ADE and VibeLab publish research into the accessibility, safety, diversity and sustainability of nighttime culture. A new international research project from Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) and VibeLab is providing an overview of nightlife in six cities: Amsterdam, Lagos, New York, São Paulo, Seoul and Sydney.
The first Nighttime Culture Index (NCI) was presented during ADE’s 30th anniversary edition. Developed through a collaboration between ADE, VibeLab and local research coordinators, the project establishes a baseline for understanding the state of the nighttime cultural scenes and tracking their growth in the years to come.
The Index is structured around six research areas: Creative Ecology; Space & Infrastructure; Diversity & Representation; Community & Belonging; Policy & Civic Health; and Sustainability & Environment. Across these categories, 30 indicators evaluate everything from the volume of cultural events and access to venues to audience safety, participation costs and the support available from local authorities.
To build the Index, researchers combined desk-based analysis with interviewing, data collection, public surveys and focus groups. The project examined over 12,000 event line-ups, more than 3,000 venues and nearly 30,000 non-music cultural events, while contributions came from over 700 survey respondents, 67 focus group participants and 14 experts working in nighttime culture.
Entry prices highlight inequalities in access
The findings highlight the vast differences in the financial commitment to attend a club night. Based on minimum-wage earnings, typical admission costs the equivalent of around one hour of work in Sydney and 1.3 hours in Amsterdam, 1.7 hours in Seoul, 1.8 hours in New York, nine hours in São Paulo and almost 25 hours in Lagos. The comparison does not include additional spending on drinks, transport and other elements of a night out.
Differences in physical infrastructure were also significant, with New York and Amsterdam both boasting around 50 dedicated music venues per million inhabitants. Seoul had approximately 12 per million, São Paulo seven and Lagos just over one.
The report highlights the contribution of independent initiatives, DIY spaces and public locations to local scenes, providing artists and collectives with opportunities to experiment in the face of inaccessibility or prohibitive costs.
ADE Managing Director Jan-Willem van de Ven highlights the importance of the long-term health of the nightlife industry depending on people being able to participate in its culture. For an audience who could be paying the equivalent of a full day’s earnings, affordability is an issue for the entire sector.
Survey respondents reported concerns about safety
A further finding highlights the difference between safety inside venues and safety in surrounding public spaces. In São Paulo, 73% of participants felt safe inside nightlife venues, but just 11% felt safe in the streets. In Lagos, 74% felt safe inside venues versus 20% outside.
These concerns have impacted decision-making about going out, with 84% of respondents in Lagos and 70% in São Paulo stating they had avoided nightlife or a specific location due to safety issues in the previous year.
The data also highlights the gender differences in the experience of travelling home at night. In Amsterdam, 28% of women felt safe making the journey compared with 61% of men, while in Sydney, 48% of women reported feeling safe compared with 75% of men.
Artists and venue leaders are underrepresented
Across the six cities, women and gender-diverse artists account for between 27% and 32% of line-ups, and are also booked for fewer events on average. Representation in venue ownership and leadership is a further concern, with experts across five cities rating diversity as poor. In Amsterdam and Seoul, experts reported that backstage representation was going in the wrong direction.
At the same time, grassroots, alternative and queer communities continue to create inclusive events, safer environments and approaches focused on the wellbeing of their audiences. The research warns that financial pressures can threaten these efforts by reducing the resources available to organisers.
Culture is often missing from nighttime policy
The study highlights a growing number of formal structures responsible for nighttime activity. Including offices or designated roles in Sydney, New York, Amsterdam and Seoul, their work is often centered around growth, tourism and commercial turnover.
Amsterdam’s 2021 night culture vision is highlighted as an exception to this general pattern. Research participants in São Paulo and Seoul called for greater recognition of nighttime culture within cultural policy, rather than viewing this as a business issue or a matter of noise control.
The report also highlights the importance of collaboration between policymakers, venue operators, artists and cultural communities.
VibeLab co-founder Mirik Milan highlights the continued vibrancy of nighttime culture despite the considerable pressure on the businesses surrounding it. VibeLab’s Asia Pacific Director, Jane Slingo, highlights that the dashboard helps to make visible the experiences of the people and collectives who sustain local scenes.
Through the NCI dashboard and summary report, ADE and VibeLab aim to support informed decision-making and inspire strong, inclusive systems for nighttime culture across the six cities.
