The fear of COVID-19, the economic context and interregional mobility have impacted attendance at the arts and stages. The artistic world is thus facing a drop-out of its oldest audience and young people who are increasingly avoiding performance halls.
This is the portrait painted by a study commissioned by the Task Force on Performing Arts Attendance (GTFAS). This study surveyed nearly 6,000 Quebecers in 2023 and compared its results with those of other surveys conducted before the pandemic.
Regulars at performance halls, who attend more than ten performances per year, represent only 6% of the population compared to 8% in 2018. However, they represent 40% of tickets sold.
For Pierre-Olivier Saire, who led this study, there is no doubt that the world of entertainment is facing an “acceleration of certain trends in relation to the transformation of the public.”
The study shows that all types of shows have been affected, whether amateur, professional, free or paid. The circus stands out from other disciplines and is experiencing growth, particularly in the regions. This can be explained in particular by a wider distribution of circus shows in the regions. Dance, for its part, is experiencing a significant loss of audience.
Changes in habits
A strong contrast between regions and urban centres has also been established since the pandemic. With the rural exodus that this crisis has caused, the Montreal and Quebec regions are those that have suffered the most in terms of the number of spectators. According to the study data, 40% of people who moved from Montreal attend shows less.
According to Pierre-Olivier Saire, this trend represents a real opportunity in the region for broadcasters to capture these new audiences.
The study shows that changing lifestyles are negatively impacting attendance at performance venues. Lack of time is one of the main reasons why people are attending shows less. The data also shows that teleworking is “disrupting the programming of shows”.
Another striking data from the study is the 30% loss in the subscription rate, while this allowed performance halls to secure revenue for several months.