image for illustration: Blenheim Palace by DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Government UK has published the Main Report for the participation Survey that tracks the latest trends in engagement in DCMS (Culture Media and Sport and digital sectors.
GOV.UK writes:
The Participation Survey is a nationally representative annual survey of adults (16+) in England that tracks the latest trends in engagement in DCMS and digital sectors. This release provides estimates on engagement in the culture, media and live sport sectors reported during the period of April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25). For the final time, this release covers estimates on engagement with the digital sector on behalf of DSIT. The format of the survey is push-to-web, with a paper version available for those who are unable or unwilling to complete the survey online.
This report presents the headline estimates during April 2024 to March 2025, alongside demographic breakdowns of adults who have engaged in the specific sectors covered in the survey. Further estimates can be found in the accompanying data tables. Estimates for the final quarter of 2024/25 have also been published in a separate set of data tables, alongside the first three quarters of the survey year. It should be noted that questions in the survey ask about engagement with DCMS and digital sectors in the last 12 months. Therefore, survey questions cover participation stretching from April 2023 to March 2025, depending on when the survey was completed.
Arts: We asked about physical engagement with the arts, such as reading or attending a live comedy event, and digital engagement with the arts, such as watching live-streamed or recorded theatre.
Headline Findings during April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25):
- 91% of adults engaged with the arts at least once in the last 12 months, a small, but significant, decrease from 2023/24 (from 91.4% to 90.6%).
- 90% of adults engaged with the arts physically at least once in the last 12 months, a small, but significant, decrease from 2023/24 (from 90.4% to 89.7%).
- 35% of adults engaged with the arts digitally at least once in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (36%).
- Figure 2.1 shows that of the 91% of adults who engaged with the arts, 34% engaged both physically and digitally, 56% of adults engaged exclusively physically, while only 1% of adults engaged exclusively digitally.
Libraries: We asked about physical engagement with libraries, such as visiting a public library building or using another library outreach service, and digital engagement with libraries, such as using online catalogues or borrowing e-books and downloading audiobooks.
Headline Findings during April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25):
- 31% of adults engaged with libraries at least once in the last 12 months, a 1 percentage point increase from 2023/24 (30%).
- 26% of adults engaged with libraries physically in the last 12 months, a 1 percentage point increase from 2023/24 (25%).
- 16% of adults engaged with libraries digitally in the last 12 months, a 1 percentage point increase from 2023/24 (14%).
- Figure 3.1 shows that of the 31% of adults who engaged with libraries, 10% engaged both physically and digitally, 16% of adults engaged exclusively physically, while 5% of adults engaged exclusively digitally.
Archives: We asked about physical engagement with archives, such as visiting an archive or records office in person, and digital engagement with archives, such as using an archive or records office online.
Headline Findings during April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25):
- 9% of adults engaged with archives or record offices at least once in the last 12 months.
- 3% of adults engaged with archives or record offices physically at least once in the last 12 months.
- 7% of adults engaged with archives or record offices digitally at least once in the last 12 months.
- Figure 4.1 shows that of the 9% of adults who engaged with archives or record offices, 1% engaged both physically and digitally, 2% of adults engaged exclusively physically, while 6% of adults engaged exclusively digitally.
Heritage: We defined physical engagement with the heritage sector as visiting one of a variety of places with celebrated histories, such as ancient monuments or archaeological sites. Digital engagement with the heritage sector included activities such as taking a virtual tour of any of the physical locations listed in Figure 5.4, or researching local history online.
Headline Findings during April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25):
- 67% of adults engaged with the heritage sector at least once in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (69%).
- 65% of adults engaged with the heritage sector physically in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (66%).
- 24% of adults engaged with the heritage sector digitally in the last 12 months, a 1 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (25%).
- Figure 5.1 shows that of the 67% of adults who engaged with the heritage sector, 21% engaged both physically and digitally, 43% of adults engaged exclusively physically, while only 3% of adults engaged exclusively digitally.
Museums and Cultural Property: For physical engagement, respondents were asked about their visits to museums or galleries in the 12 months prior to completing the survey. For digital engagement, activities included taking a virtual tour of a museum or gallery, or researching items from a collection online.
Headline Findings during April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25):
- 45% of adults engaged with museums or galleries at least once in the last 12 months, no significant change from 2023/24 (46%).
- 41% of adults engaged with museums or galleries physically in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (43%).
- 14% of adults engaged with museums or galleries digitally in the last 12 months, no significant change from 2023/24 (13%).
- Figure 6.1 shows that of the 45% of adults who engaged with museums or galleries, 10% engaged both physically and digitally, 31% of adults engaged exclusively physically, while only 4% of adults engaged exclusively digitally.
