Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Culture (MINC), in collaboration with both national and international organizations, is spearheading the initiative to revive the National System of Cultural Statistics. This endeavor aims to fortify the creative and cultural industries as catalysts for economic development within the country and to quantify their contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP).

This concerted effort involves partnerships with key entities such as the Central Bank, the National Statistics Office, the General Directorate of Internal Taxes, the Organization of Ibero-American States, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Together, these entities have devised a comprehensive plan to address the information gaps within the sector. The goal is to gather essential data on supply, demand, employment, and informality to compile the Culture Satellite Account.

This initiative will enable the accurate generation of up-to-date information concerning the production, distribution, and consumption of cultural goods and services within the country. Such data will play a pivotal role in informing decision-making processes for the development of public policies that foster growth and sustainability within the sector.

The development of the National System of Cultural Statistics entails several stages, including the strengthening of administrative records, the formulation of a Statistical Production Plan, and ultimately, the relaunch of the Culture Satellite Account.

One notable aspect of this initiative is the completion of the First National Survey of Cultural Consumption, conducted in collaboration with the Central Bank. This survey seeks to gather updated information on the cultural consumption habits of the Dominican population. Through data collection from nearly 1,700 households, the survey aims to identify cultural preferences, access barriers, and other pertinent information crucial for designing inclusive public policies.

Additionally, MINC is actively engaged in establishing the National Directory of Culture Providers, a foundational tool for the Culture Satellite Account and other statistical and cultural policy management endeavors. This directory will categorize companies based on their primary activities and provide vital statistical data such as employment figures, geographic distribution, production activities, and product offerings. These insights will facilitate a deeper understanding of sector dynamics and requirements.

To execute this project, data is sourced from various formal records produced by entities including the General Directorate of Internal Taxes, the Social Security Treasury, and the National Statistics Office.