1. Directors of Social Statistics meeting 17 September 2007
2.5. Culture Statistics
Current situation and future perspectives
DSS – 17/9/07
Culture statistics

2. Past events
1995 Council asks for better use of existing statistics on Culture
Leadership group, mainly on statistical methods an scope
Working group and further methodological developments on
Cultural employment
Expenditure on culture
Cultural participation
HUM
2 September 2007

3. Reinforced interest
Since 2005, the Council and later the Commission showed a renewed interest for Culture statistics in the context of the Lisbon strategy
Study, Communications, Conclusions are convergent and strong
On May 2007, the Council invited, (…) with a view to promoting evidence-based policy making, the Commission to
strengthen its work, …
pursue work in the field of cultural statistics in terms of definitions and methodologies …
co-operate, as appropriate, with other relevant international institutions;
the Member States to
lend their full support to data gathering efforts, … …
the Member States and the Commission to
decide on further priorities and identify new areas of data collection to measure the contribution of culture and creative industries to the Lisbon Agenda,
promote and ensure the regular exchange of best practice in the field of the economy of the cultural and creative sectors."
HUM
2 September 2007

4. Current situation Strong expression of policy interest
Focusing on economics of culture and creative industries
Existence of a corpus of statistical methods and definition
On going systematic exploration and assessment of the existing data
HUM
2 September 2007

5. Framework for further actions
Clarify the demand
Root the work in the current methodological acquis
Base the data on existing sources as much as possible
Rely on the expertise in MS
Seek cooperation at the international level
HUM
2 September 2007

6. Further steps Check willingness of MS and Eurostat
2008 Revitalisation of the Culture WG
2008 ESSnet on culture (2-3 years)
Evaluation
HUM
2 September 2007

7. Feed back from MS Positive, even some enthusiasm and strong support
Willingness to participate in the network
Existing data sources are the preferred way
HUM
2 September 2007