The 22nd report in the Statistical Insights on the Arts series from Hill Strategies Research examines the relationship between four cultural activities (reading books, attending live performances, visiting art galleries and attending movie theatres) and specific social phenomena:

• Volunteering and Donating
• Neighbourhood Connections
• Sense of Belonging
• Social Activities
• Labour Force Participation
• Quality of Life

Many studies have outlined potential social effects of culture. However, these studies often have not provided statistics in support of the potential effects.

Because there are many other factors that could play a significant role in the social indicators examined in the report, the report does not claim to be definitive. However, some statistics do show a relationship between some cultural activities and positive social engagement:

• Art gallery visitors have a stronger sense of social engagement than non-visitors for many social indicators, including volunteering, donating, doing favours for neighbours, sense of belonging to Canada and not feeling trapped in a daily routine.
• Book readers also have a stronger sense of social engagement than non-readers for many social indicators, including volunteering, donating, doing favours for neighbours, sense of belonging to Canada and not being a workaholic.
• Given a mix of positive and neutral findings regarding performing arts attendees, there is mild evidence of a link between performing arts attendance and positive social engagement. Performing arts attendees do have positive indicators of social engagement for volunteering, donating, doing favours for neighbours, and not feeling trapped in a daily routine.
• Given the mix of positive, neutral and negative findings regarding movie goers, there is very little evidence of a link between movie theatre attendance and positive social engagement.

For a longer description click here.

http://www.hillstrategies.com/docs/Social_effects_culture.pdf