France. Cultural spending by local authorities increased by 0.4% in 2024, but remains 8% lower than their 2019 level, according to the new dashboard from the Department of Studies, Foresight, Statistics and Documentation (DEPS) of the Ministry of Culture.
They reached 9.985 billion euros in 2024, or 146 euros per inhabitant and 4% of all local budgets. Operating expenses amount to 7.656 billion euros and investment expenses to 2.329 billion. The slight increase recorded last year is based on investment, up 6%, while operations fell 1%.
This figure does not erase previous declines. In constant euros, cultural spending fell by 6% in 2020, then by 2% in 2021. They then increased by 1% in 2022, decreased by 1% in 2023 and increased by 0.4% in 2024. They thus went from 10.850 billion constant euros in 2019, the last reference year before the health crisis, to 9.985 billion in 2024, a drop of almost 8% (and -9% for operating expenses).
A completely recalculated series
The new dashboard doesn’t just add the 2023 and 2024 numbers to previously available data. The DEPS has recalculated the entire series since 2019 in order to take into account the generalization, in 2024, of the M57 accounting nomenclature in the municipalities, which modifies the way of identifying certain cultural expenditure.
The previous report, which showed an increase of 4% in 2023, suggested that spending had returned to its 2019 level. The revised series on the contrary concludes at a drop of 1% in 2023 and at a level 8% lower than that before the health crisis in 2024.
Developments differ greatly depending on the communities. Between 2019 and 2024, cultural spending in municipalities with more than 3,500 inhabitants decreased by 15% in constant euros while their general budget increased by 2.9%. Those of the regions fell by 8%. Conversely, the expenditure of public establishments increased by 7%, while that of the departments remained almost stable, with an increase of 1%.
Distinct expenses depending on the territories
The M57 nomenclature also modifies the sectoral breakdown of expenditure. The report brings together, under the heading “artistic expressions and cultural action” (visual arts, performing arts, etc.), 57% of local cultural credits, compared to 42% for the conservation and promotion of heritage. In detail, 18% of heritage expenditure concerns libraries and media libraries, 11% museums, 9% non-museum heritage and 4% archives. The regions devote nearly 80% of their cultural credits to artistic expressions and cultural action, while the departments allocate 60% of their expenditure to heritage.
