Cultural engagement in Scotland at all-time high

Cultural engagement in Scotland has risen to an all-time high: 92% of adults engaged with a cultural activity in 2015, according to the findings of the Scottish Household Survey.

The figures cover both attendance at cultural events, the most popular of which is watching a film in the cinema, and cultural participation, the most popular of which is reading for pleasure.

When trips to the cinema are excluded, the proportion of the population who attended a cultural event in 2015 stands at 75%. This figure has risen from 70% in 2012.

When reading for pleasure is excluded, 52% participated in a cultural activity in 2015, up from 48% in 2012. The next most popular activity was doing creative work on a computer or social media, followed by crafts. 14% had participated in dance and 12% had played a musical instrument.

After the cinema, theatre and non-classical live music tie for the position of second most popular cultural event to attend: 34% had attended in the past year. 20% had visited a gallery; 15% had attended a ‘culturally specific festival’, 12% a dance show and 9% a classical music performance or opera.

Street arts is one of the few categories that has seen a significant increase in engagement: 18% attended a street art event in 2015, up from 12% in 2012.

Despite theatre’s popularity, just 4% said they attended at least once a month, compared with 11% of live music attenders. Those who attended classical music performances were also more likely to attend regularly: 8% went at least once a month and 2% said they attended at least once a week.

Challenges remain

Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop welcomed the figures, saying they were “testament to our on-going commitment to prioritising our investment in culture”.

She continued: “There still remains a challenge in helping ensure older people, those with no qualifications and those in the most deprived areas are provided with opportunities to engage with culture.”

The figures reveal that the 20% living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are significantly less likely to attend or participate in culture than the 20% living in the least deprived areas.

Those without a degree and those living with a long-term physical or mental health condition were also less likely to engage in the arts.

Hyslop said: “We know people who participate in culture are more likely to report good health and life satisfaction than those who do not. We also know that those who engage in cultural activity in earlier years are more likely to participate and attend when they are adults, regardless of parental background of wealth or poverty. It’s therefore vital we create the conditions to enable young people to access and engage in culture and the arts.”