ARTS ARE PART OF LIFE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS
New Zealanders and the arts: Attitudes, attendance and participation in 2008
Ngā iwi katoa ō Aotearoa me ngā mahi toi: he tirohanga āhua, rātou I tae atu, rātou I whai waahi I roto I te tau 2008
The arts are increasingly an essential part of New Zealander’s daily lives according to a report released today by Creative New Zealand. Sixty-five per cent of those surveyed agree that the arts are ‘part of their everyday life’, up 8% from 2005 and eighty six percent surveyed are actively involved in the arts in some form. Nearly all (99%) of 10-14yr olds have been actively involved in the arts in the last 12 months.
Overall national attendance and participation in the arts has remained on par with the same survey done in 2005 with around half of the population (48%) participating regularly in the arts in New Zealand.
These figures not only highlight New Zealanders’ enduring appreciation of our arts experiences but also supports the significant public investment in New Zealand’s arts and artists, says Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright.
The news gets even better with 51% of New Zealanders surveyed who say they can’t live without the arts – a 10% increase from the last survey which highlights the increasing integration of the arts within New Zealand society and culture.
“This kind of market intelligence is invaluable to the arts sector, particularly in these uncertain economic times,” Mr Wainwright says, “Creative New Zealand is committed to ongoing work to ensure New Zealand has an artistically vibrant, financially viable and broadly accessible arts sector.”
This comprehensive Colmar Brunton national survey was undertaken late last year using the data identified in 2005 as a benchmark. The key findings of this survey will inform Creative New Zealand’s work including advocacy for the arts.
The key trends in attitudes to the arts over the last three years finds that New Zealander’s identity is also closely linked with the arts. When asked about this, 79% of adults aged 15 years and over said the arts help define who we are as a New Zealanders (up from 75% in 2005); 79% agreed that the arts should receive public funding (up from 77% in 2005) and 72% of New Zealanders say that the arts are ‘for people like me’ (up from 67% in 2005).
The survey highlights an increased attendance in the arts among Māori and Pacific peoples. In total, 88% of Māori and 86% Pacific peoples attended at least one arts event in the past 12 months compared to the national average of 86%. Higher than average participation by the same group remains consistent with the 2005 survey.
Artists and audiences of the future were also examined with a national survey of 1,015 10 to 14 year olds. 84% of young people participate in art outside of school time and four in every five young people surveyed said they had used a computer to create their own art in the past 12 months.
In updating the 2005 findings Creative New Zealand also wanted to extend understanding of participation in digital artforms, use of internet to engage with the arts, attendance at paid and unpaid arts events, attendance and participation in the performing arts and the impact of childhood arts experiences on adult attendance and participation.
In 2008 four city councils partnered with Creative New Zealand in order to gather more robust data for comparative purposes, and to permit a series of stand-alone reports on the arts in their regions. Results of this survey can be obtained from Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch councils (see fact sheet for contact details).
Please contact:
Hannah Evans
Media Strategy and Communications Advisor
Ph: 04 4980725
Mobile: 027 677 8070
E:[email protected]
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