Main trends in young people's creativity and cultural participation
 

The analysis of the situation in the Youth Strategy 2023 - 2027, shows that the dominant majority of young people, 90.9% to be exact, prefer socializing and going out with friends as their most common form of entertainment. 
 

Also, a high percentage, 89.4%, spends time in a family environment. A significant number of young people, 83% of them, use social networks, while 82.9% of them spend time on the Internet in general. 
It is interesting to note that there is a difference between the sexes in the way they spend their free time. Young women are more likely to read or engage in creative activities, while young men are more likely to play sports and play video games. Also, women spend more time with their family and go shopping and listen to music more often, while young men hang out with friends more often. When it comes to teenagers, 63% of them spend most of their time on the Internet or social networks.
 

It is important to point out that 69% of adolescents believe that there is not enough cultural and artistic content for young people, while only 14% are satisfied with the existing offer. Another significant percentage refers to the presence of young people at cultural events. 
 

Unfortunately, almost half, 43.7% to be exact, never attend cultural events such as museums, galleries or theaters. A third of young people go to concerts and gigs only a few times a year or even less often. In addition, 32% of adolescents think that their cities lack concert halls, while 17% think that their cities lack theaters. 
 

The COVID-19 pandemic has further reduced the availability of cultural content for everyone, including young people. As for creative makers, young people generally do not consider themselves creative makers, although girls are more likely to describe themselves in this way. Unfortunately, there are no precise statistics on the number of young people who used funds to support young creators of artistic content. It is interesting to note that 52.4% of young people engage in a creative hobby, while 47.6% of them do not.

Main concepts

The audience survey presented in the National Cultural Development Program of Montenegro, which was adopted by the Government of Montenegro, at the proposal of the Ministry of Culture and Media, provided important insights into the relationship between culture and youth. According to their results of the surveyed population, as many as 53.3% of respondents are engaged in some artistic hobby, which indicates a wide cultural activity among young people. Painting, artistic photography and writing are the most popular hobbies among them, which confirms the need for support and development of cultural activities for young people.
 

Also, it is important to note that engaging in artistic activities in free time was most pronounced among young and older respondents, which indicates the need for customized programs for these two groups. The young and the elderly have more free time, which is an opportunity to create creative and cultural activities that will satisfy their needs.
 

Regarding the perception of culture, cultural heritage and national identity, 54.7% of respondents see Petar II Petrović Njegoš as the most significant figure, while cultural institutions, such as museums and theaters, are also prominent. This indicates the importance of preserving cultural heritage and supporting cultural institutions that attract young people and contribute to the development of their cultural identities.
 

When it comes to the perception of the Government's role in culture, more than three quarters of respondents believe that there is room for improvement. This data points to the need for a stronger focus on supporting culture and cultural programs, which would also benefit young people. Also, most respondents emphasize the importance of strategic planning in culture, which can lead to better targeting of resources and initiatives that will directly benefit young people.
 

In conclusion, the data from this research emphasize the need for greater support for the cultural activities of young and older citizens. They also point to the importance of preserving cultural heritage and supporting cultural institutions. The government should pay more attention to culture and strategic planning in order to improve the cultural sector and provide more opportunities for young people to express and develop their cultural interests.