The results of the Kultura 2000: Cultural Participation Survey, carried out by the National Statistics Office, are "worrying", according to Education Minister Louis Galea, who attended their presentation to the public at St James Cavalier yesterday.
His thoughts on the picture that the figures drew were echoed by the MLP spokesman for education, Evarist Bartolo, who commented on the fact that only a minority of the population participated in the country`s cultural life.
The figures showed that the cultural tendencies of the Maltese were not developed enough and cultural participation needed to be increased, Dr Galea said.
He was referring to statistics that revealed that over half the population did not read a book (outside studying purposes) in the year in question and that 23 per cent of the population never read a newspaper, for example.
Dr Galea pointed to the strong participation of youths and children in bands, but not in other cultural activities - 92 per cent of the population never attended a dance show during the reference year.
Dr Galea was also struck by statistics that showed that 70 per cent of the population never visited a museum during the reference year.
The figures needed to be reflected on and analysed, he said.
Mr Bartolo also highlighted the fact that more people were watching cartoons than going to the theatre and attending concerts. The participation of the 16-24 age bracket in cultural activities was encouraging, but he questioned whether it was merely a passing phase.
Those who did not participate needed to be reached out to and not ignored, he said.
The survey was an important exercise and the data useful, the minister continued. It would be referred to during an in-depth discussion by Council of Europe experts, who were visiting Malta in June to evaluate the Cultural Policy document that has been published.
The survey, which collected key information on the population`s participation in the country`s cultural life, was carried out between November 2000 and January 2001, targeting the Maltese population aged 16 years and over.
Other interesting statistics that emerged from the survey included the fact that while as many as 86.2 per cent of the population preferred to speak in Maltese, English was the preferred language for reading books (61.1 per cent); the favourite pastime of the Maltese (almost 50 per cent) was going to the cinema; and libraries were not very popular.
NSO director general Alfred Grima said that, prior to 2000, the available statistics on cultural activities were limited. The NSO planned to release the first general culture statistics publication later on in the year.
Culture would be considered in the country`s economic context and not just from the social point of view, he said.