In a difficult economic climate, it's good to know that people in Wales are still finding the time and money to attend arts events across the country, now more than ever, as demonstrated in this year's Wales Omnibus Survey.
Around 1,000 people in Wales were interviewed last year about their attendances to arts events and participation in arts activities. The Wales Omnibus Survey examines this data in detail and looks at overall demographic and regional trends for the Arts in Wales.
The 2008 report revealed some very positive findings about the levels of arts attendance amongst Welsh adults. Almost eight in ten (79%) Welsh adults attend at least one arts event once a year or more. This is a three percentage point increase on last year's figure of 76%.
In particular, it's very significant to see an increase in participation amongst people living in economically deprived areas, up five percentage points to 30% in 2008, building on the 7% increase recorded in 2007.
There has also been an increase in attendance for arts events over the last ten years averaging at 72%, (compared with 66% ten years ago), with Film still the most popular art form in Wales.
Young adults are typically more likely than older adults to attend an arts event. 92% of 16-24 year olds attend an arts event once a year or more (an increase of 3 percentage points this year). However the largest increase amongst an age group has been the 45-64 year olds, where attendance is up five percentage points to 76%.
North Wales is the region where participation levels are the highest in Wales, (41%), with people living in the region more likely to take part in Visual Arts and Crafts and Dance than the rest of the country. Visual Arts and Crafts is the most popular participatory art form across Wales (17%).
Since 1993, Arts Council of Wales includes a series of questions in the Wales Omnibus Survey, which is a valuable resource providing us with an annual indicator of levels of engagement with the arts. It's also one of the largest continuous surveys conducted annually in the UK . In addition to monitoring the overall level of attendance and participation among adults in Wales, the survey investigates these factors across different art forms amongst different social groups and geographic areas.
Nick Capaldi, Arts Council of Wales Chief Executive, commented on the Omnibus Survey's findings:
"We're delighted that more people than ever before in Wales are choosing to enjoy and take part in the arts. Surrounded though we are by gloomy news about the economy, it's good to be reminded that people value the arts and recognise their essential contribution to our quality of life."
Arts Council of Wales's Planning and Development Team are now gearing up for the next big project, 'The Arts in Wales Survey 2010'. This is an extensive survey aiming to provide up-to-date information on attendance and participation with the arts in Wales, as well as public perceptions of arts and culture in Wales. This research follows on from the Arts in Wales 2005 survey and will provide a wealth of data which will then be analysed by art form, Local Authority and geographic region.
Researchers from TNS Global are currently travelling throughout Wales to interview members of the public to gather their views on the arts in Wales today.