Three Year National Arts Study Concludes
Mark Walter
A recent study conducted by the Performing Arts Research Coalition (PARC) has found that the performing arts attract a large, diverse audience and enjoy broad support.
PARC is providing an opportunity for five national service organizations: the American Symphony Orchestra League; the Association of Performing Arts Presenters; Dance/USA; OPERA America; and Theatre Communications Group to work together with the Urban Institute, a leading nonprofit research organization.
Highlights of the results include:
Nearly two in three survey respondents say they attended a live professional performing arts event in the past 12 months. More attended a live professional performing arts event at least once in the past year than attended a professional sporting event in the same time period.
Contrary to common belief, the arts audience includes people from all age groups and income levels and is not limited to older and affluent individuals.
More than seven in ten of those surveyed agree that the performing arts help them understand other cultures better.
Not only arts attendees but also non-attendees place a high value on the Arts for their communities.
Arts attendees “believe strongly that the arts improve the quality of life and are a source of community pride, promote understanding of other people and different ways of life, and help preserve and share cultural heritage. Above all, they believe that the arts contribute to the education of children.
“Especially noteworthy is the fact that a majority of non-attendees share similar views about the education and development of children and that this view is held regardless of education, income, age, presence of children at home, or frequency of attendance.”
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