Cultural Participation Monitor
Wave 4 | Autumn 2021
September 2021 | 2,025 responses
Initial findings from the September 2021 wave of our Cultural Participation Monitor look at rising Covid-related concerns, the effects of working from home on cultural engagement, and the challenges festive shows may face this year.
Key Findings
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Increased wellbeing is offset by continued worry
While people's sense of wellbeing continues to slowly improve, the same audiences' concern about falling ill with Covid-19 is growing, and most expect further lockdowns both this year and next.
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A lot of people still don't feel safe to attend
Willingness to attend has not increased since June and people remain worried about others' behaviour, though they don't appear to think there is much more organisations themselves should be doing to make them feel safe.
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Changed working habits may trigger a surge in localness
Most people who have worked at home for some or all of the pandemic expect to continue to do so for the foreseeable. As these tend to be high cultural engagers, they may drive increased local attendance in future.
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Engagement is set to decline and pantos may struggle
People expect to engage less in general with arts, culture and heritage in the coming months, with a particular decline in interest in festive shows potentially signalling a bleak midwinter for venues.
