Statistical yearbook of culture and art in Iran

The "Statistical Yearbook of Culture and Art, 1400 (2021/22)" is a comprehensive report that examines the country's cultural and artistic status from the standpoint of statistical data. This report, compiled under the supervision of Mohammad Rahmati and with the participation of a group of researchers, seeks, by presenting precise information, to document the country's cultural trends in a year that coincided with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the start of a new government. A review of this report shows that various factors, including economic challenges, managerial changes, and social transformations, have affected the trend of production and consumption of cultural products.

This yearbook, in the form of detailed tables and charts, has covered various cultural fields and presents valuable information on book publishing, print and digital media, cinema, music, visual arts, theater, Quran and Itrat, advertising, endowments and charitable affairs, Hajj and pilgrimage, and cultural activities in cyberspace. The content of this report shows that the country's cultural transformations are noteworthy not only in traditional sectors, but also in the digital space and new media.

In the Deputy for Cultural Affairs section, data on the number of books published, print runs, the status of publishers' activity, and the number of authors and translators have been presented. This report notes that book publishing is still considered one of the country's most important cultural pillars, but economic transformations and change in cultural consumption patterns have caused changes in the volume of publication and reception of books. In addition, the presence of Iranian publishers at international book fairs and its effect on Iran's global publishing market have been addressed.

The Deputy for Press and Information Affairs section has examined the status of print and digital media and shows that the growth of digital media and the decline in print run of print publications remain one of the important trends in the news media field. Also, in this section the number of foreign media representative offices in Iran and the number of permits issued for new media have been presented, which indicate regulatory and support policies in this sector.

In the cinema and audiovisual field, this report has analyzed the number of cinematic films produced, film sales, cinema admissions statistics, and the presence of Iranian films at international festivals. The data in this section show that with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, reception of cinema increased relative to the previous year, but it still remains distant from the pre-pandemic level. Also, information has been presented on cinema training institutes and the international activities of Iranian cinema.

In the Deputy for Artistic Affairs section, this report has examined the status of theater, music, and visual arts and presents information on the number of plays produced and performed, audience numbers, the number of music concerts, visual arts exhibitions, and arts festivals. A review of this report indicates that the performing arts and music field has faced challenges such as reduced financial support and change in the ways cultural events are held.

Quranic and Itrat activities have also been presented in detail in this yearbook. In this section, the number of Quranic institutes, educational programs, the amount of government support, and the implementation of Quranic plans in cyberspace have been examined. Also, the report refers to statistics on memorizers of the Holy Quran and participants in religious educational courses, which indicate special attention to this field.

One of the important sections of this report is the examination of cultural activities in cyberspace and digital space. The data in this section show that content software, digital media, and online cultural platforms are expanding at an increasing rate. This report emphasizes that the increase in the number of digital media and demand for online cultural content has doubled the need for precise policymaking in this field.

Alongside these items, the report presents information on endowments and charitable affairs, Hajj and pilgrimage, and international cultural activities. This section addresses the number of new endowments, the level of participation in Hajj and pilgrimage programs, and the number of cultural and religious elites dispatched abroad. Also, Iran's cultural activities in the international arena, including the translation of Persian works, the holding of cultural weeks, and scholarly and academic cooperation at the global level, have been examined in this section.

The Statistical Yearbook of Culture and Art, 1400 (2021/22), has sought, by presenting precise statistics, to offer a comprehensive picture of the country's cultural status. In addition to recording and documenting data, this report is a valuable tool for researchers, policymakers, and those interested in culture and art and can play an effective role in future cultural and artistic planning.

Statistics and topics examined in more detail in the report:

• The status of the publishing and book field
• The status of the print and digital media field
• The status of the cinema and audiovisual field
• The status of the music, theater, and visual arts field
• The status of the Quran and Itrat field
• The status of cultural and artistic construction projects
• The status of endowments, charitable affairs, and Hajj and pilgrimage
• The status of the Iran Public Libraries Foundation
• Policymaking and cultural interactions
• and...