ARTISTIC PRODUCTION AND LIVE PERFORMANCES, 2020/2021 SEASON

The coronavirus crisis further affected all the performing arts in the 2020/2021 season

A total of 123 theatres operated in the season from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021, which was 23% less than in the previous season. A part of professional theatres had permanent scenes, either in-house ones or those located somewhere else. Therefore, along with 80 professional theatres, there were 8 operating permanent scenes. In addition, there were 24 professional children’s theatres, out of which there were 6 puppet theatres. Only 19 amateurs’ theatres operated. Due to many epidemiological measures in the 2020/2021 season, the number of visitors decreased even more than in the previous season, thus leading to a decrease in the number of active theatres as well. Amateurs’ theatres had the largest decrease in the number of active theatres.

Pursuant to the Decision of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, which entered into force at the end of November 2020, all amateur cultural and artistic performances, programmes and events, as well as rehearsals of amateur ensembles, groups and choirs were suspended. Compared to the 2019/2020 season, only 48% of amateurs’ theatres were active, having a noticeable decrease in the number of performances and in the number of visitors.

A difficult season for performing arts extremely reduced the number of visitors

A total of 5 350 plays were performed, which was 40% less than in the previous season. The plays in the Republic of Croatia and abroad were attended by 442 083 visitors, which was a decrease of 69% compared to the 2019/2020 season. Out of the total number of 1 093 plays performed in all theatres, 535 of them, or 49%, were created by domestic authors.

The impact of the coronacrisis and epidemiological measures for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 disease is reflected the most in the number of plays and the number of visitors. Professional theatres for all ages performed 28% less plays and had 66% less visitors than in the previous season, which was already showing a significant decline.

Amateurs’ theatres performed 69% less plays and had 72% less visitors compared to the 2019/2020 season.

Professional children’s theatres had 52% less plays and 77% less visitors than in the previous season, when, despite the coronacrisis, they had the lowest decline.

A significant decline in the concert season for professional ensembles, orchestras and choir

During the 2020/2021 season, 29 professional orchestras and ensembles operated, out of which 6 were symphony and large orchestras, 7 chamber orchestras and 16 chamber ensembles. A total of 439 concerts, performances and festivities were performed, which were attended by 54 039 visitors.

Compared to the 2019/2020 season, the number of performed concerts declined by 17% and their attendance by 67%.

The professional choir performed 22 concerts, that is, 4% more than in the previous season. They were attended by only 2 350 visitors, that is, 81% less than in the 2019/2020 season.

LADO – National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia performed 30 concerts or performances, which was a decline of 44% compared to the previous season. They were attended by 14 050 visitors, which was 66% less than in the 2019/2020 season.

The impact of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on performing arts’ tours abroad

The number of tours abroad of Croatian theatres, ensembles, orchestras and choirs continued to decrease in this season. Although the borders are open, epidemiological measures have also affected tours abroad of Croatian theatres, orchestras and ensembles. Compared to the 20019/2020 season, in which the number of tours abroad from the previous seasons has already halved, this year brought further decline, of 54% in the number of plays of professional theatres and of 50% in the number of plays of children’s theatres, while there were no tours abroad of amateur’s theatres in the 2020/2021 season. The number of concerts abroad of professional orchestras and ensembles also fell compared to the 2019/2020 season, by 67%.

1. THEATRES

2. PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRAS, ENSEMBLES AND CHOIR, LADO – NATIONAL FOLK DANCE ENSEMBLE OF CROATIA

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NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

Data are the result of the processing of statistical reports filled in by professional, children’s and amateurs’ theatres on the Annual Report on Theatres (KU-1 form). Professional orchestras, ensembles and choirs fill in the Annual Report on Professional Orchestras, Ensembles and Choirs (KU-2 form) and, finally, LADO – National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia enters its data on the Annual Report on Professional Folk and Song Ensembles (KU-3 form).

Coverage and comparability

The survey covers professional, professional children’s and amateurs’ theatres, professional orchestras, ensembles and choirs on the territory of the Republic of Croatia that were performing in the 2020/2021 season, and the LADO – National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia. Data are comparable to data from the previous seasons.

Definitions and explanations

Professional theatre is a cultural and artistic institution, that is, an artistic organisation, either with a resident professional company or with a professional company recruited only for individual performances on a contractual basis.

Professional children’s theatre is a professional theatre regularly giving performances for children, which includes the participation of children along with that of a professional company.

Amateurs’ theatre is a theatre in which the artistic company consists mostly of amateurs. It can either be independent or a constituent part of an association of cultural-artistic amateurism, home of culture, etc.

Scene is a separate space in a theatre or in another location where a professional company performs.

Professional orchestras/choirs are musical ensembles consisting of professional musicians/singers who may be employed either on a permanent or on a contractual basis.

LADO – National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia is a professional institution aimed at collecting authentic national folklore and performing artistic presentations of folk dances, music and songs.

Concert is a public performance that is a constituent part of the whole programme of an event, while performing during formal events and festivities includes participation only in a part of the whole program.

Abbreviations
COVID-19	COrona VIrus Disease-19
Symbols
-	no occurrence
:	occurrence is not possible

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80.
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Persons responsible:
Dubravka Rogić Hadžalić, Director of Social Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Marija Gojević and Gordana Bralić

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