Total music and performing arts revenues declined significantly in 2020. At the same time, revenues in the literary and visual arts industries grew. This is evidenced by the report "Art in numbers 2020".
In last year's 2019 report, we saw a marked increase in the music industry. There, especially the revenues from tickets from concerts in Norway increased. The figures for 2020 are completely different. Here the report shows a decrease by as much as 33%. total revenues. Thus, the total income from the music industry in 2020 exceeded NOK 3,5 billion. For comparison, in 2019 it was 5,3 billion NOK.
In the case of the performing arts, the percentage decrease is even greater. Here we see a decrease of as much as 53 percent from 2019 to 2020. The industry in 2020 achieved a total income of NOK 603 million.
The effects of the corona pandemic are greatest in industries with high customer activity. Last year's music and arts related revenue fell 53 percent compared to 2019. Performance-related revenue accounts for the largest portion of total revenue for both industries.
- Now, for the first time, we are seeing clean numbers from the crisis year 2020. The situation is serious. The report gives us a good picture of the consequences of the first year of the pandemic and will be an important starting point when we propose measures in the future that can help the sector become more profitable and more diverse than ever, says Kristin Danielsen. , director of the Culture Council.
Significant increase in income from both literature and the visual arts
Of the four fields of art, the largest one is the literature turnover. Total revenues from sales of literature in Norway and abroad amounted to just over NOK 6,3 billion in 2020. This is an increase of 5 percent. compared to 2019. Noticeable growth on the Norwegian market from 2019 to 2020.
The field of visual arts also saw a marked increase in turnover from 2019 to 2020. Total revenue was almost NOK 2,8 billion last year, an increase of 48 percent over 2019. On revenues in The visual arts industry is particularly affected by the sale of individual works for large sums. In 2020, works of art were exported for over NOK 1 billion, six times more than in 2019, thus contributing to the industry's total revenues.
Revenues from performance in the literature and visual arts industries are also declining, but represent a much smaller share of total revenues than for music and tendon art.
Total income in all four arts industries in 2020 was NOK 13,3 billion, compared to NOK 14,2 billion in 2019. This includes income in Norway and abroad for all four arts industries.
Reconstruction of the cultural sector
The Ministry of Culture commissioned the Culture Council, together with the Norwegian Film Institute, to analyze the consequences of the pandemic for the cultural sector and to present various alternatives for the coming time. The first periodic report came out in June and explored audience attitudes and the desire to return to cultural life after the reopening. Moreover, the report included an overview of the remuneration system for organizers and subcontractors in the cultural sector and the system of stimulating cultural life.
Two new partial reports must be delivered before Christmas. The first concerns the income and conditions of the artist pandemic. The second is a knowledge summary that covers more material on the effects of the pandemic on the cultural sector. At the same time, a new edition of the audience survey will be published, which will be conducted in cooperation with Norwegian Audience Development. The final report itself will be delivered by Easter 2022.
- The work is based on a broad knowledge base and close dialogue with the sector. Rebuilding and strengthening the cultural sector is a task that we must do together. This is an important task and we will see the results shortly, says Danielsen.
Source: Kulturrådet
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