GCDN is pleased to present AEA Consulting’s 2024 Cultural Infrastructure Index (CII), a measure of major investments in capital projects in the cultural sector with budgets of US$10 million or more, that were either announced or completed in 2024.
The 2024 CII tracked a total of 334 cultural infrastructure projects worldwide, 159 of which were completed in 2024 and 175 announced as new builds, renovations, expansions, or adaptive reuse facilities. The capital project budgets were available for 70% of the 334 tracked projects – cumulatively amounting to $6.1 billion in capital investment in completed projects and $8.3 billion in planned projects.
This year’s CII also highlights trends and areas of growing interest in the sector. Notably, over $550M has been invested in 12 children’s museum projects, reflecting an increased focus on providing cultural and learning spaces for children and young audiences. The report also cites significant investments from cultural institutions in outdoor public spaces, as they use their grounds to foster civic engagement, accessibility, and environmental stewardship. In addition, the CII spotlights innovations in cultural buildings in Seoul, including the Audeum, the world’s first audio-dedicated museum, and the Seoul Robot & AI Museum (RAIM), one of the world’s first cultural institutions dedicated entirely to robotics and AI.
