Culture in Gelderland: well-attended and financially resilient  

The cultural sector has recovered well economically from the corona period. Gelderland has relatively many museums, libraries and performing arts venues, which are also well visited. This is according to the second Culture and Heritage Monitor launched by the province of Gelderland today at the Mauritskazerne in Ede.

The Culture and Heritage Monitor provides insight into developments in the social, economic and artistic value of culture and heritage in Gelderland, such as audience reach and employment. The Province of Gelderland considers it important to support policy choices with facts. Working with up-to-date and reliable data helps to monitor developments, identify trends in time and make targeted investments in a sector that is of great value to residents and communities.

The first Culture Monitor dates back to 2022. This second edition includes heritage, libraries and data from different regions. This shows that each region has its own character. The Arnhem and Nijmegen region stands out with a particularly rich cultural infrastructure and lots of employment opportunities. 

Stronger than before corona period

Figures on employment, the number of self-employed and business establishments show that the creative sector in Gelderland has recovered well after the corona period, stronger than the national average. The Arts and Heritage subsector is even in a better economic position than before the corona period. 

This recovery is largely due to the sector itself: cultural institutions in Gelderland have become more financially self-sufficient. For every euro of subsidy, the 151 cultural institutions earned 43 euro cents in 2021 and 66 euro cents themselves in 2022. Own income rose from 75 million euros in 2021 to 119 million euros in 2022, especially at film/AV/media and venues. This was mainly due to increased audience income. 

Residents themselves culturally active

Museums are particularly frequent in Gelderland: more than 3.5 million visitors in 2023. Compared to other province, only museums in North Holland and South Holland achieve higher absolute visitor numbers.

The monitor also shows that Gelderlanders continue to value culture and heritage and practice and visit them in large numbers. Of residents, 89% visited at least one cultural activity and 74% a heritage site or event in the past year. And 78% are culturally active themselves. Gelderland has relatively many amateur arts, such as brass bands, choirs and theatre groups.

Insights for creators and directors

Gedeputeerde Peter Drenth: 'This second monitor gives a rich picture of how culture and heritage are doing in the various regions of our province. That is valuable. The insights from this monitor help us - together with municipalities, institutions and makers - to make targeted investments in a cultural infrastructure that is both solid and in tune with what is going on in society'.