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New Research Shows Arts Subject to Strong Social Biases

25/02/2008

People from less well-off backgrounds are many times less likely to attend arts events, according to ESRI and NESF research. This applies not only to 'high' arts, such as classical music, theatre and art exhibitions, but also to mainstream films, comedy and popular or traditional music.

The new report, In the Frame or Out of the Picture?, was commissioned from the ESRI by the National Economic and Social Forum. It will be launched next Monday 25 February 2008. The report reveals that, compared with the rest of the population, people with a degree are nearly three times more likely to go to a film, twice as likely to attend a play or art exhibition, and significantly more likely to attend musical events, be they pop, traditional or classical.

"What is striking is the range of events affected," said Dr. Pete Lunn of the ESRI. "Social background strongly influences attendance right across the arts spectrum, from a classical concert to a gig in the pub, or from the school play to the latest blockbuster."

While education has the strongest influence on attending arts events, people of higher income or social class are also much more likely to attend. The new analysis finds no evidence that these large differences are down to different levels of interest in the arts.

To test the impact of interest, the research directly compares people from different social backgrounds who listen to or watch equivalent amounts of arts programming on radio or television, or CD and DVD. Despite equivalent interest, those from less well-off backgrounds are much less likely to attend events. This finding therefore suggests they face barriers other than interest.

According to Dr Maureen Gaffney, Chair of the NESF, "this report puts the onus on all of us to dismantle the barriers that block cultural participation. In 2007 the NESF published The arts, cultural inclusion and social cohesion, and this contains recommendations for Government on how we can dismantle these barriers."

Other findings contained in the report show that those from less advantaged backgrounds are not as likely to read for pleasure. But the same pattern does not occur for active participation in the arts, i.e. playing an instrument, performing in shows, doing photography etc., where social background has a much weaker influence.

The report also examines awareness of local arts officers and arts centres, which are key aspects of arts policy. In both cases, but especially for arts officers, awareness is heavily skewed towards the better-off, suggesting that arts policy currently reflects rather than counters the impact of social background on the arts.

Finally, there are also strong gender and age effects with respect to the arts. Women are roughly twice as likely as men to attend most arts events, and are also more likely to read. People over the age of 45 are significantly less likely to attend no arts events at all.

Notes for editors:

(1) In the Frame or Out of the Picture? A Statistical Analysis of Public Involvement in the Arts, by ESRI economists Dr. Pete Lunn and Dr. Elish Kelly, is a joint publication of the National Social and Economic Forum (NESF) and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

(2) The statistical analysis is based on The Public and the Arts survey, commissioned by the Arts Council. It consists of a nationally representative sample of 1,200 Irish adults interviewed in summer 2006.

(3) The present analysis was commissioned as a follow-up to the 2007 National Economic and Social Forum report, The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion: Report No. 35.

(4) The report will be launched by Mr Seamus Brennan, TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, at a seminar to generate debate on ways to address this uneven participation in the arts, through policy and practice. This will be held on Monday 25 February from 10.45 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Royal College of Physicians, 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2. As there are space limitations due to the venue, places will be allocated on a first come basis. If you would like to attend, please contact Paula Hennelly, NESF Secretariat (tel 01 8146361 or email info@nesf.ie).

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