Arts and cultural events see a rise in attendees

In 2021, ticketed attendance for performing arts events increased by 48%.

The number of Singaporeans attending arts and cultural events surged in 2021, data from the 2022 Singapore Cultural Statistic (SCS 2022) showed.

Non-ticketed in-person attendance at arts and cultural events jumped nearly twice in 2021 to 7 million from the 2020 record of 4.6 million.

Ticketed attendance for live and digital performing arts events also rose in 2021, growing by over 48% to almost 321,000.

Meanwhile,  in-person visitorship to national museums and heritage institutions increased by 7% to 2.2 million in 2021.

“There is cause for optimism amid some signs of the arts and culture sector’s early recovery, as a result of the return of audiences and enhanced support for the arts and culture sector through the Arts and Cultural Resilience Package of $75 million,” the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said. 

With the return of physical events, digital attendance at non-ticketed arts and cultural events declined by 33.9%. 

 “This dip in digital attendance corresponds to the gradual scaling up of physical arts and cultural activities and relaxation of limits on audience capacity in 2021. The decrease in digital attendance may also be due to competition with other leisure options such as overseas travel, as international borders gradually re-opened,” MCCY said.