Patterns of social inequality in arts and cultural participation: Findings from a nationally representative sample of adults living in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2020
CONTEXT:
A significant amount of literature indicates the health benefits of arts
engagement. However, as this engagement is socially patterned, differential
access to and participation in the arts may contribute to social and health
inequalities.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to uncover the patterns of participation in
arts activities and engagement with culture and heritage among adults in
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and to examine
whether such patterns are associated with demographic and socioeconomic
characteristics.
METHODOLOGY: We applied latent class analysis to data on arts and cultural
participation among 30 695 people in the Understanding Society study.
Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors for the
patterns of activity engagement.
RESULTS: For arts participation, adults were clustered into “engaged
omnivores,” “visual and literary arts,” “performing arts” and “disengaged.”
For cultural engagement, adults were clustered into “frequently engaged,”
“infrequently engaged” and “rarely engaged.” Regression analysis showed
that the patterns of arts activity were structured by demographic and
socioeconomic factors.
CONCLUSION: This study reveals a social gradient in arts and cultural
engagement. Given the health benefits of arts engagement, this suggests
the importance of promoting equal access to arts and cultural programmes,
to ensure that unequal engagement does not exacerbate health inequalities.
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