More than nine out of ten adults in England have engaged in at least one form of cultural or sporting opportunity during the past twelve months, a new report reveals.
The survey was commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport with culture and sporting bodies English Heritage, Arts Council England, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and Sport England. It is the first comprehensive study of how we are spending our leisure time, and what would see us enjoying more.
Headline results for the year include:
- 70 per cent of adults attended a historic environment site;
- 69 per cent participated in active sport;
- 67 per cent attended an arts event, and 53 per cent participated in the arts;
- 48 per cent attended a library, and 42 per cent attended museum/gallery; and
- 7 per cent volunteered in the cultural and sporting sectors
Other results show that:
- Members of the Sikh religion are more likely to have ‘gone digital’ than those of other religions, while men are more likely to ‘be digital’ than women;
- rural inhabitants are more likely to attend and participate in arts events than their urban counterparts. They are also more sporty;
- people from the South West and South East were most likely to get involved in the arts, while those from the North East the least like to attend. The South East was the most sporty region, the West Midlands the least arty, and Londoners the least likely to gamble;
- with the rising interest in family history, 2.4m adults had visited an archive in the last year; and
- swimming is the most popular sport - beating the gym, jogging and playing football.
The finding will help shape future policy to improve engagement across the cultural, leisure and sporting sectors.
Commenting on the survey, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell said:
"This comprehensive survey shows the vital role culture and sport play in the life of our country. It tells us how people are getting involved - be it playing sport, visiting our national museums or stately homes, playing a musical instrument or tracing their family history. It allows us to focus our efforts on where we need to do more so that everyone is able to enjoy inspiring activities.
“And the news that adults encouraged to play sport during childhood are much more likely to stay active in later life is proof positive of why our drive to promote sport among young people is so important. This is the lasting legacy for future generations of our commitment to school sport.”
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England, said:
“The Taking Part survey is an essential part of Sport England’s customer jigsaw as it tells us exactly what people think of sport. Nearly half of adults cite poor health as one of the main barriers to starting to do some physical activity. To address this, Sport England is encouraging people to start walking, cycling or swimming. These sports are easily accessible, build physical fitness and often provide the first step on the road to a life fully involved in sport."
eter Hewitt, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:
"The Taking Part survey reveals that the amount of people engaging with the arts in England is encouragingly high, with over three quarters of the population attending arts events and participating in arts activities themselves. We are absolutely delighted that the arts are touching the lives of so many.
“The Arts Council aims to give everyone the opportunity to engage with the arts, so the survey provides valuable insight into how and where we can direct our attention in future to help the arts touch the lives of many more."
Chris Batt, Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, said:
“The Taking Part results show us that in the last 12 months, 64 per cent of adults visited a museum, library and archive sector institution. This is proof positive of the significance these institutions have in the everyday life of individuals in this country, as well in future projects such as the Cultural Olympiad.”
Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said:
”We are delighted that this survey has demonstrated once more the immense degree of public support for and interest in the historic environment. Seventy per cent of all adults visited a historic place last year, and many would go more often if they had more free time.
“English Heritage has always said that heritage brings real public benefits. It can be used as a catalyst to create jobs, boost the local economy and improve quality of life. This survey shows that 90 per cent of members of the public agree that it is worth saving historic features when trying to improve local places, with only two per cent disagreeing. This shows the extent to which bodies such as English Heritage are supported in their work and their aims by the rest of the country.”
Notes to editors:
- The Taking Part Survey is available to download here
- Visit the DCMS website pages dedicated to the “Taking Part” survey, here:
- Read the DCMS press release for the “Taking Part” survey results of 2005 here:
Press enquiries 020 7211 6266
Out of hours telephone pager 07699 751153
Public enquiries 020 7211 6000
www.culture.gov.uk
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