Arts, Culture, Public Participation and Public Value
Across the Commonwealth and across the nation, participation in cultural activity is an integral part of day-to-day life. As study after study indicates, participation in cultural activity and support for cultural resources are the norm, not the rare exception. Most people do participate. Most people value cultural activity in education, economic development, and quality of life. And most people value public support of our cultural resources.

The majority of Americans participate in the arts and cultural activity regularly. They also have direct connections to individuals deeply engaged in creative activity.

• Over 157 million people, or 76 % of adults in the nation, make the arts part of their lives.¹

• Four out of ten Americans report personally performing or creating art some time in the past year.¹

• More people attend a live, professional performing arts events at least once a year than attend a professional sporting event.²

• Over three-quarters of adults nationwide personally know a professional or serious amateur artist.³

• Almost one quarter of adults nationwide live with someone who is an artist or is studying some form of art.³

The majority of Massachusetts voters value culture as an important part of their community.

• Some 85% of Massachusetts voters rank cultural organizations as important to quality of life, for their families and/or themselves.⁴

• Nearly 90% rank cultural organizations as important to the quality of life in their community.⁴

• Nearly 80% of Massachusetts voters recognize the importance of cultural organizations play in attracting businesses and employees to the state.⁴

• Nearly 95% of Massachusetts voters see the arts as a basic part of a child's education, basic like English and math.⁴

The majority of Massachusetts voters recognize the value of support for cultural activity.

• Nearly 80% of Massachusetts residents think it is important to live in a community in which the corporations actively support the arts.⁵

• Over 90% of Massachusetts residents favor using state funds to support arts education. Nearly 80% favor using state funds to support cultural organizations.⁴

• Nationwide, 90% of people aware of artists in their local community favor supporting these artists.³

¹ 2002 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, U.S. Census and National Endowment for the Arts, 2002.
² Performing Arts Research Coalition Household Survey, The Urban Institute, 2002.
³ Public Perceptions About Artists, Princeton Survey Research for The Urban Institute, 2002.
⁴ Public Opinion Poll, University of Massachusetts, 2004.
⁵ Poll on Giving Trends, Attitudes and Motivators, University of Massachusetts, 2003.