Santo Domingo.- The governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD), Héctor Valdez Albizu, and the Minister of Culture, Milagros Germán, signed an inter-institutional agreement on Tuesday to conduct the National Survey of Cultural Consumption (ENCC).
This collaboration aims to gather both quantitative and qualitative data on the cultural habits of the population, ultimately strengthening the cultural sector in the Dominican Republic. The survey will reach 5,632 households nationwide and aims to measure the economic impact of culture, with cultural consumption growing in tandem with the GDP over the past four years.
Germán emphasized that the ENCC results will provide insights into the contribution of cultural activity to the GDP, reinforcing the agreement’s goal to bolster the cultural and creative industries.
Under the agreement, the BCRD will lead the methodological framework, sampling design, and data entry system, with responsibilities including training field personnel and conducting a pilot test. The Ministry of Culture will provide conceptual support and contribute RD$2.3 million towards field expenses.
The ENCC, currently 91.7% complete, will offer comprehensive data on Dominican cultural habits and inform more equitable public policies within the sector. The agreement is set to conclude upon the completion of the survey by December 31, 2024, with designated liaisons from each institution overseeing implementation.