The National Endowment for the Arts released this week research that shows new trends on how American audiences consume and interact with the arts. Arts Participation 2008: Highlights from a National Survey shows findings from the 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts.

Some of the findings are consistent with long-established trends of public arts participation, while others shed light on new consumer behaviors in the arts.

Findings show that the average age of attendees to performing arts shows is 45, which is older than the average US adult age. This does not surprise me as the aging of arts attendees has been a growing trend for decades. Because of this, arts organizations have often sought new ways to engage younger audiences.

Though some of us might suspect that the aging of the baby boomer population would be the main factor, it apparently is not the sole reason for the increase in age. According to the report, those in the 45-54 year age range show the steepest decline in attendance for most art events.

The survey also finds that educated Americans, who have traditionally been the largest audiences for the arts, are now participating less than before. In addition, adults with less education have significantly reduced their already low-levels of participation. The implication for arts organizations and other creators is that they will have to think creatively about how to reach and retain new and different audiences.

The most surprising survey findings for me are those that point to the use of the internet and mass media to reach more audiences for the arts. The survey findings show that:

• About 70 percent of U.S. adults went online for any purpose in 2008 survey, and of those adults, nearly 40 percent used the Internet to view, listen to, download, or post artworks or performances.

• Thirty percent of adults who use the Internet, download, watch, or listen to music, theater, or dance performances online at least once a week. More than 20 percent of Internet-using adults view paintings, sculpture, or photography at least once a week.

• More Americans view or listen to broadcasts and recordings of arts events than attend them live (live theater being the sole exception). Classical and Latin or salsa music were the most popular music categories (with 40 and 33.5 million viewers/listeners, respectively), and 33.7 million adults reported listening to, or viewing programs or recordings about books/writers. The same number (33.7 million) enjoyed broadcasts or recordings about the visual arts.

Though it’s really not surprising that more and more people are utilizing the internet and technology to access various art forms, there is an underlying piece that begins to concern me: the increase in consumer choice to access art through the internet coupled with the decline in actual audience participation.

In addition to the findings above, the survey also says that “between 1982 and 2008, attendance at performing arts such as classical music, jazz, opera, ballet, musical theater, and dramatic plays has seen double-digit rates of decline.”

I recall a scene from the movie Good Will hunting when the psychologist Sean (Robin Williams) is counseling Will (Matt Damon) right after he has a crucial breakdown in the movie. Will, who thinks he has experienced the world because he’s really smart and has read a lot of books, is questioned by Sean about his real experiences.

He says something (and sorry if I botch this up, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen this movie) like, ‘you think you know everything, but you don’t. Just because you’ve read about the Vatican, doesn’t mean that you’ve actually experienced the Vatican.”

Though this scene is trying to get to the root of Will’s psychological issues, I do think that there are parallels here with public arts participation. We have all seen a million pictures of Michelangelo’s David or Machu Picchu in Peru, but those of us who have actually been to these places and seen these things realize that it’s a completely different experience in person. There is something so moving about a great work of art that cannot be grasped in a photo or a movie clip.

Watching a clip from a concert on YouTube and seeing that same band live on stage produces two completely different experiences. Similarly, seeing a Norman Rockwell in person is euphoric compared to viewing the many reproductions online or in books.

I think a great determent will be had if society chooses to access art through one venue over the other. Art is meant to be experienced in a variety of formats, and we need to embrace the accessibility that the internet gives us with actual in-person experiences.

The study does point out that one cause for decline in public participation could be the sinking economy over the past year. But, I think that another issue is the shift in public values from active participation to passive observance. When we can sit in the comfort of our pajamas and watch a concert on the computer, then why would we need to actually go to the concert?

Am I solo on raising these concerns? Is my theory too far-fetched? I’m curious as to what others think about the decline in public arts participation and the rise of internet usage to access art.

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 9:07 am by Lucinda M. Dugger and is filed under creators, economy, events, internet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.