Landshagir - 01.12.2015, Page 223

Culture and media
LANDSHAGIR 2015 STATISTICAL YEARBOOK OF ICELAND 2015
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Statistics Iceland collects figures on
cultural activities from other institutions.
Information is collected from specialised
institutions and organisations (secondary
data) and an annual inquiry by sending out
questionnaires to companies and institu-
tions involved in media and culture activi-
ties (primary data). The cinemas, theatres
and museums across the country provide
Statistics Iceland with information on the
number of viewers and visitors, perfor-
mances and exhibitions and the nation-
ality of films and plays. Statistics Iceland
also prepares statistics on published books
and periodicals and their subject as well as
the number of volumes, loans and employ-
ees of Icelandic libraries. Statistics Iceland
collects figures on operation of mass media
and provides figures on the broadcast-
ing hours and programmes of radio and
television stations. Figures on religious
affiliation are also published by Statistics
Iceland.
16 per cent decline in cinema attendance over
five years
Admissions to showings of full-length
feature films has slumped about 16 per
cent in just over a period of five years. In
last year, admissions to cinemas totalled
1.38 million compared to 1.65 million in
2009. Cinema guests have not been fewer
since 2005. Admissions in 2014, was 1.5 per
cent down compared to the previous year,
or about 21 thousand guests.
Last year’s admission equals four visits per
capita to the cinema. Admissions per capita
are by far the highest in the capital region
or 5.5 visits. In other parts of the country,
where cinemas were operated in the previ-
ous year, admissions were by far the lowest
in the regions of West and the Northwest,
or less than one visit per a head.
Theatres are still popular
In the theatrical season 2013/2014, the
number of spectators to performances of
theatres and professional and amateur
theatre groups within the country totalled
375 thousand. This equals each individual
attending the theatre once a year. The
number of spectators dropped by 22 thou-
sand between theatrical seasons.
In the last theatrical season, five profes-
sional theatres operated on eleven stages
with a seating capacity of 3,706. Together
the theatres staged 65 works within the
country, including co-productions with
professional theatre groups and guest
performances. Of the productions staged
most were plays, or 38. Performances
numbered 1,047 in total a little fewer
than in the previous season. Spectators
to professional theatres totalled 271,046
or some 23 thousand less than in previous
theatrical season. One of every ten attends
performances by amateur theatres.
The number of spectators to performances
of amateur theatre groups totalled roughly
33 thousand in the theatrical season
2013/2014, which is almost on a pair with
the previous season. This equals each indi-
vidual attending a performance by the
groups once a year. Lately, after an increase
for some years, there has been an insignifi-
cant decline in the number of spectators.