Türkiye’s 2024 culture report: Growth in libraries, theater, cinema
The 31st International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, organized by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s State Opera and Ballet General Directorate, kicked off with the performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s "Aida," Antalya, Türkiye, Sept. 13, 2024. (AA Photo)
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has published detailed cultural statistics for 2024, showing significant increases in library memberships, theater audiences and support for the arts.
Library memberships increase to 6.6M, public library spaces expand
Library memberships reached 6.6 million by the end of 2024, with public libraries hosting 38 million visitors throughout the year.
The number of public libraries grew to 1,301, and library spaces expanded to 735,000 square meters. The ministry also reported a collection of 25.8 million books available to readers.
Through the “Literary Works Support Program,” the ministry helped publish 545 debut works, while over 105 books were compiled in 2024. These developments demonstrate the growing importance of literature and libraries in Türkiye.
Theater attendance grows in Türkiye during 2023–2024 season
The State Theaters Directorate-General recorded 2,149,361 attendees during the 2023–2024 season, marking a 66% increase. A total of 224 plays were staged in 59 venues, and 737 touring performances reached audiences across the nation.
The “Great Anatolian Tour,” revived under the “Truck Theater” initiative, brought performances to 41,848 people in 55 provinces and 80 districts. Additional support was provided to the State Theaters of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Nine festivals featured 424 performances attended by 126,163 people, while the Türkiye Cultural Route Festivals included 60 plays and 175 performances, drawing an audience of 63,518.
Opera and ballet attract record audiences in Türkiye
The State Opera and Ballet Directorate-General reported an attendance of 613,276 during the primary season, with 1,009 performances held.
Additionally, 134,844 attendees joined events across 148 performances during the Türkiye Cultural Route festivals and other international events.
The Anadolu Opera and Ballet Festival, held in six provinces, included 15 performances and drew 15,358 attendees.
The “Talent Everywhere” program identified 116 young talents in provinces, such as Sirnak, Erzincan and Hatay, further encouraging artistic development.
Cinema receives major funding in Türkiye, introduction of children
Türkiye’s cinema sector benefited from 381 million lira in funding during 2024, including 256 million lira for 56 projects. As part of the “Domestic Film Screening Support” initiative, 28 million lira was allocated to 108 cinemas.
Turkish films gained international attention at events like Cannes and Berlin and were featured on industry platforms such as MIPCOM and the Dubai Film Festival.
The ministry’s “Mobile Cinema for Children” project brought the joy of cinema to over 400,000 children in 22 provinces and 150 districts.
The “No Child Left Without Cinema” program gave 100,000 children their first cinema experience.
Turkish publishing sector achieves growth in book production, copyright registrations
Banderol-protected book production increased by 202% compared to 2002, with the number of protected books exceeding 408 million in 2024.
Efforts to combat piracy and promote intellectual property rights played a key role in this achievement.
Copyright revenue for organizations representing rights holders grew eleven-fold over the past decade, reaching 1.165 billion lira in 2023. This year, 4,293 works were registered for copyright, including music albums, computer programs, literary works and films.
