Cultural Participation Monitor

Wave 8 | Spring 2023

March 2023 | 2,428 responses

Findings from the Spring 2023 wave of our Cultural Participation Monitor look at the compounding pressures facing organisations right now, as arts and culture audiences' already slow return post-pandemic is stalled by cost-of-living concerns.

Key Findings

• Cost of living outweighs covid

  Over 60% say that the cost-of-living is already slashing their ability to attend culture events (more than twice than because of Covid concerns), with even higher numbers expecting this to still be the case in 6-24 months' time.

  

• Engagement trends

  1/3 still report attending arts and culture less than pre-pandemic, though under 35-year-olds are returning more than others, and are more likely to identify as the 'initiators' of social cultural activity with friends and family.

  

• Late booking trends

  Panto season pre-sales stand out as being back on track, though this goes against an overall trend towards later booking, with over 40% saying that they now tend to book more last minute than they used to.

  

• Social media behaviour

  More than 1/3 people say they follow an 'arts and culture' organisation on social media, though report being more inclined to do so out of interest in the broad topic or artform, than in that specific organisation and its events.

  

• Support for Organisations

  Half of those who previously did so intend to donate less over the next couple of years, but most who have cancelled memberships do intend to restart them, and c.80% of lapsed volunteers expect to return to their activities.

  

Our Director of Evidence & Insight Talks Through the Findings

Download the Data Presentation PDF