Karin Grette (23) has recently noticed that ticket prices for cultural events have gone up, while all other goods have become more expensive. Therefore, she has had to cut out one of the most important things in her life: cultural experiences. – I have completely stopped going to festivals. I go to around half as many concerts, exhibitions and theater performances. It’s crazy, she says. Grette studies musicology and is above average interested in music and culture. After living the student life for a few years, she is used to limiting her consumption, but the increase in the price of tickets and other goods means that it is now even tougher to prioritize cultural offerings. Karin Grette has spent more time at home on the sofa to save money. Photo: Stig Jaarvik / news – I have to pay rent, food, electricity and water, and that comes before tickets, she says. And this applies to many Norwegians, according to a survey carried out by Norstat on behalf of news. In the survey, a full 44 per cent answered that they use cultural facilities less frequently than before. As a reason why they go to the cinema, theater or concert less, 23 per cent answer that it has become so expensive, and 12 per cent answer that they are in a changed financial situation. Much can therefore indicate that culture must be prioritized away in already tight budgets. Figures news has obtained from Statistics Norway show that the prices of cultural services have risen a lot, with a price increase of around 12 per cent in the past year. That is almost twice as much as the general price development for goods and services elsewhere in society, which rose by 6.3 per cent in the same period. – Culture is a luxury Senior researcher Bård Kleppe. Photo: Kristine Hirsti / news Senior researcher Bård Kleppe in Telemarksforsking believes that the figures are surprisingly high with 44 per cent responding that they make less use of cultural facilities. He believes that the reason why fewer people want to go out to experience culture is shared. – New habits after the pandemic probably linger and, in addition, there are economic downturns, says the senior researcher. He describes cultural experiences as a luxury that is often cut back in bad economic times. – There have been boom times and people have had a lot of money. They have gone out and seen performances. This is about to reverse with other economic times and it could hit cultural life quite hard in the future, says Kleppe. – The prices have been artificially low Confederation leader of the artists’ organization Creo, Hans Ole Rian, has taken a closer look at the reason for the price increase on cultural offers. Hans Ole Rian is union leader in Creo. Photo: Stig Jaarvik / news – During the pandemic, there was no price increase for 2-3 years, so prices have been artificially low. In addition, electricity, food and loans have become more expensive and artists must have an income to service this. And then technical equipment on which the cultural industry is completely dependent has become much more expensive, says Rian. Creo fears that there may be a class divide between those who can afford to experience culture and those who cannot. – We are concerned that we are getting more and more people who cannot afford to participate in cultural life, both in front of and behind the stage. We are particularly afraid that there are many people who do not have the money to send their children to cultural school and other activities. Karin Grette does not know what she will do if prices are to rise in the future. – Then I might have to move back home to my parents and cut out all concerts. I have to have food and a roof over my head, so then concerts will have to be cut, says Grette. There will be no festivals and far fewer concerts in the future for Karin Grette. Photo: Stig Jaarvik / news
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44 percent state that they use cultural offerings less – news Culture and entertainment
