The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) ‘Taking part, focus on diversity trends’ household survey report captures differences in cultural engagement between demographic groups, and between the regions of England, and explores how these have changed between 2005/06 and 2015/16.
DCMS writes:
This report ‘Taking part, focus on diversity trends’ is a household survey in England and measures engagement with the cultural sectors. The data are widely used by policy officials, practitioners, academics and charities. The report explores how these have changed between 2005/06 and 2015/16.
Engagement with the arts is higher for adults in the upper socio-economic group and for those with no disability. Arts engagement is significantly lower for the Asian ethnic group than for the White and Black ethnic groups. These differences have persisted over the period 2005/06 to 2015/16, but there has been a slight narrowing of the engagement gap for socio-economic group and disability status.
Between 2005/06 and 2015/16, there were significant increases in heritage engagement across almost all demographic groups. Engagement levels are higher for the White ethnic group, the upper socio-economic group and for those with no longstanding illness or disability. There have been significant increases in engagement with museums and galleries for all demographic groups and in all regions over the period 2005/06 to 2015/16. Engagement levels are higher for the upper socio-economic group and for adults with no long-standing illness or disability.
Public library use has decreased for all demographic groups and in all regions over the period 2005/06 to 2015/16. This decline has been greatest for the White ethnic group, the upper socioeconomic group, and adults with no disability. Public library use is higher for the black and minority ethnic group and the upper socio-economic group, but by 2015/16, rates had converged such that there was no difference in engagement by disability status.
