In Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPAs) conducted in 1982, 1985, and 1992 by the U. S. Census Bureau, randomly-selected interview subjects (age 18+) were asked a series of questions relating to their participation in the arts through attendance at live performances, exposure via mass media, personal participation in the arts,…

The Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPAs), funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, were undertaken in 1982, 1985, and 1992. This report is based on the data collected by the SPPA surveys. Although data on dance genres other than ballet were collected under the rubric "other…

Discusses the findings of a recently published nationwide survey conducted by the National Research Center for the Arts on the attitude of the majority of American people on the place of the arts in their lives. (RK)

Stresses the importance of local arts, focusing on encouraging modern dance at the local level. Addresses issues such as audience participation, sense of ownership and community, and accessibility that accompanies local art. Considers the implications for K-12 modern dance education. (CMK)

If the arts are an essential means for cultural expression, then the study of arts participation is central to the understanding of U.S. culture and its evolution. This document aims to provide an understanding of arts participation at the national and local levels. To this end, the historical development of arts research is summarized and an…

While the capacity to recognize and appreciate beauty may be inborn in all of us, participation in the arts as an audience or artist usually involves a learning process. What is the relationship between childhood and early adult experiences with the arts and later participation? In 1982, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the…

Analyzing data from the 1982, 1985, and 1992 Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA), this study defined arts participation as involvement in a listed activity at least once in 12 months. Respondents were considered crossover participants if they were involved in a single art form in more than one way or if they were involved in more…

Socialization is a process by which children learn the attitudes and orientations that will guide their behavior as adults. The analyses described in this report use this socialization model as a basis for describing the relationship between childhood and early adult arts-related experiences and current arts-related leisure participation. Three…

Data gleaned from the 1982, 1985, and 1992 Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPAs) were used in this analysis of participation in opera and musical theater/operetta. Findings indicate that opera is the least popular of the fine arts, being the least frequented and the least selected as an activity respondents would like to attend more…

This monograph examines the extent to which the U.S. adult population was involved in personal art participation in 1992, compares it to participation in 1982, and profiles personal arts participants. The National Endowment for the Arts attempted to determine the scope of adult public participation in the arts through the Surveys of Public…

This report examined media audiences for the arts using data gathered in the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPA) covering approximately 18,000 U.S. adults in 1982 and 16,000 adults in 1985. The SPA questionnaire covers the use of television, radio, and recordings as a means to participate in seven particular arts activities, which…

This monograph focuses on the relationship between pre-adult socialization in the arts and subsequent arts participation, as measured in the data collected in the 1992 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The study aims to increase understanding of art socialization experiences as they relate to…

This document profiles 11 examples of arts and education institutions across the country that are working to solve community problems. Programs, which reflect a number of purposes, are organized by category. Large Urban Profiles, include: (1) "Bridgemaking" in Chicago: Chicago Arts Partnership in Education; (2) Learning by Working: Young Artists…

This document presents an analysis of the 1992 nationwide Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA), conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census for the National Endowment for the Arts. Data were collected in household surveys. Respondents were part of a larger continuously rotating panel of adults who were interviewed monthly either by…

Using data taken from the National Endowment for the Arts' Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) which were conducted in 1982 and 1992, this report looks at the effect of age on adult arts participation in seven benchmark or core art forms: classical music, opera, ballet, musicals, jazz, plays, and art museums. The report examines the…