Participation in cultural and arts activities

Relevance

Cultural activities are an integral part of leisure and recreation. People participate in cultural activities for a wide variety of reasons: for enjoyment and entertainment, for personal growth and development, as a means of expression, to learn new skills, to meet new people and to pass on cultural traditions.

Current level

Ninety-three per cent or 2.6 million people aged 15 years and over experienced one or more of the cultural activities included in the 2002 Cultural Experiences Survey. The most popular activities (those undertaken in the four weeks before the survey) were purchasing books (43 per cent) and visiting a public library (39 per cent). Of the less popular activities (those experienced over the past year) the most preferred were visiting an art gallery or museum (48 per cent) and attending a popular live music performance (37 per cent). A lack of time and cost were the main barriers to experiencing cultural activities more often, or at all.

Figure L3.1 Proportion of the population aged 15 years and over who experienced cultural activities, by activity type and sex, 2002

Source: Statistics New Zealand (2002a)

Age differences

Younger people were more likely to experience at least one of the cultural activities than people in older age groups. In 2002, 98 per cent of 15–24 year olds and 96 per cent of 25–44 year olds took part in one or more of the surveyed activities. Participation was lowest among people aged 65 years and over (81 per cent). Popular activities among younger people included hiring a video or DVD (53 per cent) and purchasing music (49 per cent). Older people (65 years and over) were more likely to visit a public library than other age groups, with 46 per cent reporting this activity.

Sex differences

Women were slightly more likely to experience one or more of the cultural activities included in the survey than men (95 per cent compared with 92 per cent). More women than men purchased a book, visited a library and went to a theatrical performance. There was no difference in the proportion of men and women who purchased music.

Ethnic differences

Māori were more likely to have participated in at least one of the cultural activities included in the survey than European or Pacific peoples (Māori 97 per cent, European 93 per cent, Pacific peoples 92 per cent). Popular activities experienced by Māori included visiting a marae (69 per cent) and attending a popular live music performance (40 per cent). European New Zealanders were more likely to report visiting an art gallery or museum than other groups (51 per cent), while Pacific peoples had the highest rate of participation in community-based ethnic or cultural activities (39 per cent).

Table L3.1 Proportion (%) of population aged 15 years and over who had participated in cultural activities, by activity type and ethnic group, 2002

Source: Statistics New Zealand (2002a)

Regional differences

In 2002, 94 per cent of people living in urban areas experienced one or more of the cultural activities included in the survey, compared to 93 per cent of people living in secondary urban areas and 91 per cent of those living in minor urban and rural areas. The Wellington Regional Council area had the highest proportion of people who experienced at least one of the surveyed activities (97 per cent), while Taranaki had the lowest level of participation (87 per cent).

» View technical details about the participation in cultural and arts activities indicator