums and other exhibitions - Cultural heritage - Literature - Library use - Digital games - Exercise and sporting events - Leisure activities - Volunteer work

It is participation in the aforementioned cultural and leisure activities and not the self-exercising culture that is illuminated in the study, apart from the areas physical exercise and volunteer work. Based on the above-mentioned cultural areas, the cultural habits study generally covers the following questions:

• How often you participate in cultural and leisure activities (frequency / time consumption)
• Where the participation occurs (e.g. at home or abroad)
• What is consumed (types of arts etc.)
• How participation occurs (use of media and institutions, free consumption vs. paid services, etc.)
• Who participates (different population groups)

However, not all of the above issues will be relevant to all cultural activities. Frequency is estimated using two scales. For certain cultural activities, e.g. films and series, frequency is asked regarding the last week. For other cultural activities, e.g. cinema visits, theater or visual arts, questions are asked about the frequency of consumption over the past three months. The intensity of citizens' participation in cultural activities etc. is estimated using questions of frequency of participation and / or the volume of the activity in question, e.g. number of visits to libraries or museums.

Consumption of selected cultural activities is further divided into types. The list of classifications has been prepared in close collaboration with the study's follow-up group, which, in addition to the employees of the Ministry of Culture and Statistics Denmark, also includes professionals and researchers. Cultural activities are defined technology neutral. This means that the respondents are asked about their consumption of e.g. literature, whether they read physical books, e-books or hear audiobooks. Consumption of performing arts includes both the experience of live performances and the viewing of recorded performing arts, for example on TV or on the Internet, for example YouTube. All cultural activities are covered, regardless of whether the participation has taken place in Denmark or abroad.

The Cultural Habits Survey is collected at the individual level for children and adults. The results of adult cultural consumption are published as of March 1, 2019, while the results from the child survey are not expected to be available until the end of 2019 at the earliest, when the amount of data collected is sufficient.

The statistics are prepared using quarterly sample surveys in the period 3rd quarter 2018-2nd quarter 2020, where the population is questioned about their cultural consumption in the last quarter. The study covers both children's and adults' cultural and leisure activities. The questionnaire has a fixed part and a flexible module that is replaced quarterly. The survey runs for 8 quarters from 1 July 2018 to 1 July 2020.

Classification system

The dissemination of the cultural statistics is organized by cultural domains The cultural domains are defined according to UNESCO structure but have been adapted to Danish conditions.

In addition the following groupings are used:

Age intervals for adults:

• 16-24 years
• 25-34 years
• 35-44 years
• 45-54 years
• 55-64 years
• 65-74 years
• 75+ years

Weekly frequency:

• Several times a day
• Daily or almost daily
• 3-4 days a week
• 1-2 days a week
• No activity during the last week

Frequency within the last three months:

• Several times a day
• Daily or almost daily
• 3-4 days a week
• 1-2 days a week
• 1-3 days a month
• Less
• No activity within the past three months

Number of visits etc. are divided into the following categories:

• No activity (equivalent to zero visits)
• Once
• Twice
• Three or four times
• Five-nine times
• Ten or more times

Type of music:

• Classical music
• Rhythmic music

Types of Performing Arts:

• Theater or acting
• Musical or theater concert
• Opera or operetta
• Ballet or dance
• Stand-up
• Revy or cabaret
• Children's theater, puppet theater or animation theater
• New circus, performance or street theater
• School comedy or amateur theater
• Other type of performing arts

Art Genre:

• Painting
• Sculpture
• Crafts
• Design
• Photograph
• Installation Art
• Video Art
• Performance
• Other type

Museums, exhibitions and cultural heritage:

• Cultural History Museums, e.g. the National Museum of Denmark, The Open Air Museum (Frilandsmuseet), The Funen Village (Den Fynske Landsby), Moesgaard Museum, The Old Town in Aarhus or Lejre Experimental Center (Lejre Forsøgscenter)
• Art Museum, e.g. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Arken, AROS or Nation Gallery of Denmark
• Natural History Museum, e.g. the Zoological Museum
• A castle, a manor house or an ancient monument
• Other types of museums

Areas of volunteer work:

• sport
• Leisure and hobby
• Social areas, e.g. homework help for vulnerable children or social efforts in ghetto areas
• School and day care institutions
• The cultural area
• Residential areas and communities
• Health care
• Labor union
• Idea-based association, e.g. party political, environmental or religious
• Other areas

Types of Leisure Activities: - Presentations or debate events - Evening school education - Cultural association, e.g. music or theater - Private tuition, e.g. music, dancing or singing - Other leisure education, e.g. after school classes - Scout - Other leisure activities

Sector coverage

Culture, sports and volunteering.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Cultural activity: Cultural and leisure activities are based on the UN's list of cultural areas and thus reflect the Ministry of Culture's work on cultural and leisure activities. Cultural activity is divided into the following cultural areas and cultural institutions in the study: films and series, news, music, literature, performing arts, visual arts, digital games, physical exercise, leisure activities, volunteer work, library and museums, exhibitions and cultural heritage. Cultural institutions are institutions that provide cultural services to the citizens. Examples of cultural institutions are libraries, cinemas, museums, theaters and venues, etc.

Cultural consumption: Culture consumption is participation in cultural and leisure activities. Participation can take the form of various activities, including visits (e.g. visits to museums or the library), experiences (e.g. performing arts or sporting events), listening (music, literature or news), watching (movies, series, news, performing arts, etc.), purposeful observation (visual art), performance (e.g. physical exercise or volunteer work) and reading (literature, news).

Statistical unit

Individuals.

Statistical population

The Danish population from the age of 16 years and older.

Reference area

Citizens residing in Denmark. However, the actual cultural consumption can occur both in Denmark and abroad, for example in connection with holiday or business trips.

Time coverage

The cultural consumption study has been prepared several years apart since 1964. The study was conducted in 1964, 1975, 1987, 1993, 1998, 2004, 2012 and most recently in 2018. The statistical documentation primarily concerns the 2018 -2021 study.

Base period

Not relevant to these statistics.

Unit of measure

Percentage.

Reference period

Quarter. At present, data has collected four quarters, and the statistics shed light on the Danes' media consumption, cultural and leisure activities during the period three months prior to the data collection date. The data collection time is the third and fourth quarters of 2018, first, second and third quarter of 2019 and first, second and third quarter of 2020. The year 2018 covers 3rd quarter 2018- 2nd quarter 2019. The year 2019 covers 3rd quarter 2019-2nd quarter 2020 and refers to cultural and leisure activities in the last three months. The year 2020 covers 3rd quarter 2020-2nd quarter 2021 and refers to cultural and leisure activities in the last three months.

Frequency of dissemination

Quarterly and yearly.

Legal acts and other agreements

Participation in the study is voluntary and therefore does not require collection permission.

Cost and burden

The reporting burden is not calculated for these statistics as participation in the survey is voluntary.

Comment

For more information, see the subject page for Cultural habits.