ARTISTIC PRODUCTION AND LIVE PERFORMANCES, 2024

 

Performing arts in 2024

For the purpose of harmonising the official statistics as well as data comparability with other member states of the European Union, the survey on performing arts has been moved from a season to a calendar year. Due to the specific nature of the artistic field, in addition to amateur theatres, that have been monitored for years already, since 2024 the population of orchestras, ensembles, choirs and folk dance and music ensembles has been expanded to cover amateur organisations/associations that, through their activities, continuously contribute to the development and presentation of the cultural scene in Croatia and abroad. Due to this methodological change, data for orchestras, ensembles, choirs and folk dance and music ensembles are not comparable with previous years.

Croatian theatres

A total of 159 theatres operated in 2024, of which 103 were professional theatres with permanent stages, 21 were professional children’s theatres and 35 were amateur theatres.

A total of 14 514 plays were performed in Croatia and abroad, which was 22% more than in the 2022/2023 season. The plays were attended by 1 944 349 visitors in the Republic of Croatia and abroad, which was an increase of 8% compared to the 2022/2023 season. A total of 2 057 titles were performed in all theatres. Out of that, 1 196 titles, or 58%, were created by domestic authors. There were 488 premieres, of which 277 titles were created by domestic authors.

Professional theatres for all ages performed 17% more plays in Croatia and abroad and had 18% more visitors than in the previous season.

In 2024, amateur theatres performed 182 titles, of which 116 were created by domestic authors and 64 were premieres. A total of 476 plays were performed for 74 156 visitors in Croatia and abroad.

Professional children's theatres responded to this year’s survey in slightly smaller numbers. A total of 21 children’s theatres performed 456 titles, of which 236 were created by domestic authors and 43 were premieres, amounting to a total of 6 400 plays in Croatia and abroad for 401 759 youngest visitors.

Interesting data were obtained by processing theatres for 2024 – the theatre attendance by type of theatre and by the degree of urbanisation (G-4), showing clearly the importance of amateur theatres for rural areas. In cities and towns professional theatres are dominant, while in rural areas of the Republic of Croatia children’s and amateur theatres had the most visitors. Theatre visitors in rural areas make up only 1% of the total visitor population (G-3), however, children’s and amateur theatres are extremely important for access to cultural content in less populated areas of the Republic of Croatia.

Concerts of ensembles, orchestras and choirs

In 2024, 73 orchestras and ensembles were active, of which six were symphony and large orchestras, 34 were chamber orchestras and 33 were chamber ensembles. A total of 1 277 concerts, performances and festivities were performed, which were attended by 278 043 visitors.

Compared to the previous survey, the population of orchestras and ensembles was expanded by 36 amateur ensembles which continuously perform in the field of performing arts.

There were 14 active choirs in 2024, of which one professional and 13 amateur choirs. They performed 235 concerts for 54 453 visitors.

In 2024, 36 folk dance and music ensembles, of which only one professional, had 693 performances, of which 48 were abroad. They were attended by 286 306 visitors.

 

 

 

 

1 THEATRES

2 ORCHESTRAS, ENSEMBLES AND CHOIRS, CROATIAN FOLK DANCE AND MUSIC ENSEMBLES

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 amateur theatres on the Annual Report on Theatres (KU-1 form). Professional orchestras, ensembles and choirs, as well as amateur ensembles that perform professionally, fill in the Annual Report on Orchestras, Ensembles and Choirs (KU-2 form), while folk dance and music ensembles that actively promote traditional cultural heritage enter their data in the Annual Report on Folk Dance and Music Ensembles (KU-3 form).

Coverage and comparability

The survey covers professional, professional children’s and amateur theatres, professional and amateur orchestras, ensembles and choirs on the territory of the Republic of Croatia that were performing in 2024, as well as Croatian folk dance and music ensembles that actively promoted traditional cultural heritage. The data are partly comparable to those from the previous surveys due to moving from a season to a calendar year and expanding the population of orchestras and ensembles to cover amateur organisations.

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.

Amateur 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.

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

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

Amateur orchestras and choirs are musical ensembles consisting of amateur musicians/singers, often as part of an association or an artistic organisation, which perform publicly, but their activities are voluntary, and they rarely have members employed on a permanent or on a contractual basis.

Croatian folk dance and music ensembles are ensembles consisting of professional and/or amateur singers and dancers whose goal is to collect authentic national folklore and perform artistic presentations of folk dances, music and songs.

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

 

Abbreviations
EU	European Union
USA	Unites States of America
Symbols
-	no occurrence
:	occurrence is not possible

 

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
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Persons responsible:
Mario Vlajčević, Director of Demographic and Social Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Marija Gojević, Gordana Bralić and Maja Lončar

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