Author: National Research Center of the Arts

Publication Year: 1980

Media Type: Book

Summary:

This study of the appetite of the adult American public for the arts is the third survey conducted by the Harris organization on this subject since 1973. It was commissioned by the American Council for the Arts and sponsored by Philip Morris Incorporated and the National Endowment for the Arts, and was designed both to update significant areas of the previous surveys and to examine important new areas of public thought and opinion.

Abstract:

This study of the appetite of the adult American public for the arts is the third survey conducted by the Harris organization on this subject since 1973. It was commissioned by the American Council for the Arts and sponsored by Philip Morris Incorporated and the National Endowment for the Arts, and was designed both to update significant areas of the previous surveys and to examine important new areas of public thought and opinion.

There is evidence that since the mid-1970s America's cultural environment has changed, with funding from all levels of government tending to rise at a lower rate, and with increases in funding from the private sector not yet sufficient to make up the deficit. Times now are marked by the long and sustained drain of double-digit inflation and energy problems here at home, and by a host of foreign policy crises which have absorbed public attention. Once again it is of critical importance to know precisely where the arts stand with the American people. This in-depth survey, conducted by telephone among 1,500 adult Americans in July 1980, provides such data. (Introduction).

CONTENTS
Foreword.
Table of contents.
List of tables.
Introduction.
Summary: leisure time is shrinking.
Attendance at the arts is up.
The rising importance of the arts.
Participation in the arts.
Problem areas for the arts.
The unfinished business of financing the arts in the 1980s.
The role of the arts in the nation's schools.

Chapter 1. The setting: leisure in a time of economic crunch.

Chapter 2. Attendance at the arts: on an upward curve. 
                Going to the movies. 
                Going to live theatre. 
                Live popular music concerts. 
                Live performances of classical or symphonic music. 
                Live performances of opera or musical theatre. 
                Art museums. 
                Live performances of dance.

Chapter 3. The rising importance of the arts.

Chapter 4. Participation in the arts also sharply on the rise. 
                Engaging in photography. 
                Needlepoint, weaving and other handwork. 
                Playing a musical instrument. 
                Painting, drawing and the graphic arts. 
                Writing stories or poems. 
                Ballet or modern dance. 
                Singing in a choir or other choral group. 
                Making pottery or ceramics. 
                Sculpturing or working with clay. 
                Working with a local theatre group.

Chapter 5. problem areas for the arts.

Chapter 6. The unfinished business of financing the arts in the 1980s.

Chapter 7. The role of the arts in the nation's schools.

Appendix:
     A. Tables.
     B. Survey methodology.
     C. The questionnaire.

Tables:
      1. Work hours and hours available for leisure per week.
      2. Average and median leisure hours available.
      3. Patterns of activity during leisure time.
      4. Patterns of activity in selected arts categories.
      5. Statements about attendance at cultural events.
   6A. Number of times attended movies during previous twelve months.
   6B. Median number of times attended movies in previous twelve months.
   7A. Number of times attended live theatre performances in previous twelve months.
   7B. Median number of times attended live theatre performances in previous twelve
         months.
   8A. Number of times attended live popular music performances in previous twelve
         months.
   8B. Median number of times attended live popular music performances in previous
         twelve months.
   9A. Number of times attended live classical music performances in previous twelve
         months.
   9B. Median number of times attended live classical music performances in previous
         twelve months.
   10. Frequency of buying records or tapes of classical music.
   11. Frequency of listening to classical music on records, tapes or radio.
12A. Number of times attended live opera or musical theatre in previous twelve
        months.
12B. Median number of times attended live opera or musical theatre in previous twelve
        months.
   13. Attendance at art museums.
   14. Median number of times people attended all museums and art museums.
   15. Attendance at all museums.
16A. Number of times attended dance performances in previous twelve months.
16B. Median number of times attended dance performances in previous twelve
        months.
   17. Evaluation of economic, social and cultural programs as important to have.
   18. What people find the arts provide.
   19. Activities engaged in.
   20. Importance of arts facilities.
   21. Whether a particular arts facility is easily accessible from home.
   22. Accessibility of various cultural and sports activities from home.
   23. Need for more arts.
   24. Whether there are enough facilities for creative activities in which people can
         actively participate.
   25. Whether it is personally important to people to have more creative activities in
         the community in which they could actively participate.
   26. Reasons why people do not go out more often to performances of things like
         music, theatre and dance.
   27. Reasons why people do not go to museums more often.
   28. Whether various arts and non-arts organizations are believed to be generally
         self-supporting or depend on contributions and support.
   29. Whether government, business, foundations or individuals should provide
         assistance to non-arts organizations.
   30. Whether government, business, foundations or individuals should provide
         assistance to arts organizations.
   31. People who believe individual professional artists should receive financial
         assistance from governments or businesses if needed to continue artistic
         professions.
   32. Attitudes toward an incentive plan to stimulate private giving to the arts, under
         which for every $3 an arts organization or institution raises from private sources,
         government would contribute $1.
   33. Willingness to pay extra amounts in taxes if money would be used to support arts
         and cultural activities and facilities.
   34. Importance of exposure of school-age children to theatre, music, dance, etc.
   35. Adequacy of opportunities for school-age children in home area to hear music,
         go to plays, etc.
   36. Attitudes toward offering classes in the arts in public schools; teach for credit;
         offer, but not for credit; should not be offered at all.
   37. Whether arts courses in public schools should be paid for by the school system
         as part of the regular school budget.
   38. Attitudes toward importance of museums.
   39. Attitudes toward arts in the community.
   40. Attitudes toward availability of arts presentations.
   41. Evaluation of live vs. televised performances.
   42. Attitudes toward enjoyment by public of sports and of the arts.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Participation