Québec, November 12, 2020. – The Observatoire de la culture et des communications of the Institut de la statistique du Québec published today the bulletin Optique culture No. 75 – La fréquentation des institutions muséales en 2018 et 2019, which presents the latest annual results on the number of admissions to museums, exhibition centres and interpretations sites. This bulletin reveals that Québec’s museum institutions recorded 15.1 million admissions in 2019, including 13.6 million intramural admissions.
Attendance at museum institutions, Québec, 2010 to 2019
1. Excludes extramural attendance, i.e. admissions to activities presented by the museum institution at a location that is not on its property (e.g., an exhibition or activity presented in a municipal park, a school, a shopping centre, the streets of a neighbourhood, etc.).
Source: Institut de la statistique du Québec, Observatoire de la culture et des communications du Québec.
Intramural attendance
Intramural attendance at institutions in certain regions posted significant fluctuations compared to the five-year average for the period 2015-2019:
- The regions with the largest increases in attendance were Laval (+21%) and Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec (+17%).
- The regions with the sharpest drops in attendance were Lanaudière (-17%), Outaouais (-16%) and Laurentides (-13%).
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on attendance at museum institutions in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic affecting Québec will likely mean that the total number of admissions to museum institutions for 2020 will be much lower than in previous years, due to the complete closure of museum institutions in Québec between March 15 and May 29, 2020, as well as their closure in regions designated “red zones” as of October 1, 2020.
The Observatoire de la culture et des communications of the Institut de la statistique du Québec will contribute to measuring the impact of these closures on museum institutions through the information it publishes.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.