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The cultural economy, including music, film, design, publishing and performing arts, and the publishing industry, brings dynamism to many sectors from tourism to food, retail, and transportation. While strategic sectors such as food, tourism, construction, and manufacturing provide an average of 15% added value to the Turkish economy, this rate rises to 26% in the culture industry. On the other hand, performing arts hold the clear leader with 50%.

*** This release is originally published in Turkish.

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ISTANBUL (TR) - According to the "Cultural Economy of Turkey 2022 with Graphics" report prepared by KREKSA Culture and Art Research, performing arts, which have an important place in the cultural economy in 2021, directly affect many sectors such as tourism, food and retail with the high added value it creates. While the rate of added value within the unit turnover offered to the economy by many sectors such as food and tourism is around 15% on average, this rate rises to 26% in the culture industry. Performing arts, which have the most significant importance in the cultural economy, offer 50% added value on their own. The report emphasizes that the investments and support made in the cultural economy will create a triggering force in the revival of the economy.

Stating that the cultural economy, which includes music, film, design, publishing and performing arts, and the publishing industry, is among the most important sources of income that feeds the Turkish economy, KREKSA Culture and Art Research Founder and Owner Dr. Funda Lena said, “Performing arts, which form the backbone of the cultural economy, have a much greater potential than other fields with the added value they create. Investments in the performing arts field support the arts and create a triggering force in developing the country's economy.

Not only the toll booths but also the tourism, food and aviation sectors win

Although the cultural economy has important social and economic potential, its share of the state budget remains relatively low. Funda Lena made the following assessment on the subject: “The share of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which was 6 billion TL in 2021, from the general budget remained at the 0.5% limit. The state budget allocated to culture in developed countries is at least around 1%. While this rate was 0.6% in 2019 in our country, it decreased further due to the effect of the pandemic. However, cultural sectors create a serious economic value directly and indirectly. Organized events such as festivals and biennials to revitalize the regional economies. Organizations such as the biennials and festivals organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the Bozcaada Jazz Festival, and the Kuşadası Youth Festival bring dynamism to sectors such as tourism, transportation, retail and food by bringing hundreds of thousands of people together in our country every year. The opening of new event venues such as theaters and concert halls and the diversification of cultural activities increase tourist traffic. The revenues of toll booths and restaurants, cafes, hotels and shops, and even transportation points such as taxi stands are increasing. The shopkeepers of the Grand Bazaar do not forget the profits they made while filming the James Bond movie.”

Investments will carry the level of economic development to higher levels

Stating that 42% of the 6 billion TL budget of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2021 is spent on activities that protect and expand the national culture, the arts and cultural economy receives a share of 7.5% of the budget, KREKSA Culture and Art Research Founder and Owner Dr. Funda Lena “Developed countries use the economic potential of cultural and artistic activities very efficiently. The support provided to projects for cultural sectors is increasing every year. Although these sectors' current and potential contributions to the economy in Turkey are not ignored, there is still a long way to go in this regard. We believe that the investments and supports to be made in the cultural sectors will serve not only to the protection and development of the arts, but also to carry the economic development to higher levels.”