Culture and Society
11.34 There is evidence to suggest that the extent to which people invest and participate in cultural activity influences both cultural and social well-being. Apart from the economic benefits of such activity, culture also supports, for example, the region's sense of identity, community, place, quality of life and citizenship. Attendance and participation rates for various cultural activities in the South West indicate a positive state of health but with some socio-geographical variations. Evidence is provided in studies for Arts Council England, (Arts Council England 2006) and major national surveys currently in progress, namely DCMS Taking Part: A National Survey and Sport England Active People. Full regional breakdowns of DCMS Taking Part will be published in 2007.
11.35 A report for Culture South West demonstrates the importance of cultural activity in the lives of older people and the contribution, in turn, of older people to a vibrant and diverse cultural sector, (Hennessy and Giarchi 2006). Cultural activities such as hobbies, sports, religion and volunteerism are shown to promote health and well-being in later life and to generate social capital. The report articulate the impact of the region’s demographic ageing on age-specific development of cultural products and services.
11.36 Although the region's population as a whole invests heavily in cultural activities, there are variations in participation and attendance rates depending on age, socio-economic status and geographic location. According to Arts in England 2003: Attendance, Participation and Attitudes, people aged 55 to 64 had the highest levels of attendance of all age groups at musicals, craft exhibitions, visual arts exhibitions, classical music and opera but arts attendance declines with age across all activities.
11.37 Lower rates are consistently found for people from disadvantaged groups according to provisional findings from DCMS Taking Part Survey. For example, 47% of adults from Black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds, 58% of adults with a limiting disability3 and 57% of adults from lower socio-economic groups visited at least one type of designated historic environment site in the last 12 months compared to the national average of 70%. Again, compared to the national average of 43% for at least one visit to a museum in the last year, 36% of adults from BME backgrounds, 32% of adults with a limiting disability and 29% of adults from lower socio-economic groups, made such a visit.
Attendance and Participation in Cultural Activities
11.38 Culture is not just about economic issues. It also supports a region's sense of identity, community, place, quality of life and citizenship. Participation rates in various cultural activities provide some indicators of the health of this region.
Artistic and Performance Events
11.39 Arts Council England report Arts in England 2003 found 84% of people aged 16+ in the South West were most likely to have attended at least one artistic and cultural event in 2003. The region’s participation and attendance rates were consistently high across a range of cultural activities with top rating for attendance at carnivals.
Museums and Heritage
11.40 In 2000/01 museums and galleries in the South West attracted 5.5 million visitors and the region recorded the highest number of visits by UK tourists to 'artistic and heritage centres' of any English region (including London). Nearly 86,000 people used archives in the South West in 2001/02. In 2003/04 English Heritage sites in the region received over 2 million paid visits by adults, a quarter of all those made to English heritage properties in England.
Sport
11.41 Findings from Sport England’s recently published Active People Survey show an above average participation rate for adults in the South West (21.9%) in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport and active recreation on three or more days in a week compared to the national average of 21%. Furthermore another 28.9% of the region’s adults (aged 16+) are building some sport and active recreation into their lives. However, nearly half the adult population (aged 16 and over) of the South West (49.2%) take no part in any moderate intensity sport or active recreation, just below the national figure of 50.6%.
There are geographical variations in the 3x30 minute sports participation rates with Isles of Scilly as the most active local authority area in the region (32% regularly active), followed by West Devon (26.2%) while Plymouth recorded the lowest percentage hitting the 3x30 target at 18.6%. Socio-demographic factors impact heavily on participation, with lower regular participation among women (20.1%) than men (23.8%). The highest socio-economic groups have higher participation (25.9%) than those from the most deprived backgrounds (17.9%). Taking into account deprivation in the area, Penwith, Bournemouth and North Devon are among the best performing local authority areas in the country in terms of regular participation. Survey findings show people do less and less exercise as they get older which has implications with the region’s ageing population.Volunteering in the Cultural Sector
11.42 According to the Citizenship Survey published in 2003 by the Home Office, the South West has the highest participation rates for all forms of volunteering activity of the English regions. This may in part be due to the region’s demographic ageing trend, older people being more likely to be engaged in volunteering. Sport England Active People Survey findings show an above average rate for the South West (5.2%) of volunteering in sport compared to the national average of 4.7%.
11.43 Although there is a paucity of research data on volunteering in the cultural sector, a recent report, Resolve Consulting 2006, found 86% of volunteers in the South West are aged 55+ compared to 72% nationally. The South West has the highest percentage of disabled people (12%) volunteering, compared to 9% nationally.
Culture and Social Inclusion
11.44 It is clear that there are significant variations in participation rates according to socio-economic status. Opportunity for access to cultural activities does vary according to social class and income, and consideration needs to be given to issues of affordability and the physical and intellectual accessibility of cultural events and facilities.