Attendance and participation in Northern Ireland

According to figures just released by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI), 75% of Northern Ireland’s population attends arts events, though this proportion falls to 59% if film, rock/pop concerts and museum visits are excluded. The figures are published in ACNI’s new Digest of Arts Statistics, which, as well as documenting the findings from its own 2009 General Population Survey (GPS) and the arts-related findings from the Government’s Continuous Household Survey, provides figures about Northern Ireland’s arts organisations and their activities, the funding of and investment in the arts, and the economics of the creative industries.

The data revealing participation and engagement in the arts can be broadly compared with those generated by the Taking Part surveys in England (AP214) and Scotland, and the Arts in Wales survey (AP228), though different definitions, and the inclusion of different types of events, make some comparisons difficult. Film (which is not included in England’s Taking Part reports) is the most-attended artform in Northern Ireland, while opera and ballet have the lowest attendance levels. Although in the latest figures, which are based on 2009 data, only 26% of respondents had participated in any kind of arts activity, this was up from 22% in 2004. As elsewhere in the UK, attendance is highest among the wealthier socio-economic groups and amongst those who do not consider themselves to be disabled.

The new Digest captures both quantitative and qualitative date, and aims to be useful to stakeholders in central government, local authorities, individual artists, cultural providers and universities. Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of ACNI, said that the Digest provided “a reliable source of information on current arts based activities, evidencing the significant contribution the arts make to help grow a dynamic and innovative economy.”