a decade of arts engagement:

findings from the survey of public participation in the arts, 2002–2012

national endowment for the arts
Front cover photo top: A military family looks 

at art at the San Antonio Museum of Art 

during the 2014 Blue Star Museum launch. 

Photo by JB Lyle/Parish Photography

Front cover photo bottom: Pre-professional ballet 

students at Ballet Hispanico’s School of Dance. 

Photo by Paula Lobo, courtesy of Ballet Hispanico
a decade of arts engagement:

findings from the survey of public participation in the arts, 2002–2012

NEA Research Report #58

January 2015
January 2015

National Endowment for the Arts 

400 7th Street, SW 

Washington, DC 20506 

Telephone: 202-682-5400 

arts.gov

Prepared by Bohne Silber, Silber & Associates, and Tim Triplett, 

The Urban Institute

Produced by the Office of Research & Analysis

Sunil Iyengar, Director

Other staff contributors: Ellen Grantham, Bonnie Nichols, Melissa 

Menzer, and Tamika Shingler. The Office of Research & Analysis 

also wishes to thank Steven Shewfelt.

Editorial assistance by Rebecca Gross

Designed by Roman/Thayer Design Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A Decade of Arts Engagement: Findings from the Survey of Public 

Participation in the Arts, 2002-2012.

 pages cm

 1. Arts audiences--United States--Statistics. 2. Arts surveys--United 

States. 3. Arts--United States--Citizen participation--Statistics. I. 

Silber, Bohne G. II. Triplett, Tim, 1960- III. Iyengar, Sunil, 1973- IV. 

National Endowment for the Arts.

 NX220.D43 2015

 700.973’09051--dc23

 2014044435

 202-682-5496 Voice/TTY

(a device for individuals who are deaf or hearing-impaired)

 Individuals who do not use conventional print materials 

may contact the Arts Endowment’s Office for AccessAbility at 

202-682-5532 to obtain this publication in an alternate format.

This publication is available free of charge in print or PDF format at 

arts.gov, the website of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Table of Contents

viii Preface

x Executive Summary

1 Chapter 1. Visual and Performing Arts Attendance

2 Sample Findings

3 Attendance at “Benchmark” Arts Activities

7 Performing Arts in General

9 Demographic Characteristics of Performing Arts Audiences

17 Visual Arts in General

18 Demographic Characteristics of Visual Art-Goers

19 Inside the SPPA: Asking about Visits to Places with Design or Historic Value

22 Predictors of Benchmark Arts Attendance

23 Attendance at Live Music Performances

25 Chapter 2. Arts Consumption through Electronic Media

26 Sample Findings

27 Watching or Listening to Arts Broadcasts or Recordings via TV/Radio or the 

Internet

29 Audience Demographics for Arts Broadcasts or Recordings

32 Visual Arts Programs 

32 Literary Programs

32 Books, Short Stories, or Poetry Read Aloud 

34 Consuming Art via Internet: Viewing, Listening, or Downloading

35 Using Handheld or Mobile Devices to Watch, Listen to, or Download Art

37 Chapter 3. Creating, Performing, and Sharing Art

38 Sample Findings

39 Performing Art, Alone or with Others

47 Performing, Creating, and Sharing Art via Electronic Media and Other Methods 

55 Chapter 4. Participation in Arts Learning Activities

56 Sample Findings

57 Learning for a Lifetime: Participation in the Arts through Classes or Lessons

62 Art Classes or Lessons within the Last 12 Months 

63 Learning for a Lifetime: Childhood versus Adulthood, and Formal versus 

Informal Instruction

66 Arts Learning Experiences of Children, According to Responding Parents 

67 Chapter 5. Reading and Film Attendance

68 Sample Findings

69 Reading Books and/or Literature

76 Movie-Going

79 Chapter 6. Regional Differences in Arts Participation

80 Sample Findings

81 Attendance at Benchmark Arts Events

82 Other Kinds of Arts Attendance

83 Venues Where Americans Enjoy Visual Art, Music, Theater, and Dance

84 Music Listening Preferences

84 Movie-Going, Literary Reading, and Participating in Other Leisure Activities

86 Arts Consumption through Electronic Media

87 Creating, Performing, or Sharing Art

88 Participating in Arts Learning Activities

90 Arts Participation by Metro or Non-Metro Area

93 Survey and Research Methodology

95 Appendix: Sports and Exercise
List of Figures

4 Figure 1-1. Average number of attendances and total attendances for benchmark 

arts activities: 2002, 2008, and 2012 

4 Figure 1-2. Demographic distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at 

least one benchmark activity in the past 12 months: 2012 

5 Figure 1-3. Distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at least 

one benchmark activity in the past 12 months, by highest level of educational 

attainment: 2002, 2008, and 2012

5 Figure 1-4. Distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at least one 

benchmark activity in the past 12 months, by age group: 2002, 2008, and 2012

6 Figure 1-5. Distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at least one 

benchmark activity in the past 12 months, by gender: 2002, 2008, and 2012 

6 Figure 1-6. Distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at least one 

benchmark activity in the past 12 months, by race and/or ethnicity: 2002, 2008, 

and 2012 

7 Figure 1-7. Performing arts questions in the 2012 SPPA

7 Figure 1-8. Percentage of U.S. adults attending a performing arts activity at least 

once in the past 12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012 

8 Figure 1-9. Average and total number of attendances for performing arts activities: 

2002, 2008, and 2012 

12 Figure 1-10. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults attending different types of 

performing arts events at least once in the past 12 months: 2012

13 Figure 1-11 (part 1). Rates of attendance (based on adults participating at least once 

in the past 12 months), by demographic subgroup: 2002 and 2012

14 Figure 1-11 (part 2). Rates of attendance (based on adults participating at least once 

in the past 12 months), by demographic subgroup: 2002 and 2012

16 Figure 1-12. Average attendances per attendee in the past 12 months, by 

demographic subgroup: 2012 and 2002

17 Figure 1-13. Percentage of U.S. adults attending visual arts activities or events: 

2002, 2008, and 2012

17 Figure 1-14. Average number of visits per attendee and millions of visits to art 

museums or galleries: 2002, 2008, and 2012

20 Figure 1-15. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults attending different types of 

visual arts events at least once in the past 12 months: 2012

21 Figure 1-16. Visual arts rates of attendance (based on adults participating at least 

once in past 12 months), by demographic group: 2002 and 2012

22 Figure 1-17. Effects of demographic characteristics on the likelihood of benchmark 

arts attendance in the past 12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012

24 Figure 1-18. Genres of music attended by adults who reported attending any live 

music performance in the past 12 months: 2012

27 Figure 2-1. Number and percentage of U.S. adults who used TV/radio or the 

Internet to watch or listen to an arts broadcast or recording at least once in the past 

12 months: 2012

28 Figure 2-2. Number and percentage of U.S. adults who watched or listened to an 

arts broadcast or recording at least once in the past 12 months via TV/radio or the 

Internet: 2012

30 Figure 2-3. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults watching or listening to 

performing arts broadcasts or recordings via TV/radio or the Internet at least once 

in the past 12 months, by art form: 2012 

31 Figure 2-4. Percentage of U.S. adults watching or listening to arts broadcasts or 

recordings via TV/radio or the Internet at least once in the past 12 months: 2012
List of Figures (continued)

33 Figure 2-5. Percentage and demographic distribution of U.S. adults watching or 

listening to arts broadcasts or recordings via TV/radio or the Internet at least once in 

the past 12 months: 2012

34 Figure 2-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who used the Internet to explore the arts in the 

past 12 months: 2012

36 Figure 2-7. Percentage of U.S. adults who used mobile or handheld devices to explore 

the arts: 2012

39 Figure 3-1. Percentage of Americans and millions of U.S. adults engaging in the 

performing arts: 2012

41 Figure 3-2. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults engaging in the performing arts, 

by activity: 2012

42 Figure 3-3. Percentage of U.S. adults engaging in the performing arts, by activity: 2012 

43 Figure 3-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who practiced or performed music of various 

types: 2012

45 Figure 3-5. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults who practice or perform art, by 

specific art form or activity: 2012

46 Figure 3-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who practice or perform arts, by specific art 

form or activity: 2012

47 Figure 3-7. Number and percentage of U.S. adults creating or performing arts at least 

once in the past 12 months: 2012 

48 Figure 3-8. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults creating or performing arts of 

various kinds during the last 12 months: 2012 

49 Figure 3-9. Percentage of U.S. adults creating or performing arts during the last 

12 months: 2012 

50 Figure 3-10. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults using electronic media to create 

or perform art in the past 12 months, by art form: 2012

51 Figure 3-11. Percentage of U.S. adults using electronic media to create or perform art 

in the past 12 months, by art form: 2012

54 Figure 3-12. Percentage of U.S. adults doing craft arts during the last 12 months: 2012

58 Figure 4-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who took arts lessons or classes during their 

lifetime, by art form studied: 2002, 2008, and 2012

60 Figure 4-2. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults who took arts classes or lessons 

at any time in their lives: 2012 

61 Figure 4-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who took arts classes or lessons at any time in 

their lives and percentage who took such classes or lessons within the last 12 

months (in parentheses): 2012

62 Figure 4-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who took arts lessons or classes during the 

past 12 months: 2012

63 Figure 4-5. Percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds who took arts classes or lessons 

at any time in their lives and percentage who took art classes or lessons within the 

last 12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012 

63 Figure 4-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who participated in arts learning during their 

lifetime, by art form studied and by mode of learning: 2012 

64 Figure 4-7. Percentage of U.S. adults who participated in arts learning at any time in 

their lives, by whether such learning occurred in or outside of school: 2012 

65 Figure 4-8. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults who experienced arts as a child, 

by activity: 2012

66 Figure 4-9. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults whose school-age children 

received arts or music instruction, attended a live arts performance, or visited an art 

museum or gallery during the last 12 months: 2012 
List of Figures (continued)

69 Figure 5-1. Reading activity: 2002, 2008, and 2012

70 Figure 5-2. Demographic distribution and percentage of U.S. adults who read books 

and/or literature during the past 12 months: 2012

71 Figure 5-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who read books and/or literature during the 

past 12 months, by choice of reading materials: 2012

73 Figure 5-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who read books and/or literature during the 

past 12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012

74 Figure 5-5. Percentage of adults who belong to a book club or reading group: 2012

75 Figure 5-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who read during the past 12 months, by 

frequency (number of books read): 2002, 2008, and 2012 

76 Figure 5-7. Percentage of U.S. adults who went to a movie: 2002, 2008, and 2012.

76 Figure 5-8. Percentage of U.S. adults who went to a movie, by demographic 

characteristics: 2012 

77 Figure 5-9. Percentage of U.S. adults who attended a movie, by demographic 

characteristics: 2002, 2008, and 2012

78 Figure 5-10. Percentage of adults who attended a film festival: 2012

81 Figure 6-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who attended a benchmark arts activity at least 

once in the past 12 months, by census region: 2002, 2008, and 2012

82 Figure 6-2. Percentage of U.S. adults who attended benchmark arts events at least 

once in the past 12 months, by census region and type of event: 2012

83 Figure 6-3. Attendance at other arts activities, shown by census region: 2012

83 Figure 6-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who viewed an art exhibit or attended a music, 

theater, or dance performance at least once in the past 12 months, by venue type 

and census region: 2012

84 Figure 6-5. Percentage of U.S. adults who like individual types of music, by Census 

region and degree of preference: 2012

85 Figure 6-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who did selected leisure activities at least once 

in the past 12 months, by census region and type of activity: 2012

86 Figure 6-7. Percentage of U.S. adults who consumed arts through broadcast or 

recorded media at least once during the past 12 months, by census region: 2012

87 Figure 6-8. Percentage of U.S. adults who created or performed arts at least once, 

by census region and type of activity: 2012

88 Figure 6-9. Percentage of U.S. adults who have taken arts lessons or classes at some 

point in their lives, by census region and art form: 2012

91 Figure 6-10. Percentage of U.S. adults who did selected arts and non-arts activities 

at least once in the past 12 months, by metro or non-metro residency: 2012

92 Figure 6-11. Percentage of U.S. adults who did various arts activities at least once in 

the past 12 months, by metro or non-metro residency: 2012

95 Figure A-1. Percentage of adults attending an amateur or professional sports event 

during the last 12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012.

96 Figure A-2. Demographic characteristics of adults who attended an amateur or 

professional sports event: 2002, 2008, and 2012

97 Figure A-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who exercised or participated in a sports 

activity: 2012
List of Charts

xi Chart ES-1. Percentage of adults who participated in the arts, by broad category of 

participation: 2012 

xii Chart ES-2. Percentage of U.S. adults aged 18 to 24 who took arts classes or lessons 

at any time in their lives, by subject area: 2002–2012

xii Chart ES-3. Proportional change in percentage of U.S. adults who reported taking 

arts classes or lessons over their entire lifetime, by subject area: 2002–2012

xiii Chart ES-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who participated in arts learning at any time 

in their lives, by subject area and by whether the learning occurred in classes or 

lessons, or through other means: 2012

3 Chart 1-1. Percentage of U.S. adults attending a benchmark arts activity at least once 

in the past 12 months: 1982, 1992, 2002, 2008, and 2012

15 Chart 1-2. Percentage of U.S. adults who attended a performing arts event, by art 

form and family income level: 2012

28 Chart 2-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who consumed music via TV/radio, the Internet, 

or both: 2012

28 Chart 2-2. Percentage of U.S. adults who used TV/radio, the Internet, or both, to 

consume selected types of arts broadcasts, by type: 2012

32 Chart 2-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who used TV/radio, the Internet, or both, to 

consume selected arts broadcasts or recordings, by highest level of educational 

attainment: 2012

35 Chart 2-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who consumed art via mobile/handheld device, 

by art form and age group: 2012

40 Chart 3-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who played a musical instrument and/or did 

social dancing, by age group: 2012

44 Chart 3-2. Gender differences in practicing/performing art, by specific art form

47 Chart 3-3. Gender differences in creating or performing art

54 Chart 3-4. Gender differences in craft arts

58 Chart 4-1. Percentage change in lifetime arts learning

59 Chart 4-2. Gender differences in lifetime arts learning, by type of class or lesson

64 Chart 4-3. Percentage of arts learning occurring in school versus outside school

69 Chart 5-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who read books and/or literature during the past 

12 months, by highest level of educational attainment: 2012

72 Chart 5-2. Percentage of U.S. adult readers who read fiction, nonfiction, or both

77 Chart 5-3. Relationship between movie attendance and age, education, and 

family income

88 Chart 6-1. Percentage of Americans who created, performed, shared, or edited or 

remixed art, by census region and degree of participation: 2012

89 Chart 6-2. Percentage of U.S. adults who took any arts classes or lessons in the last 

12 months, by census region: 2012

89 Chart 6-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who took arts classes or lessons as a child or 

adult by census region: 2012

98 Chart A-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who exercise or participated in a sports activity 

in the last 12 months, by age, education, and income: 2012
viii 

• preface

Preface The Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) 

is the nation’s largest, most representative survey of 

adult patterns of arts participation. It tracks various arts 

activities that Americans (aged 18 and over) report 

having done in the course of a year. It also asks questions 

about adults’ preferences for different kinds of music, and 

it seeks to understand participation in non-arts leisure 

events such as sports and exercise, outdoor activities, and 

civic and social affairs.

Since 1982, when the SPPA first was conducted, the 

original survey instrument has been revised and enlarged 

to accommodate questions about new and different 

forms of arts participation. In 2002, the survey asked, for 

the first time, questions about filmmaking, photography, 

and the reading of books not required for work or 

school. Mention of the Internet debuted on the 2002 

questionnaire. And in 2008, Latin or salsa music was 

added to a roster of performing arts activities one 

might have attended.

Despite each wave of changes to the survey, several core 

questions about attendance and reading have remained 

largely intact since 1982. A subset of the items on 

attendance—representing a cross-section of the visual 

and performing arts—are called “benchmark” activities. 

For years they have been used to generate trend data 

monitored by the NEA and by many arts and cultural 

funders, practitioners, and researchers.

In preparing for the 2012 SPPA, the NEA’s Office 

of Research & Analysis (ORA) sought to respond to 

frequently raised concerns that the benchmark 

attendance variables are no longer a suitable proxy for 

the rich and diverse array of participatory arts activities 

now taking place. Consequently, questions were added 

to identify venues where Americans experience live arts, 

to capture the use of electronic media to create and 

share art, and to ask about participation in arts learning 

activities outside classes or lessons.

A 2013 NEA report, How a Nation Engages with Art: 

Highlights from the Survey of Public Participation in the 

Arts, gave a “first look” at results from the 2012 survey. 

It offered topline figures for arts participation in 

various categories, and made comparisons with data 

from the previous SPPA year (2008). The present 

report goes deeper.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • ix

A Decade of Arts Engagement: Findings from the Survey of Public 

Participation in the Arts, 2002–2012) takes the measure of 

Americans’ behaviors toward the arts from 2002 to 2012. 

There are good reasons to focus the analysis on this 

time span. Apart from covering roughly the first decade 

of this century—a period that saw immense geopolitical 

change, two economic downturns, and swift innovations 

in digital media—there is a methodological factor. In 

2002, the SPPA began to be administered as a supplement 

to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey 

(CPS), the nation’s premier source of labor statistics. 

Particularly in the 2002, 2008, and 2012 SPPAs, every 

attempt was made to preserve a cohort of questions for 

which year-over-year comparisons could be made, despite 

updates to the instrument itself.

Compared with any preceding SPPA, the 2012 survey 

had a broader range of questions designed to identify 

arts participation where it existed but might have gone 

previously unmeasured. Do the diversity and plurality 

of art forms thereby portrayed give us a sharper 

understanding of who engages in the arts and how, or 

is the canvas more cluttered than clear? Readers will 

decide for themselves. Meanwhile, the NEA’s Office of 

Research & Analysis has done several things to enhance 

interpretation of the results:

In tandem with the report’s release, ORA has posted 

Arts Data Profile #4 to the NEA website. Titled States 

of Engagement: Arts Participation by U.S. Geography, the 

resource includes tables and summary statistics about 

arts participation for selected states and metro areas, 

where the SPPA data allow.

• ORA has awarded prizes to two winning entries 

to “artfully present” the SPPA results through data 

visualization apps. Those winners’ work can 

be viewed here: http://arts.gov/publications/

highlights-from-2012-sppa.

• On June 2–3, ORA collaborated with the UK’s Arts & 

Humanities Research Council’s Cultural Value Project 

to convene a research symposium at the Gallup 

headquarters in Washington, DC. Titled “Measuring 

Cultural Engagement amid Confounding Variables: 

A Reality Check,” the symposium has yielded a report 

replete with ideas about how to improve data 

collection and reporting about arts participation. The 

report can be viewed here: http://arts.gov/publications/

measuring-cultural-engagement-quest-new-terms-toolsand-techniques.

• ORA also has published a report analyzing data from 

the 2012 General Social Survey, which included a 

NEA-designed module to identify motivations and 

barriers in arts attendance. Go here to view the report: 

http://arts.gov/publications/when-going-gets-toughbarriers-and-motivations-affecting-arts-attendance. An 

accompanying Arts Data Profile feature on the NEA 

website (http://arts.gov/artistic-fields/research-analysis/

data-profiles/issue-4) offers insights on factors 

important to people who voice an interest in attending 

arts events but who refrain from going.

• In 2015, the NEA will report findings from a “shortform” questionnaire on arts participation, conducted 

with the U.S. Census Bureau in 2013 and 2014. The 

goal is to collect biennial benchmarking data on this 

topic—an opportunity not permitted by the relatively 

infrequent SPPA.

Metrics for arts participation have come a long way since 

1982, the first year of the SPPA. The executive summary 

of this report goes so far as to propose new indices to 

rival the “benchmark attendance” numbers, a possibility 

enabled by the larger scope of activities now reported 

on the survey. If the implication is that our constructs for 

both the arts and for engagement are mutating before 

our eyes, then perhaps this condition is worthy of the 

complex, chimerical pursuit that such a survey represents.

Sunil Iyengar

Director, Office of Research & Analysis

National Endowment for the Arts

January 2015
x • executive summary

Executive Summary Slightly over half of all American adults attended a live 

visual or performing arts activity in 2012, according to 

data from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Survey 

of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA). Since 2002, 

adult attendance rates have declined for a core set of arts 

activities tracked consistently by the NEA. Thirty-three 

percent of adults attended one of those selected activities 

in 2012, compared with 39 percent a decade earlier. The 

declines were steepest for non-Hispanic whites, adults 

from 35 to 54 years of age, and higher educated adults 

(those with at least “some” college education).

The overall drop in arts attendance from 2008 to 2012 

was less severe than from 2002 to 2008. Both African 

Americans and Hispanics, for example, showed no 

declines from 2008 to 2012. Older Americans emerge as 

the only demographic group to have experienced 

increases in attending live visual and performing arts

activities over the last decade. 

The 2012 survey included many new questions on how 

Americans engage with art. Responses to these questions 

suggest that attendance at one of the several types of arts 

events historically captured by the SPPA (the so-called 

“benchmark” arts: jazz, classical music, opera, musical and 

non-musical plays, ballet, and visits to an art museum 

or gallery) is not a comprehensive indicator of arts 

participation, though it serves as a useful metric for arts 

attendance generally.

Indeed, many other measures of arts participation in 

2012 exceeded the 33 percent of adults who attended a 

benchmark arts event. For instance, 71 percent of 

Americans used electronic media to watch or listen to 

art; 44 percent created, practiced, performed, edited, 

or remixed art; and 51 percent attended a live visual or 

performing arts event (both benchmark and nonbenchmark activities). 

Based on the 2012 SPPA, some new indices of arts 

participation are given (see Chart ES-1), along with their 

component definitions. As distinct markers of arts 

participation, the indices are imperfect. (For example, a 

person responding that he or she had attended a jazz 

music performance in the previous year may have been 

recollecting attendance at an outdoor performing arts 

festival. In that case, the respective figures for jazz 

attendance and arts festival attendance will overlap.) Still, 

these aggregated estimates give a sense of the considerable 

volume of U.S. adult participants, by broad category of 

arts activity. All activities reported in the indices occurred 

over a 12-month period ending in July 2012.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • xi

• Attend any live visual or performing arts—Includes 

the NEA benchmark arts activities, which are 

attendance at jazz, classical music, opera, musical, play, 

or ballet performances (excluding elementary or high 

school performances), and visits to art museums or 

galleries. In addition, covers attendance at any of the 

other activities referenced in the “core” section of the 

SPPA. Those activities include attendance at Latin, 

Spanish, or salsa music performances; at live dance 

performances other than ballet; and at types of 

live music or theater performance not listed above. 

Also includes attendance at outdoor performing arts 

festivals, visual arts festivals or craft fairs, and visits to 

parks, monuments, buildings, or neighborhoods for 

historic or design purposes.

• Create, practice, perform, or edit/remix art—Creating, 

editing, or remixing music, dance, or films or videos; 

editing photos taken for artistic purposes; creating 

visual art (e.g., painting, sculpture, or graphic design); 

creating scrapbooks; doing creative writing; creating 

pottery, ceramics, or jewelry; creating leatherwork, 

metalwork, or woodwork; doing weaving, crocheting, 

quilting, needlepoint, knitting, or sewing; practicing or 

performing acting, dancing, or singing, or playing a 

musical instrument.

• Use electronic media to view or listen to art—Using 

TV, radio, the Internet or any other electronic media to 

watch or listen to jazz; Latin, Spanish, or salsa music; 

classical music; opera; other music (such as rock, pop, 

country, folk, rap, or hip-hop); theater productions 

(such as musical or non-musical plays); ballet or modern 

or contemporary dance; other dance programs or shows; 

programs or information about the visual arts (such as 

paintings, sculpture, graphic design, or photography); 

programs or information about books or writers; books, 

short stories, or poetry read aloud. Also includes using a 

DVD or CD or record- or tape-player to watch or listen 

to theater, dance, visual arts, or literature. 

• Use electronic media to e-mail, post, or share art—

Using a computer, a handheld device or mobile device, 

or the Internet to e-mail, post, or share music, dance, 

films or videos, photography, scrapbooks, writing, or 

visual artworks such as painting, sculpture, or graphic 

design. 

• Read books or literature—Reading novels or short 

stories, poetry, or plays, or reading books not required 

for work or school.

• Go to the movies—Attending a movie or film festival.

Chart ES-1. Percentage of adults who participated in the 

arts, by broad category of participation: 2012 

0% 25% 50% 75%

Create, practice,

perform, or 

edit/remix art

Use electronic 

media to e-mail, 

post, or share art

Attend any live 

visual or 

performing arts

Read books or 

literature

Go to

the movies

Use electronic 

media to view 

or listen to art

71.4%

59.4%

58.2%

51.0%

44.2%

43.3%

Movie attendance is as popular today as it was a decade 

ago, with 60 percent of adults going in 2002 and 2012. 

African Americans and older adults (aged 55 and over) 

have even increased their movie-going rates. Book-reading 

(outside work or school) has dipped from 2002 levels 

(from 57 percent to 55 percent). Literary reading has held 

flat (at 47 percent of adults in 2002 and 2012). Within 

that category, poetry-reading has seen a sharp decline

(from 12 percent to 7 percent over the decade).

Revisions made to the 2012 survey instrument allowed 

for greater insight into arts participation beyond visual 

and performing arts attendance, reading, and going to the 

movies. Some of the most revealing findings address 

how young adults (18- to 24-year-olds) express art. For 

example, they were more likely than adults in general to 

report having done social dancing (42 percent versus 32 

percent), an activity also more popular with Hispanic 

adults. Further, young adults were more likely than adults 

in general to create, practice, perform, edit, or remix art 

(48 percent versus 43 percent) and to use electronic media 

to view, listen to, create, share, or edit art (80 percent 

versus 71 percent). 
xii • executive summary

Technology appears as a great enabler of arts creation

among certain subgroups, and not just young adults. 

For example, the African Americans and Hispanics who 

created music in 2012 were far more likely than whites 

(48 percent versus 25 percent) to have used electronic 

media in the process. For that matter, in virtually every 

demographic subgroup (whether by race/ethnicity, age, 

gender, and education or income status), a large 

proportion of adults who created visual art in 2012 did so 

via electronic media. 

The percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds who have taken art 

classes or lessons at any time in their lives increased 

significantly from 2002 to 2012 (see Chart ES-2). For 

certain art subjects, a greater share of all adults now 

report ever having taken classes or lessons. (Examples 

include instruction in creative writing, acting or theater, 

visual arts, and music.) As Chart ES-3 shows, the 

percentage of Americans ever having taken music 

appreciation, art appreciation, or art history classes has 

fallen over the past ten years. 

In 2012, more than half of all adults were exposed to the 

arts as a child, either through visiting an art museum or 

gallery or attending a live music, theater, or dance 

performance. (Because these questions were not asked in 

prior survey years, there is no basis for trend comparison.) 

Nearly half the nation’s adults (46 percent) received some 

type of arts education as a child. As shown in Chart ES-4, 

most arts learning occurred in school, although some art 

forms, particularly music and dance, were learned 

through means other than formal classes or lessons. 

Chart ES-2. Percentage of U.S. adults aged 18 to 24 

who took arts classes or lessons at any time in their lives, 

by subject area: 2002–2012

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Music 

appreciation

Art 

appreciation

Creative

writing

Acting or

theater

Visual 

arts

Music

36.6%

42.9%

21.9%

26.9%

11.0%10.6%

23.6% 22.6%

16.1%

17.9% 18.7%

16.9%

2002 2012

Chart ES-3. Proportional change in percentage of U.S. 

adults who reported taking arts classes or lessons over 

their entire lifetime, by subject area: 2002–2012

-20% -10% 0% 10% 20%

Music

Visual arts

Acting or theater

Creative writing

Art appreciation 

or art history

Music 

appreciation

17.6%

-4.0%

1.4%

17.0%

5.0%

-16.7%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • xiii

Chart ES-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who participated in arts learning at any time in their lives, by subject area and by 

whether the learning occurred in classes or lessons, or through other means: 2012

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Music Visual arts Acting or theater Photography or film Dance Creative writing Art appreciation Music appreciation

28.1%

19.8%

18.3%

15.5%

10.3%

6.3%

2.3%

4.2%

7.3%

3.8%

13.2%

7.5%

10.3%

16.0%

14.7%

2.9%

7.3%

17.1%

2.5%

10.7%

12.9%

2.8%

11.4%

8.7%

Classes/lessons in school Classes/lessons outside school Learned through other means

This report also provides (in Chapter 6) an account of U.S. 

regional patterns for consuming and creating art. Across 

the board, regional rates of attendance for selected arts 

activities (the “benchmark” arts events) were much lower 

in 2012 than 2002. For all regions except New England, 

a decline was observed from 2002 to 2008 that continued 

in 2012. 

New England, Pacific, and Mountain region residents 

showed consistently higher attendance rates at 

benchmark arts events than did residents of other regions. 

Literary reading rates were highest in the Mountain and 

New England regions and lowest in the East and West 

South Central regions. 

Regarding non-art activities, New England residents were 

more likely than other Americans to exercise or play 

sports, and West South Central residents were the least 

likely. Mountain, West North Central, and Pacific region 

residents were more likely to do other outdoor activities 

such as hiking, camping, or canoeing.

Attending musicals was highest in the West North 

Central regions, followed by the Mid-Atlantic. Going 

to outdoor performing arts festivals was most common 

in the Pacific and East North Central regions. West 

North Central region residents were more likely to 

attend art activities in schools, churches, or other 

religious venues. Art-making with leather, metal, or 

wood was most common in the West North Central 

and East South Central regions. Weaving, crocheting, 

quilting, needlepoint, knitting, or sewing were most 

common in the New England, West North Central, and 

Mountain regions. 
Chapter 1. Visual and Performing Arts Attendance

Jazz musician Oliver Lake and African drummers from the Pittsburgh 

Dance Ensemble perform at the 2006 Jazz-Poetry Concert at 

City of Asylum/Pittsburgh. Photo by Chris Humphries, courtesy of City 

of Asylum/Pittsburgh
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 2

Sample Findings

• Following a sharp decline in overall arts attendance that 

occurred from 2002 to 2008, participation rates held 

steady from 2008 to 2012 for the following 

types of performance arts event: 

Jazz; 

Classical music; 

Opera; 

Latin/Spanish or salsa music; 

Outdoor performing arts festivals1

;

Ballet; and 

Other dance. 

• Dance other than ballet is the only performing 

arts activity for which U.S. adult attendance rates did 

not fall between 2002 and 2012.2

• Attendance at non-musical plays declined from 

2002 to 2012, while attendance rates at musical 

plays slipped from 2008 to 2012 only.

• Changes in U.S. demographic composition appear to have 

contributed to the overall declines in performing arts 

attendance. Still, various subgroups of Americans have 

maintained or increased attendance rates for individual 

art forms.

• Older adults are the only demographic subgroup 

to show an increase in performing arts attendance 

over a decade ago. Their rates of attendance at 

classical music, opera, musicals, and non-musicals 

were significantly higher in 2012 than in 2002. 

1 Questions about Latin/Spanish/salsa music and outdoor performing arts festivals 

were not asked in the 2002 SPPA.

2 See previous footnote.

• With the exception of modestly declining attendance 

at jazz performances, the rate at which African 

Americans attend the performing arts has not 

declined since 2002. Most other racial and/or ethnic 

groups, by contrast, have seen a drop in attendance 

from 2002 to 2012. 

• Non-white racial/ethnic groups other than Hispanic, 

such as Asians and African Americans, have 

increased attendance at non-ballet dance 

performances. 

• Visual arts attendance has declined significantly since 

2002 for the following activities:

• Visits to art museums or galleries; and

• Tours of parks, monuments, buildings, or 

neighborhoods for “historic” or “design” purposes.

• These ten-year declines were experienced by all 

demographic subgroups, with one exception: the 

nation’s oldest Americans (age 75 and over) were 

more likely to attend visual arts activities than a 

decade ago.
3 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

The first section of the Survey of Public Participation 

in the Arts examines attendance at performing arts 

events (such as music, dance, or theater performances, 

or outdoor performing arts festivals) and at visual arts 

events or activities (such as art museums or galleries, craft 

fairs, and sites with historic or design value). For each 

type of arts activity, the present report tallies the number 

and share of U.S. adults who attended in the last 12 

months, as well as how many times they attended. Where 

possible, the average number of “attendances” per arts 

event is also reported. This chapter does not consider any 

geographic differences—those comparisons are reported 

in Chapter 6. 

Attendance at “Benchmark” Arts Activities

Since 1982, the SPPA has tracked adult attendance at jazz

events, classical music performances, opera, musical 

plays, non-musical plays, ballet, and art museums or 

galleries. These activities are called “benchmark” because 

participation in them has been tracked since 1982, not 

because of any differential significance or value to the 

arts. 

If a survey respondent reported going to any of these 

types of events during the 12 months ending in July 2012, 

the adult was counted as an attendee of a benchmark 

arts activity. Attendance at elementary or high school 

performances was not counted.

Percentage of U.S. adults going to a benchmark activity.

The proportion of Americans who attended at least one 

of the seven types of benchmark activity has gradually 

fallen over the last ten-year period. Chart 1-1 shows that 

the rate dropped from 39 percent in 2002 to 35 percent 

in 2008, and even further, to 33 percent, in 2012. 

Chart 1-1. Percentage of U.S. adults attending a 

benchmark arts activity at least once in the past 12 

months: 1982, 1992, 2002, 2008, and 2012

0% 20% 40% 60%

2012

2008

2002

1992

1982 39.0%

41.0%

39.4%

34.6%

33.4%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 4

Attendances. The 2002 SPPA counted a total of 497 

million attendances by adults for benchmark activities, 

which fell by nearly 20 percent to 408 million 

attendances, in 2008 and by another 9 percent, to 373 

million, in 2012 (Figure 1-1). The average number of 

attendances per attendee declined from 2002 to 2008 but 

stabilized from 2008 to 2012. 

Figure 1-1. Average number of attendances and total 

attendances for benchmark arts activities: 2002, 2008, 

and 2012 

Benchmark 

arts 

activities 

Average number of 

attendances per attendee

Total number of 

attendances in millions

2002 2008 2012 2002 2008 2012

6.1 5.2 4.8 497.0 408.1 373.4

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different than the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

Demographic shifts in attendance. The SPPA includes 

information on gender, age, education, family income, 

race/ethnicity, and the geographical region of attendees 

(reported in Chapter 6). The fourth column in Figure 

1-2 shows that 56 percent of the people who attended at 

least one benchmark activity in 2012 are women, and 

the final column shows the percentage of people in that 

demographic group who attended at least one benchmark 

activity in 2012—for example, 30 percent of men and 

36 percent of women. Non-Hispanic whites are the racial/

ethnic group most likely to have attended a benchmark 

activity. The likelihood of attending a benchmark activity 

increases with education level and family income. People 

with a graduate degree are three times more likely than 

high school graduates to attend a benchmark activity. 

Among people in the highest family-income category, 62 

percent went to at least one benchmark activity, 

compared with 16 percent of adults from the lowestincome families. 

Figure 1-2. Demographic distribution and percentage of 

U.S. adults attending at least one benchmark activity in 

the past 12 months: 2012 

2012 U.S. population Any benchmark arts 

activity

Millions Percent Distribution 

of 

attendees

Rate of 

attendance

all adults 235.0 100.0% 33.4%

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 43.9% 30.4%

Female 121.9 51.9% 56.1% 36.1%

Total 235.0 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 9.4% 21.1%

White 155.7 66.3% 75.4% 37.9%

African American 26.8 11.4% 8.5% 25.0%

Other 17.5 7.4% 6.6% 29.8%

Total 235.0 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 11.7% 30.2%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 17.1% 32.6%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 16.3% 32.4%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 19.2% 34.4%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 18.6% 38.0%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 11.1% 36.6%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 6.0% 25.9%

Total 235.0 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 0.8% 6.5%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 2.2% 9.1%

High school 

graduate

70.9 30.2% 18.0% 19.9%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 29.6% 33.8%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 29.7% 54.0%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 19.7% 65.6%

 Total 235.0 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 8.5% 16.3%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 24.1% 24.9%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 20.4% 36.4%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 14.8% 41.5%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 16.9% 48.8%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 15.4% 62.3%

 Total 235.0 100.0% 100.0%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
5 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Attendance at benchmark activities, by level of educational 

attainment: 2002–2012. A key finding from the 2012 

SPPA, as well as from prior years, is how closely 

attendance correlates with years of formal education—

people with higher levels of education are more likely to 

attend the types of arts examined in the SPPA than 

people with less education. In 2012, 66 percent of people 

with graduate degrees attended at least one benchmark 

activity, compared with only 34 percent of people with 

some college education and 20 percent of people with 

only a high school diploma. Figure 1-3 shows the 

educational level of adults who went to at least one 

benchmark activity in 2012, compared with rates found in 

the 2002 and 2008 SPPAs. The decline in participation 

between 2002 and 2008 and between 2008 and 2012 

occurs across most educational levels. Between 2008 and 

2012, participation rates stayed the same among high 

school graduates and individuals with a grade school 

education. 

Figure 1-3. Distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at least one benchmark activity in the past 12 months, 

by highest level of educational attainment: 2002, 2008, and 2012

2002 2008 2012

Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance

Grade school 1.1% 7.3% 0.9% 6.5% 0.8% 6.5%

Some high school 3.4% 13.6% 4.1% 14.5% 2.2% 9.1%

High school graduate 19.5% 24.8% 16.7% 19.0% 18.0% 19.9%

Some college 31.4% 44.8% 30.1% 38.1% 29.6% 33.8%

College graduate 28.5% 64.1% 30.4% 57.2% 29.7% 54.0%

Graduate school 16.2% 75.8% 17.8% 67.3% 19.7% 65.6%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level

Attendance at benchmark activities, by age: 2002–2012.

Each SPPA, including the 2012 study, shows that 

participation in the arts tends to increase with age—up 

to a point. At 38 percent, the highest participation rate in 

2012 was among people ages 55–64. From there the rates 

decline, modestly at first and then dropping substantially 

for the very oldest Americans. An important observation, 

however, is that the oldest Americans (age 75 and over) 

make up the only age group whose 2012 participation 

rates were higher than in 2002 and 2008. In fact, for all 

age groups except adults 65 and older, 2012 participation 

rates were markedly lower than 2002 rates (Figure 1-4).

Figure 1-4. Distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at least one benchmark activity in the past 12 months, 

by age group: 2002, 2008, and 2012

2002 2008 2012

Age Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance

18–24 11.8% 35.9% 12.1% 32.7% 11.7% 30.2%

25–34 18.0% 39.6% 18.5% 36.0% 17.1% 32.6%

35–44 23.0% 42.2% 20.0% 37.2% 16.3% 32.4%

45–54 22.1% 46.0% 20.4% 36.1% 19.2% 34.4%

55–64 13.0% 40.6% 15.8% 36.9% 18.6% 38.0%

65–74 7.7% 35.3% 8.5% 33.4% 11.1% 36.6%

75+ 4.4% 23.2% 4.7% 21.3% 6.0% 25.9%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 6

Attendance at benchmark activities by gender: 2002–2012.

Women attend benchmark activities at higher rates than 

men, a pattern that has held since 2002 (Figure 1-5). Men 

saw declining attendance rates in both 2008 and 2012, 

while women’s attendance dropped only in 2008.

Figure 1-5. Distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at least one benchmark activity in the past 12 months, 

by gender: 2002, 2008, and 2012 

2002 2008 2012

Gender Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance

Male 44.2% 36.4% 45.0% 32.3% 43.9% 30.4%

Female 55.8% 42.2% 55.0 %  36.8% 56.1% 36.1%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level

Non-Hispanic white adults are the racial/ethnic group 

most likely to attend a benchmark activity, a consistent 

finding over the past decade (Figure 1-6). This group 

saw statistically significant declines in attendance in 2008 

and 2012. By contrast, African Americans, Hispanics, 

and groups of other races/ethnicities had the same levels 

of attendance in 2012 as in 2008, though still below 

2002 levels.

Figure 1-6. Distribution and percentage of U.S. adults attending at least one benchmark activity in the past 12 months, 

by race and/or ethnicity: 2002, 2008, and 2012 

2002 2008 2012

Race and ethnicity Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance Distribution of 

attendees

Rate of attendance

Hispanic 6.5% 23.1% 8.2% 21.0% 9.4% 21.1%

White 80.5% 43.6% 78.9% 39.7% 75.4% 37.9%

African American 8.1% 27.8% 7.0% 21.5% 8.5% 25.0%

Other 4.9% 41.8% 5.9% 31.9% 6.6% 29.8%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level
7 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Performing Arts in General

The 2012 SPPA tracked attendance at the types of 

performing arts events shown in Figure 1-7.

Figure 1-7. Performing arts questions in the 2012 SPPA

Originating year for 

survey question

Jazz 1982

Classical music 1982

Opera 1982

Musical plays 1982

Non-musical plays 1982

Ballet 1982

Dance other than ballet, such as modern, 

contemporary, tap, folk, and traditional

1992

Latin, Spanish, or salsa music 2008

Outdoor performing artists festivals 2008

Other music, theater, or dance 2012

Free music, theater, or dance 2012

Note. The shaded art forms, along with visits to art museums and 

galleries, are the “benchmark” arts attendance activities that the NEA has 

tracked since 1982.

People attending the performing arts. As shown in Figure 

1-8, the percentages of adults attending jazz, classical 

music, opera, musical plays, non-musical plays, or ballet 

declined between 2002 and 2008 and then stabilized 

between 2008 and 2012. Non-ballet dance is the only 

performing arts activity that did not drop off between 

2002 and 2012. 

Of all the performing arts activities asked about in the 

2012 SPPA, outdoor festivals featuring performing artists 

were the most commonly reported. Twenty-one percent 

of American adults reported going to an outdoor festival 

in 2012, the same share as in 2008, the year the SPPA 

began asking about this item. 

Figure 1-8. Percentage of U.S. adults attending 

a performing arts activity at least once in the past 

12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012

Percent of U.S. adults attending

Performing arts event3 2002 2008 2012

Music

Jazz 10.8% 7.8% 8.1%

Classical music 11.6% 9.3% 8.8%

Opera 3.2% 2.1% 2.1%

Latin music Not asked 4.9% 5.1%

Outdoor performing arts 

festival

Not asked 20.8% 20.8%

Plays

Musical plays 17.1% 16.7% 15.2%

Non-musical plays 12.3% 9.4% 8.3%

Dance

Ballet 3.9% 2.9% 2.7%

Other dance 6.3% 5.2% 5.6%

Other types of live performance

Free music, theater, or dance 

of any kind

Not asked Not asked 15.9%

Other music, theater, or 

dance attendance not 

referenced in the main survey

Not asked Not asked 11.6%

Attendance at live book 

readings, poetry, or 

storytelling events, excluding 

elementary and high 

school performances

Not asked Not asked 4.1%

3 For the survey questions about music, dance, and plays, elementary and high 

school performances were not included among possible responses.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 8

Number of performing arts attendances. Most arts 

organizations track attendance trends based on total 

tickets sold, admissions, or other measures of the total 

number of “attendances” at an arts event. Because 

the NEA’s survey respondents are asked to recall how 

many times they went to a specific activity in the 

previous 12 months, the SPPA enables reporting of total 

attendances by art form (excluding attendances at 

elementary or high school performances).

Figure 1-9 shows the average number of attendances per 

adult for each performing arts activity. For instance, in 

2012 adults attended an average of 2.8 jazz events. The 

average number of jazz performances, classical music 

concerts, and musical plays attended per person declined 

from 2002 to 2008 but stayed the same from 2008 to 2012 

(the slight differences observed in the table are not 

statistically relevant). Meanwhile, the average number 

of attendances at operas, non-musical plays, ballet 

performances, and other dance performances has stayed 

the same since 2002. In 2012, adults attended significantly 

fewer Latin, Spanish, or salsa music performances than 

they did in 2008.

Figure 1-9 also shows the total number of attendances for 

each performing arts activity. In 2012, there were more 

attendances at musical plays—72.5 million—than at any 

other type of performing arts studied in the SPPA. While 

the total number of attendances at musical plays 

increased from 2002 to 2008, total attendances declined 

from 2008 to 2012, a drop of ten million. As noted above, 

however, the average number of attendances per adult 

was statistically the same from 2008 to 2012. This means 

that fewer people attended musicals in 2012, but, of those 

who attended, they saw on average the same number of 

musicals as in 2008. 

The total number of attendances at Latin, Spanish, or 

salsa music events, classical music concerts, and nonmusical plays also saw substantial declines, although the 

average number of attendances per attendee was 

relatively unchanged. Several performing arts activities—

jazz music, non-ballet dance forms, and opera—saw an 

increase in total number of attendances from 2008 to 

2012, as shown in Figure 1-9. 

Figure 1-9. Average and total number of attendances for 

performing arts activities: 2002, 2008, and 2012 

Average number 

of attendances 

per attendee

Total number of 

attendances in millions

2002 2008 2012 2002 2008 2012

Music

Jazz 3.1 2.9 2.8 68.8 50.7 53.7

Classical music 3.1 2.9 2.6 72.8 60.4 53.1

Opera 2.0 1.8 2.0 13.3 8.8 10.0

Latin, Spanish, or 

salsa music

NA 3.5 2.4 NA 38.7 28.8

Plays

Musical plays 2.3 2.2 2.0 79.3 82.6 72.5

Non-musical plays 2.3 2.3 2.2 58.7 49.7 42.1

Dance

Ballet 1.7 1.6 1.5 13.5 10.6 9.6

Other 2.0 2.2 2.1 24.6 25.5 27.3

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

Summary of changes over time in performing 

arts attendance

Jazz. Attendance at jazz events declined from 2002 to 

2008 but stayed the same from 2008 to 2012 (Figure 1-8). 

In 2008, about 7.8 percent of all adults attended at least 

one jazz event; in 2012 the rate was 8.1 percent, but the 

difference is not statistically significant. In 2012, adults 

who attended a jazz performance went to an average of 

2.8 events (Figure 1-9). This is lower than in 2002 but the 

same as in 2008. 

Classical music. The SPPA defines classical music as 

symphony, chamber, or choral music. Like jazz, 

attendance at classical music events declined from 2002 to 

2008, but stayed the same from 2008 to 2012 (Figure 1-8). 

About 9 percent of adults attended a performance in each 

of those years, averaging 2.6 events per attendee in 2012, 

and a comparable 2.9 events in 2008. Both are lower than 

the 3.1 events per person reported in 2002.

Opera. Two percent of Americans attended the opera at 

least once in 2012, the same rate as in 2008. In 2002, the 

rate was 3 percent—a statistically significant difference. 

However, the average number of opera events attended 

per person has not changed from 2002, when each 

opera-goer went to roughly 2 performances.
9 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Latin, Spanish, or salsa music. The 2002 SPPA did not ask 

specifically about attendance at Latin, Spanish, or salsa 

music activities, but in 2008 and 2012 about 5 percent of 

American adults attended a Latin, Spanish, or salsa music 

performance. As noted, Americans attended significantly 

fewer Latin, Spanish, or salsa music performances per 

person in 2012 than in 2008 (Figure 1-9). 

Outdoor performing arts festival. Twenty-one percent of 

adults attended at least one performing arts festival in 

2012, the same rate of attendance as in 2008. Outdoor arts 

festivals were not asked about in the 2002 SPPA, so 

comparison data are not available. The 2008 and 2012 

SPPAs did not ask about the number of festivals attended.

Musical and non-musical plays. Americans are nearly 

twice as likely to attend a musical play as a non-musical 

play. About 15 percent attended a musical play in 2012, 

a statistically significant decrease compared with about 

17 percent in both 2002 and 2008. On average, musical 

play-goers in 2012 attended two musicals per year.

In 2002, about 12 percent of American adults went to a 

non-musical play; in 2008 this dropped to 9 percent, and 

in 2012 to 8 percent (a statistically significant decrease). 

However, the average number of non-musical plays 

attended per person (2) has not changed since 2002 

(Figure 1-9).

Dance. Ten years ago, about 4 percent of Americans 

attended a ballet, which dropped to 3 percent in 2008 and 

2012. Yet the average number of ballets attended per 

person (1.5 performances) has not changed since 2002.

The percent of adults going to non-ballet dance 

performances in 2012 (about 6 percent) has not changed 

over the past decade, nor has the average number of dance 

performances attended per person (two events a year).

Demographic Characteristics of Performing 

Arts Audiences

The following figures show demographic characteristics 

of performing arts audiences in slightly different ways. 

• Figure 1-10 presents the demographic distribution of 

people who attend different types of arts activities. 

Each attendee is counted once in the data. 

• Figure 1-11 shows the rate of attendance for different 

demographic subgroups in 2002 and 2012, based on 

individuals who attended an activity at least once in the 

12-month SPPA period. (For some types of performing 

arts, only 2008 and 2012 data are available.) 

• Figure 1-12 shows the average number of attendances 

per attendee across demographic subgroups. 

Across demographic subgroups, most rates of attendance 

are lower in 2012 than in 2002—not a surprising finding, 

as overall attendance rates are lower in 2012 than a 

decade ago. However, this trend has some notable 

exceptions. Apart from showing modest declines in jazz 

attendance, the rate at which African Americans go to 

performing arts events has not changed since 2002, 

whereas most other racial and/or ethnic groups have seen 

a drop-off in attendance. Older Americans are the only 

demographic group to show an increase in attendance 

over a decade ago. Their rates of attendance at classical 

music, opera, musicals, and non-musicals were 

significantly higher in 2012 than in 2002. 

The following paragraphs discuss rates of attendance at 

performing arts activities for demographic subgroups 

from 2002 to 2012.

Jazz. In 2002, men and women attended jazz 

performances at equal rates, whereas in 2012 women were 

slightly more likely than men to attend. In both 2002 

and 2012, African Americans were more likely to attend 

a jazz performance than other racial and/or ethnic groups 

(Figure 1-11). Americans of “other” races (a category 

that includes Asian Americans) saw no change in jazz 

attendance from 2002 to 2012. In 2002, jazz was most 

popular among adults 35 to 54 (they attended at a rate of 

13 or 14 percent). In 2012, by contrast, the age group most 

likely to attend jazz was 55 to 64 (at a rate of 10 percent). 

As with other types of performing arts activities, 

attendance was higher in both 2002 and 2012 for groups 

with greater levels of formal education. In 2002, about 

24 percent of people with a graduate degree attended jazz; 

in 2012, that rate dropped to 18 percent but was still 

higher than for people with less education. 
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 10

The family income group most likely to attend a 

jazz event in 2012 earned $150,000 or more (16 percent 

of adults from these families attended at least one 

jazz performance).

Classical music. Patterns of attendance at classical 

music concerts related to gender, race/ethnicity, and 

educational level have not changed much over the 

past decade. In 2012, as in 2002, women were slightly 

more likely to attend a classical music concert than 

men, non-Hispanic white adults had a higher rate of 

attendance than other racial or ethnic subgroups, and 

better-educated adults had a higher rate of attendance 

than less-educated adults. Of the four racial/ethnic 

groups for which SPPA data are available, people from 

“other” races/ethnicities (including Asian) showed 

the second highest rate of classical music attendance, 

after non-Hispanic whites. The pattern of attendance 

related to age, however, has changed somewhat.

A decade ago, middle-aged Americans (those 45 to 64 

years old) were more likely to attend a classical music 

performance than any other age group; in 2012, by 

contrast, the highest rate of attendance was among older 

Americans—those in the 65 to 74 age group. Indeed, 

across all types of performing arts for which comparisons 

can be made, one of the few demographic subgroups 

whose 2012 rate of attendance exceeded its 2002 rate is 

older adults, with respect to classical music performances 

in particular (Figure 1-11). 

Classical music attendance increases with income. Over a 

third of the audiences in 2012 came from families earning 

$100,000 or more per year. 

Opera. About 59 percent of the audience for live opera 

is female (Figure 1-10). Almost three-quarters of the opera 

audience has at least a college degree. About 8 percent 

of adults with a graduate education went to the opera at 

least once in 2012, compared with less than 1 percent 

of adults with a high school education or less. Over 40 

percent of opera-goers earn at least $100,000 per year. 

Non-Hispanic whites are slightly more likely than 

Hispanics and African Americans to attend opera. In 

2012, attendance by people of “other” races (including 

Asians) was on par with rates of attendance among 

non-Hispanic whites (Figure 1-11). 

The percentage of African Americans who attended 

opera held steady over the last decade, while the 

percentage of Hispanic and white attendees declined 

(Figure 1-11). Patterns of attendance related to age 

and education have been fairly stable over the past 10 

years, with older and more educated Americans being 

the most likely opera-goers. Two age groups, those 35 to 

44 and those over 75, showed an increase in their rate 

of attendance from 2002 to 2012.

Latin, Spanish, and salsa music. A question on attendance 

at Latin music performances was added to the SPPA in 

2008. The audience for live Latin music in 2012 was 53 

percent Hispanic Americans, 36 percent non-Hispanic 

whites, and 10 percent other racial/ethnic groups (Figure 

1-10). In 2012, 18 percent of all Hispanic adults attended 

at least one Latin music event, equivalent to the 2008 rate 

of attendance. The rates at which different racial/ethnic 

groups attended Latin music in 2012 has not changed 

since 2008, with one exception: African Americans were 

about twice as likely to attend Latin music in 2012 as they 

were in 2008. However, the percentages were quite small 

in both years (3 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively). 

In 2008 and 2012, younger adults (ages 18 to 24) were the 

age group most likely to go to a Latin music performance; 

about 7 percent of this group attended Latin music. Rates 

of attendance among different age groups did not change 

from 2008 to 2012.

Unlike the case with other art forms tracked in the SPPA, 

the likelihood of attending a Latin music performance 

did not rise with income and educational level: people of 

all educational levels and incomes were equally likely 

to attend.

Outdoor performing arts festivals. A question on 

attendance at this type of event was added to the SPPA 

in 2008.

In 2012, men and women attended performing arts 

festivals in about equal proportions—roughly a fifth of 

each, unchanged from 2008. The rates of attendance 

among different racial/ethnic groups have not changed 

much since 2008, with one exception: Hispanic adults 

were slightly more like to go to a performing arts festival 

in 2012 than in 2008.
11 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Although people with more education were the most 

likely to go to outdoor performing arts festivals in 2012, 

about 25 percent of attendees had no more than a high 

school education (a higher proportion than for audiences 

of any other type of performing arts event except for 

Latin music concerts). 

A third of Americans earning at least $150,000 attended 

an outdoor performing arts festival in 2012.

Musical plays. More women than men attended musicals 

in 2012—women were 59 percent of musical play-goers 

in 2012—and the gender difference has not changed 

much since 2002. Over one-half the attendees of musical 

plays in 2012 were college graduates or had attended a 

graduate or professional school (Figure 1-10). The 

relationship between attendance at musical plays and 

educational level has remained more or less constant over 

the past decade: the more education a person has, the 

more likely he or she is to attend. In 2002 and 2012, 

non-Hispanic white adults had higher rates of attendance 

at musicals than did other racial and/or ethnic groups. 

About 75 percent of 2012 attendees were at least 35 years 

of age.

Non-musical plays. Women are more likely than men to 

attend non-musical plays, similar to the pattern for 

musical plays (Figure 1-11). This trend held from 2002 to 

2012, although the gender gap lessened. In both 2002 

and 2008, the racial/ethnic group most likely to attend a 

non-musical was non-Hispanic white and the least 

likely group was Hispanic (Figure 1-11). In 2002, the age 

group most likely to attend a non-musical was 45 to 

54 (attending at a rate of 15 percent) but in 2012 the most 

likely attendee was older—65 to 74. The relationship 

between attendance at a non-musical and higher 

education was constant from 2002 to 2012.

Ballet. Women comprise much more of the nation’s ballet 

audience than men, and the gender divide is greater for 

ballet than for any other performing arts. In 2012, almost 

two-thirds of ballet attendees were female (Figure 1-10). 

Audiences for ballet also have the smallest representation 

of racial and ethnic minorities—in 2012, 80 percent of 

attendees were non-Hispanic white adults. Older 

Americans and younger Americans were just as likely to 

attend the ballet in 2012 as they were in 2002, but adults 

from 35 to 54 years of age were less likely to attend the 

ballet than a decade ago. 

Other dance. Rates of attendance for other dance 

performances (non-ballet) held steady or increased 

among all age groups from 2002 to 2012. Over half the 

people attending other dance performances were 

between the ages of 35 and 64. In 2002 and 2012, formal 

education and family income played a large part in 

predicting attendance at these events. In 2002 and 2012, 

more women than men attended these performances. 

The percentage of minorities who attended other dance 

performances in 2012 increased over 2002, whereas 

the percentage of non-Hispanic white adults stayed the 

same. The racial/ethnic group with the highest rate of 

attendance in 2012 was comprised of Asian Americans, 

Pacific Islanders, and “other” races or ethnicities.

Other music, theater, or dance. The 2012 survey asked 

respondents if they had attended any music, theater, or 

dance form not specifically referenced in the main 

questionnaire. This might include rock concerts, hip-hop 

shows, or other art forms that respondents were not asked 

about. This question was not asked in previous years. 

Equal proportions of men and women attended these 

types of events in 2012. Non-Hispanic white adults were 

about twice as likely as adults from other races and/or 

ethnicities to attend, and adults from 18 to 24 years of age 

were twice as likely as adults ages 75 and older to attend. 

As with other types of art events, the rate of attendance 

increased with income and education.

Live book readings or poetry or storytelling events. A 

question on attending live spoken-word events, such as 

author readings or poetry or storytelling events, was 

asked for the first time in the 2012 SPPA. 

Five percent of women attended a live book reading or 

storytelling event, compared with 3 percent of men. 

African Americans were more likely to attend than any 

other racial or ethnic group. Five percent of African 

Americans went to a book reading or storytelling event in 

2012, compared with 4 percent of non-Hispanic white 

Americans. Younger adults attended at slightly higher 

rates than older Americans, and people with a college 

degree or higher attended at far greater rates than adults 

with less education.

Free music, theater, or dance. Another new question in 

the SPPA 2012 concerned the attendance of “free” music, 

theater, or dance events. 

About 16 percent of Americans attended a free music, 

theater, or dance event in 2012. Adults 18 to 24 had the 

highest rate of participation of all age groups (21 percent). 

Participation rates rose with education and income, 

demographic characteristics which typically increase 

with age.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 12

Figure 1-10 shows that nearly three-fourths of the 

audience for free music, theater, and dance is nonHispanic white. Half the audience is under age 45, about 

44 percent have a college degree or higher, and over 

a quarter come from families that make $100,000 or 

more annually.

Figure 1-10. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults attending different types of performing arts events at least once in the 

past 12 months: 2012

U.S. 

population in 

millions

Percent Jazz Classical 

music

Opera Latin 

music

Performing arts 

festivals

Musical 

plays

Nonmusical 

plays

Ballet Other 

dance

Other 

types of 

music, 

theater, 

or dance

Live 

book 

reading or 

poetry 

or story

telling 

event

Free 

music, 

theater, 

or dance 

(any 

type)

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 46.6% 43.9% 41.3% 46.1% 45.7% 40.7% 42.1% 36.0% 39.4% 47.2% 35.5% 44.0%

Female 121.9 51.9% 53.4% 56.1% 58.7% 53.9% 54.3% 59.3% 57.9% 64.0% 60.6% 52.8% 64.5% 56.0%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity 

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 9.1% 5.5% 7.8% 53.2% 11.6% 7.1% 6.4% 9.2% 11.9% 8.7% 8.5% 12.1%

White 155.7 66.3% 68.4% 83.2% 78.0% 36.5% 74.0% 80.4% 80.7% 79.4% 69.4% 80.2% 68.8% 71.4%

African American 26.8 11.4% 15.8% 5.1% 6.2% 6.6% 8.1% 7.0% 8.5% 6.9% 10.7% 5.7% 15.0% 10.0%

Other 17.5 7.4% 6.7% 6.2% 8.0% 3.7% 6.3% 5.5% 4.4% 4.5% 8.0% 5.4% 7.7% 6.5%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 14.5% 9.7% 10.6% 17.9% 15.5% 11.0% 9.8% 11.2% 13.9% 15.7% 14.3% 16.9%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 17.2% 14.5% 18.6% 21.8% 19.4% 15.7% 15.8% 19.9% 16.1% 19.2% 22.0% 16.1%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 16.2% 12.2% 9.6% 18.6% 17.4% 14.3% 15.0% 17.2% 17.5% 15.8% 19.4% 16.6%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 18.3% 17.4% 15.0% 17.0% 19.3% 20.7% 21.4% 15.9% 18.3% 19.8% 14.5% 19.9%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 20.2% 20.5% 20.8% 16.7% 16.3% 20.5% 17.9% 18.3% 18.6% 15.8% 16.3% 16.7%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 9.8% 16.0% 15.4% 5.7% 8.7% 11.8% 12.9% 12.2% 11.0% 9.2% 9.2% 9.0%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 3.8% 9.7% 10.0% 2.2% 3.4% 6.1% 7.2% 5.3% 4.5% 4.5% 4.2% 4.8%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 0.4% 0.4% 0.7% 5.7% 1.3% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% 1.3% 0.9% 1.1% 1.0%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 1.3% 1.5% 0.8% 8.2% 3.1% 1.6% 1.8% 1.8% 1.8% 2.4% 3.0% 4.4%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 16.8% 10.6% 5.2% 20.0% 20.1% 16.4% 14.1% 12.4% 16.5% 20.8% 13.0% 17.6%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 29.6% 24.4% 23.4% 31.0% 32.5% 28.1% 27.4% 24.8% 31.2% 31.4% 31.1% 33.0%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 29.7% 33.5% 33.0% 22.1% 26.9% 32.4% 32.5% 32.2% 27.2% 26.9% 30.2% 28.6%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 22.1% 29.6% 37.0% 13.0% 16.1% 21.1% 24.2% 28.6% 22.1% 17.7% 21.6% 15.4%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 10.3% 7.8% 7.4% 17.4% 10.5% 7.1% 7.9% 8.5% 11.6% 8.2% 11.9% 10.5%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 21.2% 20.7% 21.4% 26.5% 25.6% 20.5% 22.5% 21.8% 22.2% 25.0% 27.1% 26.3%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 18.9% 19.6% 17.1% 19.4% 20.5% 20.6% 17.7% 21.4% 21.1% 20.5% 20.6% 19.8%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 15.0% 14.0% 11.6% 14.2% 15.1% 15.8% 16.6% 12.4% 16.0% 15.4% 15.6% 14.8%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 18.0% 19.8% 20.2% 13.6% 14.9% 18.5% 18.7% 18.3% 16.4% 17.4% 14.1% 16.8%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 16.6% 18.2% 22.3% 8.8% 13.4% 17.5% 16.5% 17.6% 12.7% 13.5% 10.8% 11.8%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
13 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Figure 1-11 (part 1). Rates of attendance (based on adults participating at least once in the past 12 months), by demographic 

subgroup: 2002 and 2012

Jazz 

2002

Jazz 

2012

Classical 

music 

2002

Classical 

music 

2012

Opera 

2002

Opera 

2012

Musical 

plays 

2002

Musical 

plays 

2012

Nonmusical 

plays 

2002

Nonmusical 

plays 

2012

all adults 10.8% 8.1% 11.6% 8.8% 3.2% 2.1% 17.1% 15.2% 12.3% 8.3%

Gender

Male 10.7% 7.9% 10.3% 8.0% 2.8% 1.8% 14.0% 12.9% 10.3% 7.3%

Female 10.8% 8.3% 12.7% 9.5% 3.5% 2.4% 20.0% 17.3% 14.2% 9.2%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 6.2% 5.0% 5.5% 3.3% 1.8% 1.1% 6.9% 7.3% 6.2% 3.6%

White 11.4% 8.4% 13.7% 11.0% 3.5% 2.5% 20.1% 18.4% 14.2% 10.1%

African American 12.7% 11.2% 4.5% 4.0% 1.1% 1.2% 10.3% 9.3% 7.1% 6.2%

Other 7.3% 7.4% 10.3% 7.3% 2.5% 2.3% 11.9% 11.2% 10.0% 4.9%

Age

18–24 10.5% 9.2% 7.8% 6.7% 2.0% 1.8% 14.8% 13.0% 11.4% 6.4%

25–34 10.8% 8.0% 9.0% 7.3% 3.0% 2.3% 15.4% 13.6% 10.7% 7.5%

35–44 13.0% 7.8% 10.7% 6.4% 0.3% 1.2% 19.1% 12.9% 13.0% 7.3%

45–54 13.9% 7.9% 15.2% 8.2% 4.0% 1.7% 19.3% 16.9% 15.2% 9.5%

55–64 8.8% 10.0% 15.6% 11.0% 4.2% 2.7% 19.7% 19.0% 13.8% 9.0%

65–74 7.6% 7.9% 12.5% 13.9% 4.0% 3.3% 16.6% 17.7% 13.0% 10.6%

75+ 3.9% 3.9% 9.5% 10.9% 1.8% 2.7% 10.1% 11.9% 5.4% 7.8%

Highest level of education

Grade school 0.9% 0.9% 1.5% 0.9% 0.0% 0.3% 1.6% 1.6% 1.1% 0.3%

Some high school 2.7% 1.3% 1.9% 1.6% 0.8% 0.2% 4.1% 2.9% 3.7% 1.8%

High school graduate 5.3% 4.5% 4.5% 3.1% 0.8% 0.4% 9.1% 8.3% 5.7% 3.9%

Some college 12.2% 8.2% 11.5% 7.3% 2.8% 1.7% 19.4% 14.6% 12.7% 7.8%

College graduate 19.4% 13.1% 21.9% 15.9% 6.4% 3.8% 30.2% 26.7% 22.5% 14.6%

Graduate school 24.0% 17.9% 34.1% 26.0% 10.9% 7.9% 37.6% 32.1% 31.8% 20.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 4.8% 3.9% 0.9% 6.2% 3.8%

$20K to $50K 5.3% 5.6% 1.4% 9.6% 5.8%

$50K to $75K 8.2% 9.2% 1.9% 16.8% 7.9%

$75K to $100K 10.2% 10.3% 2.1% 20.1% 11.6%

$100K to $150K 12.6% 15.1% 3.7% 24.6% 13.5%

$150K and over 16.3% 19.4% 5.8% 32.4% 16.6%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level

Significance testing shows differences between 2002 and 2012 results. The 2002 SPPA did not ask about Latin music; performing arts festivals; any other music, theater, 

or dance; live book readings or storytelling; or free music, theater, or dance. Significance tests were not conducted on family income categories. This is because the dollars have 

not been adjusted for inflation.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 14

Figure 1-11 (part 2). Rates of attendance (based on adults participating at least once in the past 12 months), by demographic 

subgroup: 2002 and 2012

Ballet 

2002

Ballet 

2012

Dance 

other than 

ballet 

2002

Dance 

other than 

ballet 

2012

Performing 

arts festival 

2008

Performing 

arts festival 

2012

Latin 

music 

2008

Latin music 

2012

Other 

music, 

theater, 

or dance 

2012

Live book 

reading or 

storytelling 

2012

Free music, 

theater, 

or dance 

2012

all adults 3.9% 2.7% 6.3% 5.6% 20.8% 20.8% 4.9% 5.1% 11.6% 4.1% 15.9%

Gender

Male 2.5% 2.1% 5.0% 4.6% 20.6% 19.8% 4.8% 4.8% 11.4% 3.0% 14.6%

Female 5.1% 3.4% 7.5% 6.6% 20.9% 21.8% 4.9% 5.2% 11.8% 5.1% 17.1%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 1.6% 1.7% 5.6% 4.5% 14.8% 16.2% 17.4% 18.1% 6.9% 2.5% 13.0%

White 4.7% 3.3% 6.9% 5.9% 23.1% 23.2% 3.1% 2.8% 14.0% 4.2% 17.1%

African American 1.5% 1.7% 4.2% 5.3% 15.4% 14.9% 1.6% 2.9% 5.8% 5.2% 13.9%

Other 2.3% 1.7% 5.1% 6.0% 17.8% 17.7% 2.7% 2.5% 8.5% 4.7% 14.0%

Age

18–24 2.6% 2.4% 6.2% 6.1% 21.6% 25.3% 7.0% 7.1% 14.3% 4.6% 21.1%

25–34 3.5% 3.1% 5.9% 5.2% 22.8% 23.0% 5.9% 6.3% 12.8% 5.2% 14.7%

35–44 4.9% 2.8% 7.0% 5.8% 24.1% 21.4% 6.1% 5.6% 10.9% 4.8% 15.7%

45–54 5.1% 2.3% 8.0% 5.5% 23.4% 21.6% 4.4% 4.6% 12.3% 3.3% 16.9%

55–64 3.3% 3.1% 6.0% 6.4% 20.5% 20.7% 4.6% 5.2% 11.2% 4.0% 16.2%

65–74 3.3% 3.3% 5.4% 6.1% 15.4% 17.9% 2.0% 2.9% 10.6% 3.6% 14.0%

75+ 2.2% 1.9% 3.0% 3.3% 6.8% 9.0% 0.8% 1.5% 6.7% 2.2% 10.1%

Highest level of education

Grade school 0.4% 0.2% 2.2% 1.8% 6.0% 6.5% 8.5% 6.8% 2.4% 1.2% 4.4%

Some high school 0.8% 0.6% 1.7% 1.2% 11.6% 8.0% 5.5% 5.1% 3.4% 1.5% 8.2%

High school graduate 1.2% 1.1% 3.4% 3.1% 14.6% 13.9% 3.3% 3.4% 8.0% 1.8% 9.6%

Some college 3.9% 2.3% 7.3% 6.0% 23.4% 23.2% 4.0% 5.4% 12.5% 4.2% 17.5%

College graduate 7.2% 4.8% 9.9% 8.3% 30.6% 30.3% 6.8% 6.1% 16.9% 6.6% 24.3%

Graduate school 12.9% 7.9% 14.8% 12.4% 31.7% 33.4% 5.8% 6.5% 20.6% 9.2% 25.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 1.4% 3.7% 12.6% 5.1% 5.5. 3.0% 10.2%

$20K to $50K 1.9% 3.9% 16.5% 4.1% 9.0% 3.5% 12.9%

$50K to $75K 3.1% 6.4% 22.8% 5.3% 12.7% 4.4% 16.4%

$75K to $100K 2.9% 7.6% 26.4% 6.0% 15.0% 5.4% 20.0%

$100K to $150K 4.4% 8.1% 27.1% 6.0% 17.7% 4.7% 21.7%

$150K and over 5.9% 8.6% 33.7% 5.4% 19.1% 5.5% 23.4%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level

Significance testing shows differences between 2002 and 2012 results. The 2002 SPPA did not ask about Latin music; performing arts festivals; any other music, theater, 

or dance; live book readings or storytelling; or free music, theater, or dance. Significance tests were not conducted on family income categories. This is because the dollars have 

not been adjusted for inflation.
15 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

The chart below shows a positive link between arts 

attendance and family income—a relationship that varies 

by type of arts performance. The relationship is strongest 

between family income and attendance at musicals, 

followed by plays, classical music, and jazz performances. 

For other dance performances, the relationship between 

income and attendance is minimal; for Latin music 

performances, it is non-existent. 

Chart 1-2. Percentage of U.S. adults who attended a performing arts event, by art form and family income level: 2012

0%

11%

22%

33%

Less than $20K $20K to $50K $50K to $75K 75K to $100K $100K to $150K $150K or more

Jazz Classical Opera Latin Plays Musicals Ballet Other dance

Opera 2.1%

Latin 5.4% Ballet 2.9% Other dance 3.9%

Classical 19.4%

Opera 5.8% Ballet 5.9%

Opera 3.7%

Ballet 4.4%

Latin 6.0%

Latin 6.0%

Opera 1.9%

Ballet 3.1%

Classical 9.2%

Latin 5.3%

Plays 7.9%

Jazz 8.2%

Opera 1.4%

Ballet 1.9% Ballet 1.4%

Opera 0.9%

Plays 11.6%

Latin 4.1%

Classical 5.6%

Other dance 8.6%

Other dance 6.4%

Plays 3.8% Classical 3.9% Latin 5.1% Musicals 6.2%

Other dance 3.7%

Jazz 4.8% Jazz 5.3%

Musicals 9.6%

Plays 5.8%

Classical 10.3% Jazz 12.6%

Plays 13.5% Jazz 16.3%

Musicals 16.8% Plays 16.6%

Musicals 20.1%

Musicals 24.6%

Musicals 32.4%

Classical 15.1%

Other dance 8.1% Other dance 7.6% Jazz 10.2%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 16

Figure 1-12. Average attendances per attendee in the past 12 months, by demographic subgroup: 2012 and 2002

Jazz Classical 

music

Opera Latin music Musical plays Non-musical 

plays

Ballet Other dance

Gender

Male (2012) 2.9 2.5 2.1 2.6 2.0 2.2 1.5 2.1

Male (2002) 3.4 3.0 2.3 * 2.2 2.4 1.9 2.2

Female (2012) 2.8 2.6 2.0 2.3 2.0 2.1 1.5 2.1

Female (2002) 2.9 3.1 1.8 * 2.3 2.3 1.6 1.9

Race

White (2012) 2.8 2.6 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.2 1.5 2.0

White (2002) 3.0 3.1 2.1 * 2.3 2.3 1.7 2.1

Non-white (2012) 2.8 2.5 1.8 2.5 1.9 2.0 1.7 2.3

Non-white (2002) 3.4 2.9 1.6 * 2.2 2.4 1.7 1.8

Age

18–34 (2012) 3.0 2.3 2.0 2.6 1.9 2.1 1.4 2.6

18–34 (2002) 2.9 2.8 1.7 * 2.2 2.2 1.4 1.8

35–64 (2012) 2.7 2.3 1.9 2.3 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.8

35–64 (2002) 3.2 2.9 2.1 * 2.3 2.3 1.7 1.9

65 or older (2012 3.2 3.4 2.3 2.1 2.4 2.6 1.7 2.1

65 or older (2002) 3.1 3.9 2.4 * 2.3 3.0 2.4 3.4

Education

Non-college graduates (2012) 2.8 2.4 1.9 2.4 2.0 1.9 1.5 2.3

Non-college graduates (2002) 3.0 2.6 1.8 * 2.1 2.1 1.4 2.1

College graduate (2012) 2.9 2.7 2.1 2.3 2.1 2.4 1.5 1.9

College graduate (2002) 3.2 3.4 2.2 * 2.4 2.5 1.9 2.0

Family income

Less than $50K 2.8 2.5 2.0 2.3 2.0 2.2 1.6 2.1

$50K to $100K 3.1 2.7 2.1 2.6 2.0 2.0 1.5 2.2

$100K and over 2.5 2.6 2.1 2.3 2.1 2.3 1.5 2.0

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level

Pink shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 subgroup estimate at the .05 level
17 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Visual Arts in General

The 2012 SPPA includes questions about visits to art 

museums or galleries, attendance at visual arts festivals or 

craft fairs, and visits to parks, monuments, buildings, or 

neighborhoods for those places’ historic or design value.

People attending visual arts sites or events. Forty-nine 

million U.S. adults (21 percent of all adults) went to an 

art museum or art gallery at least once in the 12 months 

ending in July 2012, and 53 million (22 percent) went to a 

craft fair or visual arts festival. Since 2002, the percentage 

of adults going to an art museum or art gallery has 

declined (Figure 1-14). The overall attendance estimates 

between 2002 and 2012 are not comparable because the 

SPPA questions on attending craft fairs or festivals were 

quite different. 

The number of adults visiting parks or monuments or 

touring buildings or neighborhoods for their “historic or 

design value” dropped significantly from 2002 to 2008 

and then leveled off. About 24 to 25 percent went to at 

least one of those sites in 2008 and 2012, a drop from 

32 percent in 2002. Although the decline from 2008 to 

2012 is statistically significant, it is a modest change.

Between 2002 and 2008, attendance at craft fairs dropped 

9 percentage points, but 2012 attendance rates were only 

slightly lower than in 2008. (See Figure 1-13.) 

From 2002 to 2008, the percentage of adults touring a 

park, monument, building or neighborhood or monument 

for historic or design purposes dropped seven points; 

from 2008 to 2012 there was an additional one-point 

decline. From 2002 to 2008 the percentage visiting an art 

museum or gallery dropped four points, and the share fell 

another two points in 2012.

Visits. Adults made about 132 million visits to art 

museums and art galleries in 2012, and, on average, 

attendees went 2.7 times (Figure 1-14). Between 2002 and 

2008 the number of visits declined substantially (by 

about 42 million), but between 2008 and 2012 the drop 

was smaller (a difference of about 16 million).

The 2008 and 2012 SPPAs did not track the number of 

visits per respondent to visual art festivals and craft fairs 

or to parks, monuments, buildings, and neighborhoods 

of historic or design value. 

Figure 1-13. Percentage of U.S. adults attending visual arts 

activities or events: 2002, 2008, and 2012

2002 2008 2012

Art museums/

galleries

26.5% 22.7% 21.0%

Visual arts festivals 

or craft fairs

33.4 24.5% 22.4%

Parks, monuments, 

buildings, or 

neighborhoods 

visited for historic 

or design value

31.6% 24.9% 23.9%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

Figure 1-14. Average number of visits per attendee 

and millions of visits to art museums or galleries: 2002, 

2008, and 2012

2002 2008 2012

Art museums/

galleries

3.5 2.9 2.7

Millions of visits 

to art museums/

galleries

190M 148M 132M

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 18

Demographic Characteristics of Visual Art-Goers

The demographic makeup of adults who attend visual 

arts events has not changed much since 2002, with one 

notable exception. The oldest Americans, age 75 and up, 

were more likely to attend visual arts in 2012 than they 

were a decade ago. This is the only demographic subgroup 

to show an increase in participation. In fact, other 

subgroups—related to gender, race, and education 

level—experienced a decline.

Art museums and galleries. Demographic characteristics 

of people who go to art museums and galleries are found 

in Figure 1-15. About 57 percent of people who went to 

art museums or art galleries in 2012 were women. Among 

adults who visited at least once in a 12-month period, 

two-thirds were younger than 55 years of age. In 2012, the 

racial/ethnic group most likely to visit an art museum 

or gallery was non-Hispanic white, a change from 2002, 

when people of races and ethnicities other than white, 

African American, and Hispanic comprised the group 

most likely to attend (Figure 1-16). 

Regarding age groups, in 2002 the highest rate of 

attendance was among adults aged 45 to 54; a third of this 

group went to an art museum or gallery at least once that 

year. By 2012, the rate dropped to 22 percent. Only one 

age group experienced an increase in its rate of museum 

attendance from 2002 to 2012: Americans 75 and older. In 

2002, about 13 percent visited an art museum or gallery, 

and in 2012 the rate rose to 16 percent.

The relationship between educational attainment and 

museum attendance is consistent from 2002 to 2012; 

rates of attendance increased exponentially with 

education (Figure 1-16). Nearly 84 percent of people who 

visited an art museum or gallery at least once in 2012 

had at least some college education (Figure 1-15).

Craft fairs and visual arts festivals. Figure 1-15 provides 

demographic data on people who go to visual arts 

festivals and craft fairs. (Demographic data about people 

who attend outdoor performing arts festivals are shown 

in Figure 1-10.) In 2012, about 61 percent of people who 

went to these events were women; one out of every four 

American women went in 2012, compared with 18 

percent of men (Figure 1-16).

Places of historic or design interest. The 2012 SPPA asked 

respondents to report visits they made to any park, 

monument, building, or neighborhood of historic or 

design value. Nearly a quarter of the U.S. adult population 

made such visits in 2012.

Figure 1-16 shows that women are slightly more likely 

than men to visit or tour sites of historic or design value 

(25 percent of women went in 2012, versus 23 percent 

of men). All age groups have a similar likelihood of doing 

so, except for people 75 and older, who are less likely than 

younger adults. The nation’s oldest adults were, however, 

more likely to go in 2012 than in 2002. And people with 

higher levels of education were much more likely than 

less-educated adults to visit such sites. 
19 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Inside the SPPA: Asking about Visits to Places with Design or Historic Value

The 2012 SPPA experimented with different ways of asking 

about adult visits to places of historic or design value. The 

goal was to understand how responses would vary if the 

question specifically included “architectural” (rather than 

just historic- or design-related) reasons for visiting a site. 

Another goal was to understand what the responses would 

be if adults were asked about visits to buildings and 

neighborhoods in one question, and about visits to parks 

and monuments in another.

Consequently, two new questions were asked as part of 

an experimental set of questions (known as “Core 2”). 

Respondents were randomly assigned to answer either the 

main survey questions (Core 1) or the experimental 

questions. 

The underlying assumption of the two-question approach 

is that people are more likely to recall visiting buildings 

or neighborhoods for their historic, architectural, or design 

value if the question is not bundled with one about parks 

and monuments. While the estimates are not directly 

comparable, this hypothesis was borne out. The combined 

“yes” responses from the two questions in Core 2 

accounted for a greater percentage of U.S. adults than did 

the yes responses from Core 1 alone (25.8 percent versus 

23.9 percent). To facilitate trend analysis, this report uses 

the Core 1 estimates, but future SPPA surveys may adopt 

the two-question approach. 

• CORE 1 (Q10A) [During the last 12 months] did you 

visit an historic park or monument, or tour buildings or 

neighborhoods for their historic or design value? 

• CORE 2 (Q10A) [During the last 12 months,] did you go 

see any buildings or neighborhoods for their historical, 

architectural, or design value? 

• CORE 2 (Q11A) [During the last 12 months,] did you go 

visit a park or monument for its historical, architectural, or 

design value? 

YES NO TOTAL

Core 1 (10a) Version 23.9% 76.1% 100.0%

Core 2 10a 16.9% 83.1% 100.0%

Core 2 11a 21.5% 78.5% 100.0%

Core 2 10a or 11a 25.8% 74.2% 100.0%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 20

Figure 1-15. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults attending different types of visual arts events at least once 

in the past 12 months: 2012

2012 U.S. Population Art museums or 

galleries 

2012

Craft fairs 

and visual arts 

festivals 

2012

Places visited 

for design or historic 

value 

2012

Millions Percent

all adults 235.0

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 42.9% 38.9% 46.4%

Female 121.9 51.9% 57.1% 61.1% 53.6%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 10.1% 11.1% 8.5%

White 155.7 66.3% 76.0% 77.4% 78.6%

African American 26.8 11.4% 6.5% 6.1% 6.2%

Other 17.5 7.4% 7.4% 5.4% 6.6%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 11.1% 10.4% 11.0%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 18.4% 16.8% 18.3%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 17.1% 16.6% 16.5%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 19.5% 20.4% 20.5%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 17.5% 18.8% 18.1%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 10.8% 11.7% 10.8%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 5.7% 5.2% 4.9%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 0.7% 1.1% 0.7%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 1.7% 2.9% 2.0%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 14.1% 21.8% 16.7%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 27.3% 30.6% 30.4%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 32.7% 27.1% 29.7%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 23.5% 16.4% 20.4%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 8.4% 9.5% 8.7%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 21.6% 25.8% 22.0%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 19.6% 20.5% 19.7%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 15.0% 15.3% 15.0%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 18.4% 15.5% 18.6%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 17.0% 13.4% 16.1%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
21 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Figure 1-16. Visual arts rates of attendance (based on adults participating at least once in past 12 months), by demographic 

group: 2002 and 2012

Art museum 

or gallery

2002

Art museum 

or gallery

2012

Craft fairs 

and arts festivals

20024

Craft fairs 

and visual arts 

festivals

2012

Places visited 

for design 

or historic value

2002

Places visited 

for design 

or historic value

2012

26.5% 21.0% 33.4% 22.4% 31.6% 23.9%

Gender

Male 24.6% 18.7% 27.0% 18.2% 30.5% 23.1%

Female 28.2% 23.1% 39.2% 26.4% 32.5% 24.6%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 16.1% 14.3% 20.3% 16.8% 17.2% 13.8%

White 29.5% 24.1% 38.0% 26.2% 36.0% 28.3%

African American 14.8% 11.9% 19.7% 12.0% 17.9% 13.1%

Other 32.7% 21.2% 25.8% 16.3% 30.4% 21.2%

Age

18–24 23.7% 18.3% 29.2% 18.3% 28.3% 20.5%

25–34 26.7% 22.0% 33.5% 21.6% 33.3% 25.1%

35–44 27.4% 21.2% 37.2% 22.0% 35.8% 23.3%

45–54 32.9% 22.0% 38.8% 24.6% 38.0% 26.2%

55–64 27.8% 22.5% 35.1% 25.8% 24.2% 26.5%

65–74 23.4% 22.4% 31.1% 26.1% 24.2% 25.5%

75+ 13.4% 15.5% 15.7% 15.0% 12.8% 15.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 4.5% 3.6% 8.4% 5.9% 6.3% 3.9%

Some high school 7.7% 4.3% 14.0% 8.0% 11.4% 5.9%

High school graduate 14.2% 9.9% 25.7% 16.3% 20.2% 13.3%

Some college 29.0% 19.7% 38.2% 23.6% 36.5% 25.0%

College graduate 46.6% 37.2% 51.9% 32.9% 51.2% 38.4%

Graduate school 58.8% 49.3% 51.9% 36.9% 56.8% 48.8%

Family income

Less than $20K 10.2% 12.3% 12.1%

$20K to $50K 14.0% 17.9% 16.2%

$50K to $75K 22.1% 24.5% 25.1%

$75K to $100K 26.5% 28.9% 30.1%

$100K to $150K 33.8% 30.5% 38.8%

$150K and over 43.2% 36.4% 46.6%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level

4 The question in 2002 was broader. It asked about any arts festivals, not just 

about craft or visual arts festivals, and thus the 2012 estimates are not directly 

comparable.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 22

Predictors of Benchmark Arts Attendance

A number of demographic characteristics discussed in 

this chapter, such as education, gender, and age, are 

strongly correlated with arts attendance. The typical 

pattern is that, with the exception of the very oldest 

Americans, older adults attend “benchmark” arts events 

more often than younger adults, females attend more 

often than men, and people with higher levels of 

education attend more often than the less educated. 

Regression analysis using a “least squares model” 

was done to identify the importance of these factors 

relative to one another in predicting arts attendance. 

Regression analysis shows the central role that 

educational attainment played in predicting arts 

attendance or visitation in 2012. This was also true 

in 2002 and 2008.

In 2012, for example, respondents with a college degree 

were 37 percent more likely than people who had 

completed only grade school to attend a benchmark arts 

activity, when controlling for other factors. (Demographic 

characteristics with a marginal impact of “0” shown in 

Figure 1-17 represent the base case of the model against 

which the relative impact of other characteristics can 

be compared. Statistically significant factors influencing 

attendance at a benchmark arts activity are highlighted 

in bold.)

Differences among the 2002, 2008, and 2012 regression 

models also indicate that some of the key predictors 

of benchmark attendance are changing. Education is still 

the main factor in predicting arts attendance and is still 

a stronger predictor of arts attendance than income, 

race/ethnicity, or age. However, overall differences in 

attendance by education group narrowed slightly 

between 2002 and 2008 and more significantly between 

2008 and 2012, which means that benchmark arts 

participation declined more for higher-educated 

respondents after controlling for other demographic 

characteristics. 

Similarly, in 2012, living in the Pacific region of the 

country remained a positive factor in determining 

whether or not a person attended an arts event. However, 

it was less of a factor in 2012 than in 2002. As expected, 

residing in metro areas was a positive factor for 

attendance in each year of the survey. Meanwhile, being 

a non-U.S. citizen was consistently a negative factor 

in determining the likelihood of attending a benchmark 

arts event. 

Figure 1-17. Effects of demographic characteristics 

on the likelihood of benchmark arts attendance in the past 

12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012

2012

benchmark 

arts event

2008 2002

Gender

Male -5.8% -6.5% -9.8%

Female 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Race and Ethnicity

Hispanic -10.4% -8.3% -5.7%

White 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

African American -6.4% -9.7% -8.9%

Other -10.9% -11.8% -9.7%

Age

18–24 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

25–34 1.6% -4.0% -0.7%

35–44 1.9% -4.1% 0.4%

45–54 2.6% -4.9% 0.5%

55–64 1.7% -6.0% -2.5%

65–74 -0.2% -1.2% -0.1%

75+ -7.0% -9.7% -10.1%

Education

Grade school 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Some high school 2.6% 11.3% 10.7%

High school graduate 9.0% 14.4% 21.4%

Some college 19.7% 32.3% 39.9%

College graduate 36.7% 48.3% 53.1%

Graduate school 46.6% 55.4% 58.8%

Family income

Less than $30K 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

$30k to $50K 16.1% 9.1% 5.5%

$50K to $75K 19.1% 12.6% 11.7%

$75K or more 22.8% 22.2% 20.4%

Region

New England 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Middle Atlantic -0.9% -2.6% 4.7%

South Atlantic 0.9% -5.3% 0.2%

East South Central -0.4% -9.1% -3.5%

East North Central -2.1% -0.5% 5.1%

West South Central -6.9% -7.2% 1.2%

West North Central -4.2% -2.9% 5.9%

Mountain 0.5% 0.4% 8.9%

Pacific 3.7% 4.8% 8.0%

Other

Reside in metro area 9.2% 6.9% 8.3%

Married 0.9% -2.2% -3.7%

No child under 18 6.7% 3.0% 5.6%

Non-citizen -6.6% -8.0% -8.2%
23 • chapter 1. visual and performing arts attendance

Attendance at Live Music Performances

The 2012 SPPA included an experimental set of questions 

to test new ways of asking about participation in the arts. 

The experimental questions were asked of a random half 

of all respondents; the other half received the traditional 

set of questions, which have not changed significantly 

over time. The new questions began with a general 

item about attendance at any live music performance in 

the past 12 months, followed by items about specific 

types of live music for those who answered yes to the 

general question. 

Live attendance estimates for jazz, Latin music, classical 

music, and opera were significantly lower in response 

to the experimental questions than in response to the 

main survey questions about attendance. The difference 

probably occurs because people are better able to recall 

attendance when asked about a specific type of event. 

In addition, the experimental items led with a general 

question about attending any music performance. A “no” 

response to this question might have erroneously 

excluded some respondents who would have replied “yes” 

to one of the specific types of music performances. 

Therefore, the population estimates in this report for 

attending live musical events use only responses from 

the traditional section of the SPPA survey.

Type of Live Music

While the experimental questions are not used to 

produce 2012 population estimates, they provide insight 

into the types of live music performances people attend. 

For adults who went to a live music performance in 

2012, Figure 1-18 shows the type of music performance 

they attended. Overall, 43.6 percent of adults who 

attended live music attended a live pop or rock music 

show, by far the most common genre of live music 

attended in 2012. Opera was the least reported genre of 

live music attended (4.8 percent). 

Demographic Differences

The many significant differences highlighted in 

Figure 1-18 show that, for people who attended a live 

music performance in 2012, the type of music varied 

significantly depending on the person’s gender, age, 

race/ethnicity, education, and family income. 

Women who attended a live music performance had 

higher rates of attending all music genres than men, with 

two exceptions: rap and pop/rock music. Of the racial 

and ethnic groups, Hispanics were most likely to attend 

Latin, Spanish, or salsa music performances. African 

Americans were most likely to attend jazz, hymns, blues, 

and rap music, and non-Hispanic whites were most 

likely to attend country, pop, and rock music. The racial 

and ethnic group most likely to attend opera, classical 

music, and folk music was comprised of people of “other” 

race and/or ethnicities (e.g., Asian Americans and Pacific 

Islanders). With respect to age differences, younger 

adults were the most likely to attend rap, pop, and rock 

music events, and older people were more likely to 

attend classical and opera performances. 
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 24

Figure 1-18. Genres of music attended by adults who reported attending any live music performance in the past 

12 months: 2012

Jazz Latin Classical Opera Hymns Country Rap Blues Folk Pop/rock

% attending % attending % attending % attending % attending % attending % attending % attending % attending % attending

all adults 15.9% 9.1% 18.2% 4.8% 14.2% 20.2% 8.7% 13.1% 9.8% 43.6%

Gender

Males 15.3% 8.5% 16.6% 4.1% 12.2% 19.3% 9.7% 12.1% 8.5% 46.4%

Females 16.3% 9.6% 19.5% 5.5% 16.0% 20.9% 7.8% 14.0% 10.9% 41.1%

Race/ethnicity 

Hispanic 13.2% 46.1% 12.2% 2.8% 4.8% 10.0% 15.8% 7.6% 5.8% 34.9%

White 14.5% 4.9% 19.7% 4.9% 13.5% 23.7% 5.8% 11.6% 10.9% 48.6%

African American 32.0% 6.7% 6.1% 1.7% 34.1% 0.4% 24.6% 31.3% 1.2% 11.4%

Other 15.7% 8.4% 25.5% 12.7% 9.9% 16.4% 14.1% 16.1% 13.5% 36.0%

Age

18–24 12.0% 9.2% 11.0% 2.2% 11.0% 18.8% 24.6% 10.7% 8.3% 55.9%

25–34 12.5% 9.3% 13.5% 3.7% 9.2% 20.4% 13.8% 13.4% 10.1% 49.7%

35–44 15.8% 12.3% 15.6% 3.8% 11.5% 18.6% 5.8% 12.7% 9.5% 46.9%

45–54 16.8% 8.8% 16.7% 4.7% 13.7% 19.2% 3.1% 13.7% 8.6% 42.3%

55–64 21.8% 9.3% 23.0% 5.9% 19.2% 22.6% 2.4% 17.3% 11.3% 37.7%

65–74 19.1% 5.8% 31.3% 9.7% 22.6% 21.3% 1.2% 13.3% 13.0% 30.3%

75+ 14.1% 2.5% 36.5% 9.7% 25.6% 23.1% 0.0% 5.7% 8.5% 14.2%

Highest level of education

Grade school 19.9% 34.2% 19.5% 3.6% 8.0% 9.0% 0.0% 15.8% 10.6% 18.1%

Some high school 9.6% 26.8% 4.4% 3.1% 10.0% 18.2% 11.4% 11.2% 3.0% 32.6%

High school graduate 12.3% 8.4% 8.0% 1.5% 12.8% 22.2% 10.0% 10.0% 4.9% 37.8%

Some college 14.1% 8.5% 13.5% 3.3% 12.9% 21.6% 13.0% 13.8% 7.9% 47.5%

College graduate 17.8% 7.6% 23.9% 5.9% 14.9% 19.4% 6.0% 14.8% 12.7% 48.2%

Graduate school 21.1% 9.3% 31.8% 10.1% 18.1% 17.2% 3.5% 12.8% 15.3% 38.9%

Family income

Less than $20K 17.3% 12.3% 16.0% 5.0% 20.8% 20.2% 10.7% 12.2% 11.4% 34.5%

$20K to $50K 13.1% 12.0% 13.2% 3.2% 15.8% 18.9% 14.0% 14.8% 9.4% 39.2%

$50K to $75K 17.1% 10.8% 15.6% 4.4% 15.1% 21.9% 6.4% 13.1% 10.0% 39.9%

$75K to $100K 13.2% 6.4% 19.8% 5.7% 12.5% 22.7% 6.3% 10.6% 8.1% 50.7%

$100K to $150K 17.7% 5.4% 21.8% 6.0% 10.5% 21.2% 6.9% 12.4% 10.3% 50.8%

$150K and over 18.3% 7.0% 25.5% 5.5% 12.3% 15.9% 6.3% 14.2% 10.0% 45.8%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
A child uses a cell phone to see infrared “lightning” in Dan Goods’s 

Beneath the Surface installation. The piece simulated the experience that 

the Juno spacecraft might have as it explores the atmosphere of Jupiter. 

Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech

Chapter 2. Arts Consumption through Electronic Media
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 26

Sample Findings

• Americans were more likely to watch or listen to 

broadcast arts performances using traditional sources 

such as TV and radio than the Internet (54 percent 

compared with 45 percent).

• In 2012, literature was the only arts genre that drew a 

larger audience by the Internet than by TV or radio. 

• Nearly half of all American adults watched or listened 

to a broadcast or recorded performance of rock, pop, 

country, folk, rap, or hip-hop music in 2012. This far 

surpasses the number of Americans who attended any 

benchmark arts event in 2012. 

• Jazz is the only performing art listened to by equal 

numbers of men and women.

• Opera participation exclusively via media has the 

smallest audience of any performing art form studied 

in the SPPA. It also has the smallest participation 

rate for any performing art form attended live. Women 

make up 62 percent of the opera media audience.

• The audience for Latin music is younger than for nearly 

all other broadcast or recorded performances. It is

 also the least educated. Seventy-five percent of the Latin 

music audience has less than a college degree.

• Among all types of performing art forms captured 

by the SPPA, musical plays and non-musical plays have 

the unique distinction of attracting more participants 

through live events than through broadcast or 

recorded media.

• Over two-thirds of people watching dance performances 

via media in 2012 were women. Nearly three-quarters of 

the adult audience was 25 to 64.

• Over one-fourth of American adults shared photography 

using a computer, mobile device, or the Internet, and 

one-fifth shared music.

• In 2012 over half the American adult population 

(53 percent) used a handheld or mobile device, such 

as a smart phone, MP3 player, eBook reader, or a laptop, 

notebook or tablet computer, and about one-third of 

adults (and nearly two-thirds of mobile device users) 

used an electronic device to download, watch, or 

listen to music.
27 • chapter 2. arts consumption through electronic media

The rapid evolution of new media platforms over the past 

three decades has posed a recurring challenge to SPPA 

investigators as they attempt to gauge the expansive 

role of technology in driving arts participation patterns. 

Over the years, the survey’s questions about media and 

technology have changed accordingly—a factor that 

limits long-term trend analyses. This section, therefore, 

focuses on arts consumption through media in 2012, 

the most recent survey year. 

In 2012, 71 percent of U.S. adults watched or listened to 

the arts through some form of electronic media. This 

estimate includes people who consumed arts via their TV 

or radio, the Internet, a handheld or mobile device, or a 

DVD, CD, tape, or record player. 

Watching or Listening to Arts Broadcasts or Recordings 

via TV/Radio or the Internet

The 2012 SPPA questions on arts consumption via 

electronic media began with questions about watching or 

listening to arts broadcasts via TV, radio, or the Internet. 

The introductory language to this section of the survey 

stated: “The following questions are about ways people 

use television, radio, the Internet, and other electronic 

media. We will first be asking about traditional media 

such as TV and radio and then ask a few questions about 

the use of the Internet and handheld or mobile devices.” 

This phrasing was meant to encourage respondents to 

differentiate TV/radio5

 from the Internet, even though 

the Internet can be used as a platform for experiencing 

either of those more traditional media. Indeed, the 

2012 survey results showed that more adults reported 

consuming arts broadcasts or recordings via TV or radio 

than reported using the Internet to do so (54 percent of 

U.S. adults, compared with 45 percent). It is nonetheless 

impressive that nearly half of all adults consumed art 

broadcasts or recordings via the Internet, given that a free 

format for video streaming on the Internet was not 

implemented until 20026

.

5 Respondents were not asked to respond about TV separately from radio.

6 In 2002, Adobe Flash became the first standardized video streaming format that 

could be downloaded for free, giving a much larger audience the ability to do 

video streaming online. 

Types of broadcasts or recordings 

Figure 2-1 shows that 47 percent of U.S. adults used TV/

radio or the Internet to consume broadcasts or recordings 

of rock, pop, country, folk, rap, or hip-hop music—far 

more media participants than for any other art form. 

Classical music was the next most commonly viewed or 

heard art form via broadcast or recording (14 percent 

of adults), followed by Latin, Spanish, or salsa music (13 

percent), and jazz (12 percent). In addition, 10 percent 

of adults viewed or listened to programs or information 

about books or writers. 

In addition, 27 percent of U.S. adults reported using a 

DVD, CD player, or record or tape player to watch or 

listen to music or programs about theater, dance, visual 

arts, or literature. People who reported using these types 

of devices were not asked specifically about the types 

of art broadcasts or recordings they watched or listened 

to. However, because this question came after survey 

items about TV or radio, respondents most likely included 

watching or listening via DVD, CD, or tape player in their 

responses to the list of activities done via TV or radio. 

Figure 2-1. Number and percentage of U.S. adults 

who used TV/radio or the Internet to watch or listen to 

an arts broadcast or recording at least once in the past 

12 months: 2012

Percentage Number of adults

2012 2012

Jazz 11.8% 27,729,238

Latin, Spanish, or salsa music 12.6% 29,609,187

Classical music 13.6% 31,959,122

Opera 4.3% 10,104,722

Other music, such as rock, pop, 

country, folk, rap, or hip-hop

46.9% 110,211,972

Theater productions, such as a 

musical or stage play

7.1% 16,684,542

Ballet, modern, or contemporary 

dance

4.5% 10,574,709

Other dance programs or shows 9.2% 21,619,406

Programs or information about 

the visual arts

9.4% 22,089,393

Programs or information about 

books or writers

10.0% 23,499,354

Other books, short stories, or 

poetry read aloud

7.1% 16,684,542
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 28

TV/radio versus the Internet

Figure 2-2 and Charts 2-1 and 2-2 reveal differences in 

the percentage of the population who use TV and/or 

radio versus the Internet to consume arts broadcasts or 

recordings. In 2012, TV and radio were used more often 

than the Internet to watch or listen to each type of 

arts performance or programming specified, with one 

exception. Five percent of adults used the Internet to 

watch or listen to books, short stories, or poetry read 

aloud, compared with 4 percent for TV/radio broadcasts 

or recordings of such activity. 

Overall, a quarter of the adult population watched or 

listened to rock, pop, country, folk or hip-hop over the 

Internet in 2012. That year, 14 percent of adults watched 

or listened to classical music through electronic media 

in general, and just over twice that number of adults 

reported watching or listening to classical music on 

TV/ radio versus the Internet. (DVDs, CDs, tape players, 

or record players were not named specifically in the 

question, but there is no reason to believe that 

respondents excluded them.) 

Chart 2-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who consumed music 

via TV/radio, the Internet, or both: 2012

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Jazz Latin Classical Opera Other music

2.2%

3.0%

6.6%

2.1%

3.3%

7.2%

1.9%

3.9%

7.8% 0.8%

2.8%

6.8%

18.1%

22.0%

0.7%

TV/radio Both Internet

Figure 2-2. Number and percentage of U.S. adults who 

watched or listened to an arts broadcast or recording at 

least once in the past 12 months via TV/radio or the 

Internet: 2012

TV or radio Internet TV/radio, 

Internet, 

or both

Estimated 

number 

of adults

Jazz 9.6% 5.2% 11.8% 27,729,238

Latin, Spanish, or 

salsa music

10.5% 5.4% 12.6% 29,844,180

Classical music 11.7% 5.8% 13.6% 31,959,122

Opera 3.6% 1.5% 4.3% 10,104,722

Other music, such as 

rock, pop, country, 

folk, rap, or hip-hop

40.1% 24.9% 46.9% 109,976,979

Theater productions, 

such as a musical or 

stage play

6.2% 2.1% 7.1% 16,684,542

Ballet, modern, or 

contemporary dance

3.9% 1.3% 4.5% 10,574,709

Other dance 

programs or shows

8.3% 2.2% 9.2% 21,619,406

Programs or 

information about 

the visual arts

7.6% 4.1% 9.4% 22,089,393

Programs or 

information about 

books or writers

7.5% 5.3% 10.0% 23,499,354

Other books, 

short stories, or 

poetry read aloud

3.8% 4.6% 7.1% 16,684,542

Chart 2-2. Percentage of U.S. adults who used TV/radio, 

the Internet, or both, to consume selected types of arts 

broadcasts, by type: 2012

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

Literature 

read aloud

Books/

writers

Visual 

arts

Other 

dance

Ballet/

modern

Theater

1.2%

0.9%

5.3%

0.7%

0.6%

3.3%

1.3%

0.9%

7.4%

2.3%

1.8%

5.8%

2.8%

2.5%

5.0%

2.1%

3.2%

1.3%

TV/radio Both Internet
29 • chapter 2. arts consumption through electronic media

Audience Demographics for Arts Broadcasts or Recordings

Figure 2-3 shows the demographic make-up of 2012 

audiences for different types of performing arts broadcasts 

or recordings, and Figure 2-4 shows the rate at which 

demographic subgroups consumed those artworks.

Jazz. Twelve percent of adults listened to jazz via media 

broadcast. Jazz is the only performing art form listened to 

by equal percentages of men and women (Figure 2-4). 

Forty percent of American adults watching and listening 

to jazz are 45 to 64. African Americans experience 

jazz via broadcasts or recordings at a higher rate than do 

non-Hispanic whites and other racial/ethnic groups 

(see Chart 2-3). Hispanic Americans are the least likely to 

watch or listen to jazz. About one-fifth of all adults with 

graduate degrees reported listening to or watching jazz via 

media in 2012.

Classical music. Women constitute more of the classical 

music audience (via broadcasts or recordings) than do 

men. Half the adults who watch or listen to classical 

music via media are 25 to 54 years old. About 29 percent of 

people who have a graduate education reported watching 

or listening to classical music via media, compared with 

7 percent of respondents who had completed high school 

but did not attend college.

Opera. Opera participation exclusively via media has 

the smallest audience of any performing art studied in the 

SPPA. It also has the smallest participation rate of the 

performing art forms attended live. In 2012, about 4 

percent of adults reported watching or listening to opera 

broadcasts or recordings. Rates of participation through 

media increase with age (7 percent of adults 75 and 

older watch or listen to opera via media, compared with 

3 percent of adults 18 to 24), income (7 percent of 

Americans earning $150,000 or more watch or listen, 

compared with 4 percent in the lowest income bracket), 

and formal education (9 percent of people with graduate 

degrees, compared with 3 percent of high school 

graduates). Women make up 62 percent of the opera 

media audience (Figure 2-3).

Latin music. About 13 percent of adults listened to or 

watched Latin music via media in 2012. Roughly equal 

proportions of women and men watch or listen to Latin 

music. Hispanics represent 56 percent of people watching 

or listening to Latin music, and non- Hispanic whites 

form 35 percent of the media audience (see Figure 2-3).

As shown in Figure 2-4, about 47 percent of Latinos watch 

or listen to Latin music, compared with 7 percent of 

non-Hispanic whites and 7 percent of African Americans. 

Younger adults are the most likely to listen to Latin music. 

The audience for Latin music is younger than for all other 

broadcast performances except for other music. It is also 

the least educated. Seventy-five percent of the Latin music 

audience has less than a college degree.

Other music. Similar proportions of men and women 

watch or listen to other music broadcasts or recordings—

rock, pop, country, folk, rap, or hip-hop—as shown in 

Figure 2-4. The age group most likely to watch or listen to 

other music is 18 to 24; the group least likely is 75 and 

older. Although young adults are the most likely to listen 

to other music, the likelihood increases with formal 

education. Individuals with less than a high school 

diploma are the least likely to listen to other music. Of the 

adults who listen to other music, 73 percent are nonHispanic white.

Theater productions. Among all types of performing arts 

captured by the SPPA, musical plays and non-musical 

plays have the unique distinction of attracting more 

participants through live events than through broadcast 

or recorded media. About 7 percent of adults reported 

watching or listening to theater productions through 

media in the 2012 SPPA. By contrast, almost double that 

proportion—15 percent of U.S. adults—reported seeing a 

live musical play in 2012, and 8 percent saw a non-musical 

play. Adults with the most education and the highest 

income are the most likely to watch a theater production 

broadcast or recording. The audience for this type of 

performance is predominantly non-Hispanic white (77.5 

percent) (see Figure 2-3).

Dance. Unlike the survey questions for live arts 

participation, the media-related questions did not ask 

separately about ballet. Rather, the 2012 question grouped 

together ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. About 5 

percent of adults watched or listened to a recorded or 

broadcasted dance performance. 

Over two-thirds of people watching dance performances 

via media in 2012 were women. Nearly three-quarters 

of the audience was 25 to 64. Young adults age 18 to 24 

were the least likely to watch a dance performance. 

Participation in dance via broadcast media is greatest for 

people with more formal education. Ballet (and theater) 

had the highest reported audience of adults in the “other” 

race/ethnicity category (8.5 percent) (see Figure 2-3).

Other dance. A question new to the 2012 SPPA asked 

about “other” dance, such as ballroom, swing, hip-hop, or 

country dancing. Nine percent of adults, two-thirds 

of them women, watched other dance via electronic media 

in 2012. The audience for other types of dance 

performances is comprised primarily of non-white 

Hispanics (70 percent of the audience) and adults with a 

high school diploma, some college, or a college degree 

(79 percent). The greater the income and the higher the 

education, the more likely an American is to watch a 

broadcast dance performance.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 30

Figure 2-3. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults watching or listening to performing arts broadcasts or recordings 

via TV/radio or the Internet at least once in the past 12 months, by art form: 2012 

2012 

U.S. adult population

Jazz Classical 

music

Opera Latin, 

Spanish, or 

salsa music

Other music Theater 

production, 

e.g., a 

musical or 

stage play

Ballet/

modern/ 

contemporary dance

Other dance 

programs or 

shows Millions Percent

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 48.0% 42.8% 37.8% 48.8% 48.3% 39.1% 30.8% 33.1%

Female 121.9 51.9% 52.0% 57.2% 62.2% 51.2% 51.7% 60.9% 69.2% 66.9%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 10.5% 9.9% 11.8% 55.6% 11.1% 7.2% 13.1% 10.8%

White 155.7 66.3% 63.9% 77.3% 73.8% 35.4% 72.4% 77.3% 67.3% 70.1%

African American 26.8 11.4% 18.6% 5.8% 8.0% 6.0% 9.9% 9.8% 11.1% 10.7%

Other 17.5 7.4% 7.0% 6.9% 6.4% 3.0% 6.6% 5.6% 8.5% 8.4%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 10.2% 7.7% 7.7% 13.8% 16.2% 8.7% 8.6% 11.3%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 16.2% 17.0% 15.9% 23.1% 21.1% 15.1% 18.4% 16.7%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 19.1% 16.2% 13.9% 20.4% 17.8% 13.4% 15.3% 16.4%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 18.6% 16.5% 16.3% 15.6% 18.1% 19.0% 18.6% 18.4%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 21.0% 17.8% 20.0% 15.1% 15.3% 21.4% 19.2% 18.6%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 10.2% 14.7% 14.0% 6.9% 7.7% 12.2% 10.0% 11.4%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 4.8% 10.1% 12.2% 5.0% 3.7% 19.3% 9.8% 7.3%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 0.8% 0.9% 1.0% 8.8% 1.0% 0.7% 1.1% 1.6%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 3.6% 3.1% 4.1% 12.8% 5.7% 1.7% 4.5% 5.8%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 18.8% 15.9% 17.7% 25.6% 27.2% 17.1% 17.1% 21.7%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 32.6% 29.8% 28.0% 27.4% 33.5% 32.7% 31.3% 34.6%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 26.3% 28.4% 27.3% 14.2% 20.9% 27.6% 29.3% 22.9%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 18.0% 21.9% 22.0% 11.2% 11.6% 20.3% 16.6% 13.4%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 13.0% 13.2% 16.1% 20.0% 14.6% 12.1% 13.8% 13.2%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 26.3% 24.9% 29.0% 33.9% 28.6% 23.9% 27.7% 27.8%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 20.4% 20.0% 17.5% 19.9% 19.7% 21.6% 18.7% 20.4%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 12.0% 13.5% 11.2% 9.9% 13.5% 13.1% 13.3% 11.2%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 16.0% 14.8% 13.1% 9.9% 14.2% 14.8% 13.5% 16.4%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 12.3% 13.5% 13.1% 6.5% 9.5% 14.4% 13.0% 10.9%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
31 • chapter 2. arts consumption through electronic media

Figure 2-4. Percentage of U.S. adults watching or listening to arts broadcasts or recordings via TV/radio or the Internet at 

least once in the past 12 months: 2012

2012 

U.S. adult population

Jazz Classical 

music

Opera Latin, 

Spanish, or 

salsa music

Other music Theater 

productions 

musical or 

stage plays

Ballet/

modern/

contemporary dance

Other dance 

programs or 

shows Millions Percent

all adults 235.0 100.0% 11.8% 13.6% 4.3% 12.6% 46.9% 7.1% 4.5% 9.2%

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 11.8% 12.1% 3.4% 12.8% 47.3% 5.8% 2.9% 6.3%

Female 121.9 51.9% 11.8% 14.9% 5.1% 12.4% 46.5% 8.4% 6.0% 11.8%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 8.2% 8.9% 3.4% 46.4% 34.5% 3.4% 3.9% 6.6%

White 155.7 66.3% 11.4% 15.9% 4.8% 6.8% 51.4% 8.4% 4.6% 9.7%

African American 26.8 11.4% 19.6% 7.1% 3.1% 6.8% 41.3% 6.2% 4.5% 8.7%

Other 17.5 7.4% 10.8% 12.3% 3.6% 5.0% 40.3% 5.3% 5.0% 10.1%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 9.6% 8.3% 2.6% 13.9% 60.5% 4.9% 3.1% 8.3%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 10.7% 13.0% 3.8% 16.3% 55.5% 6.0% 4.7% 8.6%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 12.9% 12.7% 3.4% 14.8% 48.1% 5.5% 4.0% 8.6%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 12.0% 12.3% 3.9% 10.8% 46.6% 7.5% 4.6% 9.3%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 15.7% 15.4% 5.5% 12.1% 45.7% 9.7% 5.5% 10.8%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 11.5% 19.1% 5.7% 8.3% 34.5% 8.3% 4.3% 10.0%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 7.2% 17.6% 6.7% 8.1% 22.1% 9.4% 5.7% 8.6%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 2.2% 3.0% 1.1% 27.6% 12.2% 1.2% 1.3% 3.6%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 5.3% 5.3% 2.2% 20.2% 33.5% 1.5% 2.5% 6.6%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 7.4% 7.2% 2.5% 10.7% 42.3% 4.1% 2.6% 6.6%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 13.3% 14.0% 4.2% 11.9% 54.3% 8.1% 4.9% 11.0%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 16.7% 20.8% 6.3% 9.7% 52.8% 10.6% 7.1% 11.3%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 20.4% 28.6% 9.1% 13.6% 52.2% 13.9% 7.2% 11.8%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 8.7% 10.2% 3.9% 14.2% 38.7% 4.9% 3.5% 6.8%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 9.9% 10.8% 4.0% 13.6% 42.6% 5.4% 4.0% 8.1%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 12.7% 14.3% 4.0% 13.2% 48.5% 8.1% 4.4% 9.9%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 11.9% 15.5% 4.0% 10.5% 53.0% 7.9% 5.1% 8.7%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 15.9% 16.9% 4.7% 10.5% 55.7% 8.9% 5.1% 12.7%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 18.0% 22.8% 7.0% 10.2% 55.2% 12.8% 7.3% 12.4%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 32

Visual Arts Programs 

Respondents to the 2012 SPPA were asked if they had 

watched or listened to a broadcasted or recorded program 

about the visual arts within the last 12 months. Such 

programs might have featured, for example, painting, 

sculpture, graphic design, or photography. The wording 

of this question was new to the 2012 SPPA instrument. 

Results indicate that 9 percent of adults, about 22 million 

people, had watched or listened to a program on the 

visual arts in 2012. People most likely to watch or listen 

to visual arts-related programs are high-income earners 

and those who hold a college or graduate degree (14 

percent of the highest income earners and 18 percent of 

people with a graduate degree watch or listen to visual 

arts programs). (See Figure 2-5 and Chart 2-3.) 

Literary Programs

The SPPA asked respondents whether they had watched 

or listened to a program or to information about books 

or writers. Ten percent of American adults (about 23.5 

million) watched or listened to a program about books 

or writers in 2012 (Figure 2-5) and about 5 percent 

(approximately 12.5 million) used the Internet to watch 

or listen to a program about books or writers (Figure 2-6). 

The likelihood that a person watches or listens to 

a program on books or writers rises with income and 

education. In fact, as shown in Chart 2-3, formal 

education has more of an impact on watching or listening 

to programs about books or writers than it does on 

listening to books, short stories, or poetry read aloud or 

watching or listening to a program on the visual arts. 

Nearly one-quarter of people with a graduate degree 

reported watching or listening in 2012. Sixty percent of 

the audience for programs on books or writers is female, 

and 76 percent is non-Hispanic white.

Books, Short Stories, or Poetry Read Aloud 

Respondents to the 2012 SPPA were asked if they had 

used the Internet to listen to live or recorded books, short 

stories, or poetry read aloud in the past 12 months. Seven 

percent of U.S. adults, or about 16.4 million people, had 

listened to live or recorded books, short stories, or poetry 

on the Internet. People of all ages are about equally likely 

to listen (with the exception of adults 75 and older, who 

are less likely), and rates of listening increase with formal 

education and income. Women are more likely than 

men to listen to literature read aloud. Listening to live 

or recorded literature is the only arts genre that drew 

a larger audience by the Internet than by TV or radio 

(Figure 2-2). 

Chart 2-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who used TV/radio, 

the Internet, or both, to consume selected arts 

broadcasts or recordings, by highest level of educational 

attainment: 2012

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Books, stories,

or poetry read aloud

Programs about

books or writers

Programs 

about visual arts

Some college College Graduate school

Grade school Some high school High school

3.9%

3.4%

4.9%

10.6%

13.5%

18.2%

2.0%1.8%

4.8%

9.7%

15.9%

24.4%

0.2%

2.8%

7.4%

10.8%

4.1%

14.1%
33 • chapter 2. arts consumption through electronic media

Figure 2-5. Percentage and demographic distribution of U.S. adults watching or listening to arts broadcasts or recordings 

via TV/radio or the Internet at least once in the past 12 months: 2012

2012 U.S. adult population Visual arts programs Programs on books or writers Books, short stories, or poetry 

read aloud

Millions Percent Distribution % of subgroup Distribution % of subgroup Distribution % of subgroup

9.4% 10.0% 7.1%

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 45.7% 8.9% 40.0% 8.3% 37.6% 5.5%

Female 121.9 51.9% 54.3% 9.8% 60.0% 11.5% 62.4% 8.5%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 10.0% 6.2% 8.0% 5.3% 10.4% 4.9%

White 155.7 66.3% 76.1% 10.8% 76.1% 11.5% 72.3% 7.7%

African American 26.8 11.4% 6.5% 5.4% 8.1% 7.2% 9.0% 5.6%

Other 17.5 7.4% 7.4% 9.0% 7.7% 10.0% 8.4% 7.7%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 8.9% 6.7% 8.9% 7.1% 13.2% 7.4%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 19.6% 10.3% 17.6% 9.8% 22.1% 8.7%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 13.9% 7.5% 16.6% 9.5% 18.0% 7.3%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 20.1% 10.4% 17.7% 9.7% 16.1% 6.2%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 19.2% 11.4% 20.1% 12.7% 18.7% 8.4%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 10.9% 9.7% 11.5% 11.0% 7.9% 5.4%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 7.4% 8.9% 7.6% 9.7% 4.0% 3.7%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 1.7% 3.9% 0.8% 2.0% 0.1% 0.2%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 2.9% 3.4% 1.4% 1.8% 3.1% 2.8%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 15.9% 4.9% 14.4% 4.8% 17.4% 4.1%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 32.6% 10.6% 28.2% 9.7% 30.2% 7.4%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 26.7% 13.5% 29.6% 15.9% 28.4% 10.8%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 20.3% 18.2% 25.6% 24.4% 20.7% 14.1%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 11.5% 6.1% 10.5% 5.9% 12.0% 4.8%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 27.2% 8.1% 22.4% 7.1% 24.1% 5.4%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 20.0% 9.9% 20.8% 10.8% 18.4% 6.8%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 13.9% 11.0% 13.8% 11.6% 12.9% 7.7%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 15.1% 11.9% 17.1% 14.3% 17.1% 10.2%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 12.3% 14.2% 15.5% 19.1% 15.5% 13.5%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 34

Consuming Art via Internet: Viewing, Listening, 

or Downloading

This section describes responses from the 2012 

respondents who reported using the Internet. Seventyone percent7

 of 2012 SPPA respondents used the Internet 

for any purpose in the past 12 months, similar to the 70 

percent in 2008 but much higher than the 54 percent in 

2002. The 71 percent of SPPA respondents who used the 

Internet were asked if they used the Internet to watch, 

listen to, or download a variety of arts types. 

The most common type of performing arts activity for 

which Americans use the Internet is to access music 

such as rock, pop, country, folk, rap, or hip-hop (see 

Figure 2-6). Twenty-five percent of adults (35 percent of 

Internet users) watched, listened to, or downloaded 

these types of music in 2012. The least common use of 

the Internet was to watch, listen to, or download 

ballet, modern, or contemporary dance (1 percent of the 

population, and 2 percent of Internet users), or opera 

(2 percent of both groups).

7 The Pew Internet & American Life Project and other sources estimate that 

between 78 and 80 percent of American adults used the Internet in 2012. One 

possible reason the estimate from the SPPA is lower is because of the SPPA’s 

focus on arts rather than technology. In other words, infrequent users of 

computers or handheld devices may only report using the Internet if they are first 

given a list of tasks associated with Internet use. 

Figure 2-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who used the 

Internet to explore the arts in the past 12 months: 2012

Percent of 

Internet users

Percent of 

U.S. adult 

population

Number of 

adults

Adult population who 

used the Internet

71.0% 166,845,416

Used the Internet to watch, listen, or download

Jazz 7.3% 5.2% 12,179,715

Latin, Spanish, or 

salsa music

7.6% 5.4% 12,680,252

Classical music 8.2% 5.8% 13,681,324

Opera 2.1% 1.5% 3,503,754

Other music 35.1% 24.9% 58,562,741

Theater productions 3.0% 2.1% 5,005,362

Ballet, modern, or 

contemporary dance

1.8% 1.3% 3,003,217

Dance programs or 

shows

3.1% 2.2% 5,172,208

Programs about 

visual arts

5.8% 4.1% 9,677,034

Programs about 

books or writers

7.4% 5.3% 12,346,561

Books, short stories, 

poetry read aloud

6.5% 4.6% 10,844,952
35 • chapter 2. arts consumption through electronic media

Using Handheld or Mobile Devices to Watch, Listen to, 

or Download Art

The SPPA’s section on arts consumption via electronic 

media also asked adults whether they used any handheld 

or mobile devices and, if so, whether they did so for the 

purpose of accessing art. 

In 2012, over half the American adult population (53 

percent) used a handheld or mobile device, such as a smart 

phone, MP3 player, eBook reader, or a laptop, notebook, 

or tablet computer. About one-third of adults (and nearly 

two-thirds of mobile device users) used the electronic 

device to download, watch, or listen to music (Figure 2-7). 

The least common usage was to watch, listen to, or 

download theater or dance performances. 

Women responding to the 2012 SPPA were more likely 

than men to use a handheld or mobile device to read, 

listen to, or download novels, short stories, or plays, or to 

watch or download theater or dance. Younger adults were 

much more likely to report using such devices in general 

and also to report using them for accessing art (Chart 2-4). 

Compared with people who report watching TV or using 

the Internet, use of a handheld or mobile device is more 

strongly related to educational and family income. 

Therefore, and not surprisingly, a large percentage of high 

income earners (those with family income over $150,000) 

used handheld or mobile devices to access the arts. 

Chart 2-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who consumed art via 

mobile/handheld device, by art form and age group: 2012

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Literature Music Theater or dance Visual arts

Age 18-34 Age 35-64 Age 65+

19.8%

17.0%

7.1%

56.7%

30.4%

7.7%

5.4%

2.9%1.3%

10.9%

7.9%

2.9%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 36

Figure 2-7. Percentage of U.S. adults who used mobile or handheld devices to explore the arts: 2012

U.S. adult population 

who used a mobile 

or handheld device for 

any reason

Read, listen to, or 

download any 

novels, short stories, 

poetry or plays

Watch, listen to, or 

download any music

Watch, listen to, or 

download any theater or 

dance performances

Download or view any 

visual arts (paintings, 

sculpture, graphic 

design, photography)

all adults 53.2% 16.0% 34.2% 3.4% 7.9%

population 125,016,565 37,684,035 80,234,551 7,861,239 18,467,673

Gender

Males 54.1% 14.1% 35.2% 2.9% 7.7%

Females 52.4% 17.8% 33.5% 3.9% 8.0%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 46.2% 11.4% 31.5% 2.3% 6.2%

White 55.9% 18.2% 35.8% 3.3% 8.6%

African American 46.1% 10.6% 29.6% 4.3% 5.9%

Other 54.7% 14.9% 34.0% 4.9% 8.0%

Age

18–24 71.9% 19.6% 59.5% 6.7% 10.7%

25–34 71.9% 20.0% 54.9% 4.6% 11.0%

35–44 62.7% 18.9% 39.3% 2.8% 9.4%

45–54 51.8% 16.6% 29.1% 3.3% 7.7%

55–64 43.2% 15.2% 22.0% 2.5% 6.2%

65–74 30.6% 9.7% 11.8% 2.1% 4.5%

75+ 13.6% 3.8% 2.4% 0.3% 0.9%

Highest level of education

Grade school 11.9% 1.9% 5.8% 0.2% 0.6%

Some high school 31.3% 6.6% 19.9% 2.1% 3.0%

High school graduate 40.6% 8.1% 24.3% 2.4% 3.8%

Some college 59.8% 17.3% 39.6% 3.0% 7.8%

College graduate 70.1% 24.1% 46.1% 5.4% 13.2%

Graduate school 74.5% 34.0% 49.5% 5.9% 17.3%

Family income

Less than $20K 35.1% 8.0% 21.0% 2.3% 4.5%

$20K to $50K 44.3% 10.7% 27.7% 2.9% 5.8%

$50K to $75K 56.3% 15.7% 34.6% 3.0% 8.5%

$75K to $100K 65.7% 20.7% 43.0% 4.4% 9.2%

$100K to $150K 70.4% 24.2% 47.5% 4.0% 10.4%

$150K and over 77.0% 36.3% 55.9% 6.0% 17.0%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
Chapter 3. Creating, Performing, and Sharing Art

Visual arts students at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the arts 

paint in the studio. Photo Courtesy of Emily Allen
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 38

Sample Findings

• Social dancing is the most common way Americans 

performed art in 2012, followed by playing a musical 

instrument.

• Women are more likely than men to dance. African 

Americans are the racial/ethnic group most likely 

to dance formally, and Hispanics are the racial/ethnic 

group most likely to dance socially. The rates of dance 

participation are highest for young adults (18 to 34) 

and increase with educational level and family income.

• Likelihood of performing arts with others is inversely 

related to age—younger adults are far more likely than 

older adults to perform with others—and positively 

related to education: the greater the education, the more 

likely a person is to perform with others.

• Among Americans of all racial/ethnic backgrounds, 

African Americans are the most likely to perform art in a 

group.

• The percentage of American adults who performed or 

practiced jazz, classical music, or opera has not changed 

much since 2002.

• The percentage of people in a choral or glee club or who 

performed in a musical or non-musical stage play has 

declined since 2002.

• Nineteen percent of American adults in 2012 used 

electronic media to share art that they themselves had 

created, edited, or remixed. 

• Men are more likely than women to use electronic media 

to create, perform, or share art. This pattern stands in 

contrast to most forms of arts participation, in which 

women typically lead men. 

• Large proportions of adults who create music or visual 

art do so through electronic media. African Americans 

are more likely than any other racial/ethnic group to have 

created or performed their art in this way.

• Twelve percent of Americans take photographs for 

artistic purposes, making photography the most common 

form of arts creation. Scrapbooking is the second most 

common form.
39 • chapter 3. creating, performing, and sharing art

The SPPA captured arts participation far beyond 

attending, watching, and listening to live or broadcasted 

performances. It also measured levels of participation 

through performing, creating, and sharing artwork. The 

2012 SPPA used a broader definition of creating or 

performing arts than past SPPA studies by including 

social dancing, informal singing, and a few other new 

or more broadly defined arts activities. 

The 2012 SPPA also asked, for the first time, questions 

about how art is shared, edited, and preserved. Similar to 

findings reported in the previous chapter on arts 

participation through the media, technology has altered 

how people engage in various art activities. The 2012 

SPPA asked people if they used a computer, a handheld or 

mobile device, or the Internet to share, create, perform, 

edit, or remix art. Overall, about 43 percent of American 

adults, or 102 million people, reported that they had 

done so in the past year.

Performing Art, Alone or with Others

The 2012 SPPA captured performances in the arts, 

both formal and informal, including playing a musical 

instrument, acting, dancing, and singing. Nearly onethird of American adults, or 74 million people, engaged 

in social dancing, making it the most common way 

Americans performed an art (see Figure 3-1).

Figure 3-1. Percentage of Americans and millions of U.S. 

adults engaging in the performing arts: 2012

Percent of 2012 

population

Estimated number 

of adults

Play a musical 

instrument

12.1% 28,434,219

Play a musical 

instrument 

(with others)

5.1% 11,984,671

Do any acting 1.4% 3,289,910

Do any social 

dancing 

31.6% 74,257,960

Do any formal dancing 5.1% 11,984,671

Perform or practice 

singing

8.7% 20,444,438

Do any singing with 

other people

6.8% 15,979,561

Playing a musical instrument

Twelve percent of Americans played a musical instrument 

in the past 12 months, about the same as in 2008. Five 

percent played a musical instrument as part of a group. 

Playing a musical instrument is the second most 

common way adults personally perform the arts (behind 

social dancing).

Of adults who played an instrument in the past year, 

53 percent are men, and over one-third are under 35 years 

of age. The likelihood of playing a musical instrument 

increases with education and family income. With regard 

to race and ethnicity, 14 percent of non-Hispanic white 

adults played an instrument, compared with 7 percent of 

African Americans and Hispanics.

Acting

Slightly more than one percent of adults engaged in 

acting during the last 12 months (Figure 3-1). The 

proportions of male and female thespians are equal. 

African Americans are about twice as likely to be involved 

in acting as whites, and young adults aged 18 to 24 are 

at least twice as likely as all other age groups to act (see 

Figure 3-3). Likelihood of acting increases with 

educational level.

Dancing

Dancing is the most common way American adults 

perform art. Social dancing, such as ballroom, hip-hop, 

swing, or country line dance, is more popular than 

formal dance performance, which includes ballet, modern, 

jazz, or tap dance. Nearly one-third of adults (32 percent) 

engaged in social dancing during the past year, and about 

5 percent engaged in more formal kinds of dancing. 

Women are more likely than men to dance. African 

Americans are the racial and ethnic group most likely to 

dance formally, and Hispanics are the groups most 

likely to dance socially. The rates of dance participation 

are highest for younger adults (18 to 34) and increase 

with educational level and family income. 

Chart 3-1 shows that younger adults (18 to 24) are 

quite active at both social dancing and playing a musical 

instrument. However, the number of adults playing a 

music instrument quickly declines after age 25, while 

social dancing doesn’t see a decline until age 35. After age 

25, there is not any other significant decline in playing 

a musical instrument, while social dancing declines more 

steadily after age 35.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 40

Singing

Nine percent of Americans performed or practiced 

singing during the last 12 months, and 7 percent sang 

with others. As singers, women outnumber men. 

African Americans are more likely to be singers than are 

adults of any other racial or ethnic group, and 18- to 

24-year-olds are more likely to sing than are adults of any 

other age group. The likelihood of singing increases with 

educational level and family income.

Performing with Others

Compared with previous SPPA studies, the 2012 survey 

questionnaire defined performing art in broader terms. 

There were survey questions about solo performing in 

addition to performing with others. About 15 percent of 

adults in the 2012 SPPA performed art with others 

(Figure 3-3). Likelihood of performing is inversely related 

to age—younger adults are far more likely than older 

adults to perform with others—and is positively related 

to education: the greater the educational level, the more 

likely is a person to perform with others. African 

Americans are the racial/ethnic group most likely to 

perform with others (17 percent). 

Chart 3-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who played a musical instrument and/or did social dancing, by age group: 2012

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Age 18–24 Age 25–34 Age 35–44 Age 45–54 Age 55–64 Age 65–74 Age 75+

Playing an instrument Social dancing

41.5% 41.8%

32.0% 31.6%

27.1%

22.6%

12.5%

6.9%

9.9% 11.1% 10.9% 11.5% 12.2%

20.6%
41 • chapter 3. creating, performing, and sharing art

Figure 3-2. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults engaging in the performing arts, by activity: 2012

2012 U.S. adult population Playing a 

musical 

instrument

Acting Performing 

formal dance

Dancing 

socially

Singing Perform with 

others

Millions Percent

all adults 235.0 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Gender 

Male 113.1 48.1% 52.7% 48.5% 37.8% 45.5% 42.4% 46.7%

Female 121.9 51.9% 47.3% 51.5% 62.2% 54.5% 57.6% 53.3%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 8.7% 8.8% 16.8% 17.8% 9.7% 11.9%

White 155.7 66.3% 75.8% 67.2% 61.4% 64.9% 67.3% 68.4%

African American 26.8 11.4% 6.5% 20.3% 13.2% 10.6% 16.0% 12.3%

Other 17.5 7.4% 9.0% 3.8% 8.6% 6.6% 7.1% 7.3%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 21.7% 28.0% 19.2% 16.7% 17.5% 19.7%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 16.5% 19.9% 18.6% 23.0% 14.9% 16.0%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 17.2% 14.7% 15.2% 17.2% 15.0% 15.5%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 17.3% 13.2% 19.2% 18.8% 19.0% 18.5%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 14.7% 14.0% 15.5% 14.0% 18.5% 16.4%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 8.2% 7.6% 8.0% 7.2% 9.0% 8.8%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 4.5% 2.6% 4.4% 3.1% 6.3% 5.0%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 0.5% 2.4% 1.9% 2.3% 2.0% 1.5%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 3.5% 4.9% 4.0% 5.7% 4.8% 4.6%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 19.3% 19.3% 23.9% 24.1% 23.5% 23.1%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 33.5% 29.1% 35.9% 30.6% 32.2% 33.8%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 25.9% 30.4% 20.5% 24.6% 23.8% 22.6%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 17.3% 13.8% 13.8% 12.8% 13.7% 14.4%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 13.9% 19.5% 12.2% 11.9% 17.6% 14.6%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 24.1% 24.1% 29.4% 26.9% 28.0% 27.0%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 22.1% 23.5% 18.2% 19.5% 19.2% 20.6%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 13.7% 10.0% 16.0% 14.3% 13.0% 14.2%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 13.9% 11.1% 13.2% 15.5% 12.8% 13.3%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 12.3% 11.9% 10.9% 11.9% 9.5% 10.4%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 42

Figure 3-3. Percentage of U.S. adults engaging in the performing arts, by activity: 2012 

2012 U.S. adult population Playing a 

musical 

instrument

Acting Performing 

formal dance

Dancing 

socially

Singing Perform with 

others

Demographics on 

performing art

Millions Percent

all adults 235.0 100.0% 12.1% 1.4% 5.1% 31.6% 8.7% 14.8%

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 13.2% 1.4% 4.0% 29.8% 7.7% 14.4%

Female 121.9 51.9% 11.0% 1.4% 6.1% 33.1% 9.7% 15.2%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 6.8% 0.8% 5.5% 36.3% 5.5% 11.5%

White 155.7 66.3% 13.9% 1.4% 4.8% 31.2% 8.9% 15.4%

African American 26.8 11.4% 7.2% 2.6% 6.2% 30.9% 12.8% 16.7%

Other 17.5 7.4% 13.5% 0.7% 5.5% 26.2% 7.7% 13.6%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 20.6% 3.1% 7.7% 41.5% 12.0% 23.0%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 11.5% 1.6% 5.5% 41.8% 7.5% 13.7%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 12.2% 1.2% 4.5% 32.0% 7.7% 13.5%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 11.1% 1.0% 5.2% 31.6% 8.8% 14.7%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 10.9% 1.2% 4.8% 27.1% 9.9% 14.9%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 9.9% 1.1% 4.1% 22.6% 7.8% 13.0%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 6.9% 0.5% 2.9% 12.5% 7.0% 9.5%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 1.5% 0.8% 2.4% 17.8% 4.3% 5.6%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 4.9% 0.8% 2.4% 21.0% 4.9% 8.0%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 7.6% 0.9% 4.0% 25.0% 6.7% 11.2%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 14.3% 1.4% 6.5% 34.1% 9.9% 17.7%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 16.5% 2.2% 5.5% 41.0% 10.9% 17.7%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 21.4% 2.0% 7.2% 41.2% 12.3% 21.8%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 9.6% 1.6% 3.6% 21.5% 8.8% 12.4%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 9.0% 1.0% 4.7% 26.5% 7.6% 12.5%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 14.0% 1.7% 4.9% 32.3% 8.8% 16.0%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 14.4% 1.2% 7.2% 39.2% 9.9% 18.4%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 14.2% 1.3% 5.7% 41.6% 9.4% 16.6%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 18.2% 2.0% 6.7% 46.0% 10.1% 18.9%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 overall estimate at the .05 level
43 • chapter 3. creating, performing, and sharing art

Types of music or songs performed

Adults who played a musical instrument, sang, danced, 

or acted during the last 12 months were asked for 

information about the type of music they performed. 

Figure 3-4 shows that participating in a choral group, 

choir, or glee club is the most common type of musical 

performance, followed by performing or practicing 

classical music in general. Chart 3-2 displays distinct 

gender differences in type of music performed. Women 

are much more likely to practice or perform choral or 

glee club music and men are much more likely to practice 

or perform Jazz. 

Jazz

The percentage of American adults who performed or 

practiced jazz has not changed much since 2002 (Figure 

3-4). Male jazz players outnumber females at a rate of two 

to one (Figure 3-5). Over half the jazz players are under 45 

years of age, and half have a college degree or higher.

Figure 3-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who practiced or 

performed music of various types: 2012

Percent of adults

Practiced or performed: 2002 2008 2012

Jazz 1.3% 1.4% 1.0%

Classical music 1.8% 3.1% 2.3%

Opera 0.7% 0.4% 0.4%

Latin music Not Asked Not Asked 1.3%

Choral or glee club music 4.8% 5.2% 3.2%

Musical or non-musical 

stage play*

2.8% 1.0% 0.9%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

* Musicals and non-musical stage plays were addressed as separate questions 

in 2002 and 2008.

Classical Music

The percentage of adults practicing or performing 

classical music during the past 12 months is not 

significantly different from 2002 levels. The 5 million 

adults who practiced or performed classical music 

during the 12-month SPPA period are comprised of more 

women than men. The racial and ethnic group most 

likely to play classical music is comprised of people who 

are not Hispanic, not white, and not African American. 

Young adults aged 18 to 24 are by far the age group most 

likely to play. The likelihood of practicing or performing 

classical music increases with education: 22 percent 

of people who play music and hold a graduate degree 

perform or practice classical music (Figure 3-6).

Opera

Less than 1 percent of Americans practiced or performed 

opera in 2012, the same percentage as in 2008, and 

statistically the same as in 2002. Women are nearly three 

times as likely to sing opera as men, and Hispanic adults 

are three times as likely as non-Hispanic whites and 

African Americans to sing opera. Opera singers tend to be 

younger and are more likely than not to have had some 

college education.

Latin, Spanish, or Salsa Music

One percent of American adults practice or perform 

Latin, Spanish, or salsa music. (Trend data before 2008 are 

unavailable for this art form.) Over one-quarter of 

Hispanic adults who play a musical instrument, sing, or 

dance either practice or perform Latin music. Young 

adults aged 18 to 24 are the group most likely to play, but 

the nation’s oldest Americans are nearly as likely. Roughly 

7 percent of people age 75 and older who play a musical 

instrument, sing, or dance practice or perform Latin, 

Spanish, or salsa music, which is more than the share of 

25- to 34-year-olds (6 percent) and 35- to 44-year-olds (4 

percent). People with no more than a grade school 

education are highly likely to play Latin music over any 

other kind of music. A full 30 percent of people who play 

music and have no more than a grade school education 

practice or perform Latin music (Figure 3-6).
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 44

Choral Group, Choir, or Glee Club

Participation in adult glee clubs and choirs has declined 

over the past ten years, dropping from 5 percent in 

2002 and 2008 to 3 percent in 2012. About 18 percent of 

all singers participate in a choir or glee club (Figure 3-6). 

In 2012, women comprised two-thirds of glee club and 

choir participants. Over one-fifth of American women 

who sing, and 14 percent of men who sing, participate 

in a choir or glee club. African Americans are about 

three times as likely as adults from other racial and ethnic 

groups to sing in a choir or glee club. Of African 

Americans who sing, nearly 40 percent sing in a choir or 

glee club.

Musical or Non-Musical Stage Play

Participation in a musical or non-musical stage play has 

held steady since 2008, but remains lower than ten years 

ago. In 2002, 3 percent of adults performed in a musical or 

non-musical play, compared with 1 percent in 2008 and 

2012, a statistically significant decline8

. Women and men 

are equally likely to be in a musical or non-musical play. 

Among racial and ethnic groups, African Americans are 

the most likely to be in a play, and among age groups, 

people aged 18 to 24 are the most likely. Participation in a 

musical or non-musical play is not positively related to 

educational level or family income.

8 While this is a statistically significant change, the decline could be a result of 

combining separate questions on musical and non-musical stage plays into 

a single question in 2012. In 2002 and 2008, the two types of plays were handled 

as separate questions. 

Chart 3-2. Gender differences in practicing/performing 

art, by specific art form

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Musicals/

plays

Choral/

glee

Jazz Classical Opera Latin music

6.2%

2.9%

12.4%

13.4%

0.8%

2.2%

5.9%6.2%

22.1%

3.9%3.7%

14.0%

Males Females
45 • chapter 3. creating, performing, and sharing art

Figure 3-5. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults who practice or perform art, by specific art form or activity: 2012

Jazz Classical music Opera Latin music Choral group, choir, 

or glee club

Musical or 

non-musical play

all adults 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Gender

Male 65.7% 46.2% 23.6% 45.6% 37.2% 48.3%

Female 34.3% 53.8% 76.4% 54.4% 62.8% 51.7%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 12.3% 9.3% 24.6% 48.9% 6.8% 6.7%

White 71.3% 73.2% 55.4% 43.7% 65.3% 67.4%

African American 9.0% 7.0% 7.6% 5.9% 23.3% 15.2%

Other 7.4% 10.5% 12.4% 1.1% 4.6% 10.7%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 22.1% 27.7% 23.1% 28.3% 17.0% 37.0%

25–34 21.7% 14.4% 18.7% 16.9% 11.6% 12.0%

35–44 10.8% 14.9% 20.9% 12.0% 14.1% 11.8%

45–54 16.2% 15.5% 17.9% 15.3% 23.5% 20.1%

55–64 20.7% 15.2% 11.0% 15.0% 20.0% 10.3%

65–74 3.9% 9.4% 8.3% 6.7% 8.6% 7.9%

75+ 4.6% 3.1% 0.0% 5.7% 5.2% 1.0%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 0.0% 1.2% 1.6% 6.6% 0.7% 1.2%

Some high school 3.1% 2.2% 1.4% 11.1% 4.9% 2.6%

High school graduate 14.9% 14.0% 16.7% 22.5% 21.3% 25.4%

Some college 32.4% 29.5% 43.2% 33.9% 29.4% 21.0%

College graduate 28.0% 26.3% 24.1% 15.3% 29.8% 33.7%

Graduate school 21.5% 26.7% 13.0% 10.6% 13.9% 16.1%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 13.6% 16.1% 15.1% 13.1% 15.5% 17.7%

$20K to $50K 29.1% 23.4% 28.8% 39.1% 27.3% 22.6%

$50K to $75K 20.2% 20.6% 29.0% 22.2% 19.9% 24.4%

$75K to $100K 16.3% 13.9% 9.5% 15.5% 14.8% 9.6%

$100K to $150K 13.1% 10.8% 10.1% 5.9% 15.1% 15.1%

$150K and over 7.7% 15.1% 7.5% 4.3% 7.4% 10.7%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 46

Figure 3-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who practice or perform arts, by specific art form or activity: 2012

Demographics on 

Performing Art

Jazz Classical music Opera Latin music Choral group, choir, 

or glee club

Musical or 

non-musical play

all adults 4.4% 12.9% 1.6% 6.1% 18.2% 3.8%

Gender

Male 6.2% 12.4% 0.8% 5.9% 14.0% 3.9%

Female 2.9% 13.4% 2.2% 6.2% 22.1% 3.7%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 5.0% 12.4% 3.5% 27.3% 12.7% 2.4%

White 4.5% 13.3% 1.2% 3.8% 16.7% 3.7%

African American 3.7% 8.2% 1.1% 3.4% 38.9% 5.4%

Other 3.9% 16.4% 2.3% 1.1% 10.0% 4.9%

Age

18–24 5.3% 18.5% 2.0% 9.3% 16.0% 7.6%

25–34 6.0% 11.9% 1.8% 6.3% 13.5% 2.8%

35–44 2.9% 11.5% 2.0% 4.4% 15.3% 2.7%

45–54 3.9% 11.1% 1.5% 5.1% 23.8% 4.2%

55–64 5.7% 12.2% 1.1% 5.7% 22.7% 2.5%

65–74 1.9% 13.6% 1.4% 4.5% 17.7% 3.4%

75+ 3.8% 7.3% 0.0% 6.5% 17.4% 0.7%

Highest level of education

Grade school 0.0% 12.8% 1.9% 31.0% 10.5% 3.7%

Some high school 3.1% 6.4% 0.5% 15.3% 19.5% 2.2%

High school graduate 2.9% 8.3% 1.2% 6.0% 17.7% 4.3%

Some college 4.3% 11.6% 2.0% 6.1% 16.2% 2.4%

College graduate 5.3% 14.2% 1.6% 4.0% 22.7% 5.5%

Graduate school 6.4% 22.3% 1.4% 4.4% 16.4% 4.2%

Family income

Less than $20K 4.1% 13.5% 1.6% 5.5% 18.3% 4.7%

$20K to $50K 4.8% 11.5% 1.7% 8.9% 18.9% 3.2%

$50K to $75K 4.4% 13.0% 2.2% 6.7% 17.6% 4.6%

$75K to $100K 5.1% 13.4% 1.1% 6.7% 20.1% 2.6%

$100K to $150K 4.4% 10.9% 1.2% 2.7% 21.4% 4.4%

$150K and over 3.0% 17.0% 1.0% 2.3% 11.7% 3.6%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 overall estimate at the .05 level
47 • chapter 3. creating, performing, and sharing art

Performing, Creating, and Sharing Art via Electronic 

Media and Other Methods 

Another significant change to the 2012 SPPA is that 

it broadens the measure of arts participation to include 

creating and sharing music and art through electronic 

media. This section relates specifically to the use of 

electronic technology for creating or performing music, 

visual art, dance, creative writing, or photography during 

the last 12 months. 

Because new questions were added to the SPPA to stay 

current with technological changes, and because question 

wording has evolved over time, trend analysis involving 

prior-year SPPA results is possible only for visual art and 

creative writing. 

Chart 3-3 illustrates some distinct gender differences in 

practicing and performing art. Women are more likely 

to create visual art than men, and far more likely to 

create scrapbooks. Men are more likely than women to 

create music, and they are far more likely to create films 

or videos. 

Chart 3-3. Gender differences in creating or 

performing art

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Creative

writing

Scrapbooks

Visual

art

F

Photos

ilms/

video

Dance

Music

4.5%

0.9%

2.1%

13.2%

4.7%

6.7%

2.9%

9.8%

6.2%

1.6%

3.6%

11.5%

5.6% 5.6%

Males Females

Music

Figure 3-7 shows that 5 percent of American adults, or 

nearly 12 million people, created or performed music in 

the twelve-month period addressed by the 2012 SPPA. 

This is without regard for the method or tools used. 

Of the 12 million people who created or performed 

music, 28 percent used a computer, a handheld or mobile 

device, or the Internet for that purpose (Figure 3-11). 

Of adults who created, performed, recorded, edited, or 

remixed music, 44 percent e-mailed, posted, or shared 

it electronically.

Figure 3-7. Number and percentage of U.S. adults 

creating or performing arts at least once in the past 

12 months: 2012 

Percent of adults 

who created 

or performed art

Number of adults 

who created 

or performed art

Music 5.0% 11,749,677

Dance 1.3% 3,054,916

Artistic films or videos 2.8% 6,579,819

Artistic photographs 12.4% 29,139,199

Visual arts 5.7% 13,394,632

Scrapbooking 6.5% 15,274,580

Creative writing 5.9% 13,864,619

Any of the above 23.2% 44,648,773

Not taking into account the medium used, men are 

slightly more likely than women to create or perform 

music (see Figure 3-9). About 5 percent of American 

adults—6 percent of all men and almost 5 percent of all 

women—created or performed music during the 

12-month SPPA period (again, without regard for the 

method used). Adults aged 18 to 24 are more likely 

than any other age group to create or perform music, and 

the likelihood of creating or performing music increases 

with education. The family income group most likely to 

create or perform music is the highest income group 

($150,000 or more); least likely is the lowest income group 

(less than $20,000). 
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 48

Figure 3-8. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults creating or performing arts of various kinds during 

the last 12 months: 2012 

U.S. adult population Music Dance Films/videos Photos Visual arts Scrapbooks Creative 

writing Millions Percent

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 53.4% 32.9% 60.6% 44.7% 39.3% 21.7% 45.3%

Female 121.9 51.9% 46.6% 67.1% 39.4% 55.3% 60.7% 78.3% 54.7%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity 

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 12.2% 17.7% 11.3% 9.4% 9.5% 11.2% 10.2%

White 155.7 66.3% 69.8% 60.2% 68.4% 76.7% 74.8% 73.1% 75.1%

African American 26.8 11.4% 10.1% 16.0% 12.3% 7.6% 7.0% 9.4% 8.4%

Other 17.5 7.4% 7.9% 6.5% 8.0% 6.3% 8.7% 6.3% 6.3%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 21.9% 27.6% 20.2% 13.8% 20.8% 13.4% 22.0%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 17.2% 14.0% 21.6% 21.2% 18.0% 26.1% 18.3%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 13.9% 18.7% 24.4% 18.6% 16.3% 18.9% 17.8%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 20.0% 14.7% 16.8% 18.9% 16.6% 15.3% 13.7%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 14.7% 12.3% 11.5% 15.8% 16.4% 11.1% 14.7%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 6.1% 9.4% 4.2% 8.2% 7.1% 8.4% 7.1%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 6.2% 3.3% 1.4% 3.5% 4.7% 6.8% 6.4%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 2.3% 0.9% 0.0% 0.8% 0.5% 1.2% 0.2%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 4.1% 9.7% 2.7% 2.2% 3.4% 3.4% 2.3%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 18.6% 15.9% 18.1% 16.2% 18.1% 23.1% 16.8%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 32.2% 41.6% 33.0% 32.6% 31.4% 31.2% 31.7%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 26.0% 13.3% 30.4% 29.8% 31.2% 24.2% 25.9%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 16.8% 18.5% 15.8% 18.3% 15.4% 16.9% 23.2%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 12.1% 14.4% 10.5% 9.0% 11.2% 10.1% 13.4%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 27.7% 28.9% 21.9% 25.2% 28.0% 30.3% 29.4%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 21.6% 28.6% 23.7% 22.7% 19.5% 24.8% 15.6%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 14.6% 10.9% 14.4% 12.8% 15.2% 13.4% 17.0%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 12.1% 9.7% 14.7% 15.6% 15.9% 11.7% 14.0%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 11.9% 7.4% 14.8% 14.6% 10.2% 9.8% 10.7%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
49 • chapter 3. creating, performing, and sharing art

Figure 3-9. Percentage of U.S. adults creating or performing arts during the last 12 months: 2012 

Music Dance Films/videos Photos Visual arts Scrapbooks Creative writing

all adults 5.0% 1.3% 2.8% 12.4% 5.7% 6.5% 5.9%

Gender

Male 5.6% 0.9% 3.6% 11.5% 4.7% 2.9% 5.6%

Female 4.5% 1.6% 2.1% 13.2% 6.7% 9.8% 6.2%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 4.1% 1.5% 2.2% 7.9% 3.7% 4.9% 4.1%

White 5.3% 1.1% 2.9% 14.3% 6.4% 7.2% 6.7%

African American 4.3% 1.7% 3.0% 8.0% 3.4% 5.3% 4.3%

Other 5.5% 1.2% 3.2% 10.9% 6.9% 5.7% 5.2%

Age

18–24 8.6% 2.7% 4.5% 13.4% 9.3% 6.8% 10.2%

25–34 5.0% 1.0% 3.6% 15.4% 6.0% 9.9% 6.4%

35–44 4.2% 1.4% 4.2% 14.0% 5.6% 7.4% 6.4%

45–54 5.3% 1.0% 2.5% 12.4% 5.0% 5.3% 4.3%

55–64 4.4% 0.9% 2.0% 11.9% 5.7% 4.4% 5.3%

65–74 3.0% 1.2% 1.2% 10.0% 4.0% 5.4% 4.1%

75+ 3.8% 0.5% 0.5% 5.3% 3.3% 5.4% 4.6%

Highest level of education

Grade school 2.6% 0.3% 0.0% 2.2% 0.7% 1.8% 0.3%

Some high school 2.6% 1.6% 1.0% 3.5% 2.4% 2.8% 1.7%

High school graduate 3.0% 0.7% 1.7% 6.5% 3.4% 4.9% 3.2%

Some college 5.5% 1.8% 3.2% 13.9% 6.1% 7.0% 6.4%

College graduate 6.9% 0.9% 4.6% 19.7% 9.5% 8.4% 8.2%

Graduate school 9.0% 2.5% 4.8% 24.3% 9.4% 11.7% 14.7%

Family income

Less than $20K 3.6% 1.1% 1.8% 6.7% 3.8% 3.9% 4.7%

$20K to $50K 4.2% 1.1% 1.9% 9.4% 4.8% 6.0% 5.2%

$50K to $75K 5.8% 1.9% 3.6% 15.2% 6.0% 8.7% 5.0%

$75K to $100K 6.2% 1.2% 3.4% 13.4% 7.3% 7.4% 8.5%

$100K to $150K 5.3% 1.1% 3.6% 16.9% 7.9% 6.6% 7.2%

$150K and over 7.2% 1.1% 5.0% 21.9% 7.0% 7.7% 7.7%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 overall estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 50

Of adults who used electronic media to create or perform 

music, men outnumber women by a ratio of 4 to 1, and 

three-quarters are under the age of 45 (see Figure 3-10). 

Over two-thirds of the people who use a computer, a 

handheld device, a mobile device, or the Internet to create 

music have at least some college education. Among all 

U.S. adults who create or perform music, African 

Americans are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic 

whites to use electronic media to do this (see Figure 3-11). 

Using electronic media to create or perform music is 

most common among young adults and among people 

from higher-income families. 

Figure 3-10. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults using electronic media to create or perform art in the past 12 months, 

by art form: 2012

2012 US Population Create music Record, edit, or 

remix music

Record, edit, or 

remix dance

Record, edit, 

or remix films 

or videos

Edit photos Create visual 

art Millions Percent

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 72.1% 62.9% 48.3% 61.9% 42.8% 44.1%

Female 121.9 51.9% 27.9% 37.1% 51.7% 38.1% 57.2% 55.9%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race and ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 17.6% 12.6% 16.0% 12.8% 8.4% 7.3%

White 155.7 66.3% 24.9% 66.9% 56.8% 70.8% 78.5% 74.8%

African American 26.8 11.4% 17.2% 15.3% 23.3% 10.3% 6.2% 9.3%

Other 17.5 7.4% 3.8% 5.2% 3.8% 6.1% 6.9% 8.6%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 34.1% 29.4% 30.6% 26.3% 16.8% 21.6%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 22.5% 17.7% 13.0% 19.2% 22.5% 22.8%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 17.7% 12.1% 15.0% 20.2% 17.5% 13.9%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 16.8% 18.6% 19.7% 18.6% 19.4% 14.8%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 7.6% 13.6% 16.9% 10.2% 13.6% 18.0%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 0.3% 6.4% 3.6% 3.5% 7.2% 6.3%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 0.9% 2.1% 1.3% 2.0% 3.0% 2.8%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 0.0% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.0%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 4.6% 4.6% 7.4% 2.0% 2.0% 1.6%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 16.2% 22.2% 8.8% 17.2% 14.3% 13.8%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 37.5% 32.0% 44.7% 35.0% 31.9% 31.5%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 30.1% 26.4% 20.1% 32.0% 32.4% 35.1%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 11.6% 14.6% 18.9% 13.7% 19.1% 18.0%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 9.4% 11.8% 8.5% 7.3% 6.2% 8.3%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 23.7% 26.7% 26.9% 22.5% 23.1% 24.7%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 23.0% 22.0% 32.6% 27.3% 21.8% 21.3%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 16.1% 15.0% 14.0% 14.7% 16.0% 17.1%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 9.0% 10.9% 7.9% 11.4% 19.0% 15.6%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 18.9% 13.6% 10.0% 16.8% 13.9% 13.0%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
51 • chapter 3. creating, performing, and sharing art

Figure 3-11. Percentage of U.S. adults using electronic media to create or perform art in the past 12 months, 

by art form: 2012

Recorded, edited, or 

remixed music

Recorded, edited, or 

remixed dance

Recorded, edited, 

or remixed films or 

videos

Edited photos Used electronic media

Of all adults 

who created or 

performed music

Of all adults 

who created 

visual art

all adults 4.4% 0.9% 2.2% 13.0% 28.4% 45.6%

Gender

Male 5.8% 0.9% 2.9% 11.6% 38.6% 55.9%

Female 3.1% 0.9% 1.6% 14.4% 16.9% 45.7%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 3.8% 0.9% 1.9% 7.4% 41.5% 38.3%

White 4.4% 0.7% 2.4% 15.4% 24.9% 49.7%

African American 5.8% 1.7% 2.0% 6.9% 48.1% 66.0%

Other 3.2% 0.5% 1.9% 12.5% 13.6% 49.3%

Age

18–24 10.2% 2.1% 4.6% 17.2% 43.9% 51.8%

25–34 4.6% 0.7% 2.5% 17.3% 37.4% 63.0%

35–44 3.2% 0.8% 2.8% 13.8% 36.5% 42.4%

45–54 4.3% 0.9% 2.2% 13.3% 23.7% 44.2%

55–64 3.7% 0.9% 1.4% 10.8% 14.7% 54.3%

65–74 2.8% 0.3% 0.8% 9.3% 1.7% 44.0%

75+ 1.1% 0.1% 0.6% 4.8% 4.1% 27.3%

Highest level of education

Grade school 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.9% 0.0% 0.0%

Some high school 2.6% 0.8% 0.6% 3.2% 31.4% 23.7%

High school graduate 3.2% 0.2% 1.3% 6.1% 24.6% 38.0%

Some college 4.9% 1.3% 2.7% 14.3% 33.6% 50.0%

College graduate 6.2% 0.9% 3.8% 22.6% 32.6% 55.7%

Graduate school 6.9% 1.8% 3.3% 26.7% 19.5% 58.2%

Family income 

Less than $20K 3.1% 0.4% 1.0% 4.8% 21.9% 36.9%

$20K to $50K 3.6% 0.7% 1.5% 9.1% 24.4% 43.8%

$50K to $75K 5.2% 1.5% 3.3% 15.3% 30.4% 54.3%

$75K to $100K 5.6% 1.0% 2.8% 17.7% 31.4% 56.1%

$100K to $150K 4.2% 0.6% 2.2% 21.6% 21.0% 48.8%

$150K and over 7.3% 1.1% 4.6% 21.9% 44.6% 63.2%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 overall estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 52

Dance 

One percent of American adults, or three million people, 

created or performed dance during the 12-month 

SPPA period (Figure 3-9). Among people who created or 

performed dance, 3 percent used a computer, a handheld 

or mobile device, or the Internet to record, edit, or remix 

it (Figure 3-11). 

Not taking into account the medium used, women are 

almost twice as likely as men to create or perform dance, 

and Hispanics and African Americans are slightly more 

likely than other racial or ethnic group to have created or 

performed dance in the last 12 months (Figure 3-9). 

Young adults aged 18 to 24 are two to three times as likely 

as other age groups to have created or performed dance. 

The likelihood of creating or performing dance does not 

vary much by family income bracket, although it does by 

educational level. Adults who attended graduate school 

are the most likely to create or perform dance. 

Among adults who create or perform dance, men are 

more likely than women to use electronic media to do 

this activity, and young adults are more likely than 

older adults to use electronic media to do so (Figure 10). 

American adults who are not Hispanic, white, or African 

American are the most likely racial or ethnic group to 

record, edit, or remix dance performances (Figure 3-11). 

Films and Videos

Three percent of Americans, or 6.6 million people, created 

or filmed a video in the past 12 months (Figure 3-7), and 

145,000 people (less than 0.1 percent of the population) 

edited or remixed a film or video. Of adults who created 

or filmed a video, 13 percent used a computer, a handheld 

device, a mobile device, or the Internet to e-mail, post, or 

share it.

Men are more likely than women to create a film or 

video. The likelihood of creating a film or video decreases 

with age and increases with educational level and family 

income (Figure 3-9). 

Of the 145,000 people who edited or remixed a film or 

video in the 12-month SPPA period, two-thirds were 

men, over two-thirds were white, 80 percent had attended 

college or graduate school, and nearly 60 percent came 

from families that earned $75,000 or less (Figure 3-8).

Photography for artistic purposes

Twelve percent of Americans take photographs for 

artistic purposes, making photography the most common 

form of arts creation (Figure 3-7). About 2 percent of 

adults do photo editing. Twenty-seven percent of adults 

who created, recorded, or remixed photographs shared 

them using a computer, a handheld or mobile device, or 

the Internet. 

Women are more likely than men to take photographs 

for artistic purposes, and non-Hispanic whites are more 

likely than other ethnic and racial groups to take 

photographs (Figure 3-9). Of American adults who engage 

in photography, over one-third are younger than 35, 

compared with 12 percent of people 65 and older. The 

likelihood of engaging in photography increases with 

education and family income. Nearly one-quarter of 

Americans with a graduate education and over one-fifth 

of those from families earning at least $150,000 take 

photographs for artistic purposes (Figure 3-9). 

Americans who do photo editing are most likely to be 

female, non-Hispanic white, young, highly educated, and 

to come from higher-income families (Figure 3-11).

Visual Art

Six percent of adults, or 13 million people, created visual 

art such as paintings, sculpture, or graphic designs in 

the 12-month SPPA period (Figure 3-9). Of the 13 million 

people who created visual art in the past 12 months, 46 

percent created it using a computer, a handheld or mobile 

device, or the Internet (Figure 3-11), and 6 percent shared 

it that way.

Not taking into account the medium used, women are 

slightly more likely than men to create visual art, and 

Americans 18 to 24 are the most likely age group to create 

visual art (Figure 3-9). The likelihood of creating visual 

art increases with education and family income; only 3 

percent of high school graduates create visual art, 

compared with about ten percent of college graduates. 
53 • chapter 3. creating, performing, and sharing art

If, however, creation is restricted to the use of electronic 

media, then men are more likely than women to create 

visual art (Figure 3-11). While visual arts creators are 

predominantly women, adults who use electronic media 

for this purpose are predominantly men. Two-thirds 

of African Americans who create visual art use a 

computer or other device to do so, higher than for any 

other racial or ethnic group, and almost two-thirds of 

adults 25 to 34 who create visual art use electronic media, 

higher than for any other age group (Figure 3-11). The 

likelihood of using electronic media to create visual art 

increases with educational level.

Scrapbooking

About 7 percent of American adults engage in 

scrapbooking, making it the second most common form 

of creating art, behind photography (Figure 3-7). 

Two percent of Americans share their scrapbooking 

electronically.

Women are three times as likely to scrapbook as men 

(Figure 3-9): 10 percent of American women scrapbook, 

compared with 3 percent of men. Scrapbooking appeals 

to a young audience and an educated one. Ten percent 

of adults aged 25 to 34 scrapbook, compared with 4 

percent in the 55 to 64 age group. In 2012, about 12 

percent of adults with a graduate degree engaged in 

scrapbooking, compared with 5 percent of adults with a 

high school diploma only. The family income group most 

likely to scrapbook earns $50,000–$75,000; the highest 

wage-earning families ($150,000 or more) are the second 

most likely group.

Creative Writing

Six percent of adults did creative writing in the past 12 

months (Figure 3-7), and 4 percent shared it electronically. 

The share of people doing creative writing has not 

changed in a statistically meaningful way over the past 

decade. (Creative writing is one of the few forms of arts 

creation for which data comparisons with previous survey 

years can be made.) In 2002 and 2008, about 7 percent 

wrote creatively. 

Women are slightly more likely to write than men, 

and young people aged 18 to 24 are two times more likely 

to write than people in nearly every other age group 

(Figure 3-9). The likelihood of doing creative writing 

increases dramatically with education. Fifteen percent 

of Americans with a graduate degree write creatively, 

compared with 3 percent of high school graduates. The 

family income group most likely to write earns $75,000 

to $100,000; the group least likely earns under $20,000 

annually. 

Craft Arts 

The 2012 SPPA asked several questions about creating 

craft arts. The results are shown in Figure 3-12. Overall, 

about 5 percent of American adults created pottery, 

ceramics, or jewelry; 8 percent created leatherwork, 

metalwork, or woodwork; and 13 percent did weaving, 

crocheting, quilting, needlepoint, knitting, or sewing. 

Women and young adults aged 18 to 24 have much higher 

rates of creating pottery, ceramics, or jewelry (7 percent of 

each subgroup), while men and adults 45 to 64 have much 

higher rates of constructing art from metal, leather, or 

wood (14 percent and about 10 percent, respectively). 

Weaving, crocheting, quilting, and needlepoint are 

activities done predominantly by women (23 percent of 

women compared with 2 percent of men) who are 55 

or older. 

Trend analysis on craft arts is not possible because of 

differences in question wording from prior SPPA surveys. 

However, the question on weaving and crocheting is 

similar enough to allow a comparison, which shows little 

change in participation from 2008 but a decline from 

2002, when about 16 percent engaged in this activity. 
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 54

Chart 3-4 shows major gender differences in craft arts. 

Women are more likely than men to create pottery, 

ceramics, and jewelry and extremely more likely to do 

weaving, crocheting, quilting, needlepoint, knitting, 

or sewing. Men are far more likely than women to do 

leatherwork, metalwork, or woodwork. 

Chart 3-4. Gender differences in craft arts

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Weaving, crocheting, 

quilting, needlepoint, 

knitting, or sewing

Creating leatherwork,

metalwork, or 

woodwork

Creating pottery, 

ceramics, or jewelry

2.1%

6.8%

13.5%

3.2%

2.4%

23.2%

Males Females

Figure 3-12. Percentage of U.S. adults doing craft arts 

during the last 12 months: 2012

Creating 

pottery, 

ceramics, or 

jewelry

Creating 

leatherwork, 

metalwork, or 

woodwork

Weaving, 

crocheting, 

quilting, 

needlepoint, 

knitting, or 

sewing

all adults 4.5% 8.2% 13.2%

Gender

Male 2.1% 13.5% 2.4%

Female 6.8% 3.2% 23.2%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 2.5% 4.9% 9.4%

White 5.1% 10.2% 14.8%

African American 4.2% 3.2% 9.5%

Other 4.5% 4.5% 11.9%

Age

18–24 7.1% 7.8% 9.8%

25–34 4.2% 7.8% 10.6%

35–44 4.4% 7.5% 10.8%

45–54 4.6% 9.5% 13.5%

55–64 4.6% 10.2% 15.5%

65–74 3.6% 7.9% 19.0%

75+ 2.3% 4.1% 16.5%

Highest level of education

Grade school 1.3% 2.7% 10.8%

Some high school 2.2% 5.4% 7.2%

High school graduate 3.2% 7.1% 11.5%

Some college 5.8% 9.7% 14.0%

College graduate 6.1% 9.8% 16.2%

Graduate school 5.2% 8.8% 16.7%

Family income

Less than $20K 4.4% 5.5% 12.8%

$20K to $50K 4.1% 6.4% 12.9%

$50K to $75K 4.9% 10.7% 12.6%

$75K to $100K 5.2% 10.4% 15.4%

$100K to $150K 4.3% 10.4% 13.8%

$150K and over 5.4% 8.7% 12.7%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 overall estimate at the .05 level
Chapter 4. Participation in Arts Learning Activities

Students participate in a school tour of FotoFest 2012. FotoFest is a 

biennial photography festival in Houston, Texas. Photo courtesy of FotoFest
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 56

Sample Findings

• The percentage of U.S. adults taking music, creative 

writing, or visual arts lessons or classes at any point in 

their lives has increased over the past decade—by more 

than 15 percent for creative writing and visual arts and 

5 percent for music.

• A trend toward greater racial and ethnic diversity of 

adults taking classes or lessons is evidenced by the 

higher rates of African Americans and Hispanics taking 

acting, dance, creative writing, and music appreciation 

classes in the past year. 

• Music is the art form most commonly studied, whether 

through voice-training or learning to play an instrument. 

• Photography or filmmaking is the only art form that more 

people reported learning through other means other than 

classes or lessons. 

• Women, non-Hispanic whites, and 18- to 24-year-olds 

represent the demographic profile of adults who are the 

most likely to have taken music classes or lessons at 

some point in their lives.

• Nearly half of the nation’s adults (46 percent) recalled 

taking arts classes or lessons as a child, while one-third 

reported taking classes/lessons as an adult. Music is the 

art form most commonly studied as a child.

• The most frequent arts learning experience that occurs 

through adult classes or lessons is art appreciation and 

art history. Thirteen percent of Americans said they had 

participated in such learning as adults. 

• More than half of all adults were exposed to the arts as a 

child, either through visiting an art museum or gallery or 

attending a live music, theater, or dance performance.

• Childhood experience in the arts is significantly 

associated with educational level obtained in adulthood. 

Over 70 percent of college graduates said they visited an 

art museum or gallery as a child, compared with 42 

percent of adults who have only a high school diploma. 
57 • chapter 4. participation in arts learning activities

As with all the other sections of the SPPA survey, the 

module on arts learning-related activities asks 

respondents to report any participation that occurred in 

the last 12 months. A defining feature of the arts learning 

module is that the majority of questions refer to activities 

covering the respondent’s lifetime. To that extent, this 

section of the survey may be regarded as emphasizing the 

value of lifelong learning as integral to arts participation. 

Historically, the arts learning questions have specified 

music, visual arts, acting, ballet, dance, creative writing, 

art appreciation/art history, and music appreciation. 

The 2008 SPPA survey broadened the question on ballet 

lessons or classes to include all forms of dance, and the 

identical question was repeated in 2012. Prior to 2012, 

photography and filmmaking lessons or classes were 

named as examples of visual art classes, but respondents 

were not asked specifically if they had studied either art 

form. The 2012 SPPA asked directly about studying 

photography or filmmaking. 

A more comprehensive change to the survey’s questions 

about arts learning questions involved expanding the 

conceptual framework of arts learning in 2012 to include 

learning through family or friends, learning that occurred 

as part of a family tradition, and learning through 

self-instruction and/or through books or the Internet. 

However, trend analysis (i.e., comparisons with results 

from prior survey years) is permissible only for the 

questions about arts classes or lessons. 

Learning for a Lifetime: Participation in the Arts 

through Classes or Lessons

The percentage of Americans engaging in arts learning 

through lessons or classes at any point in their lives 

has increased over the past decade (see Figure 4-1 and 

Chart 4-1). The percentage of U.S. adults who in 2012 

reported ever studying music, visual arts, or creative 

writing is greater than in 2002, and the 2012 percentage 

who ever studied acting, dance, art appreciation, or 

music appreciation is greater than in 2008. Some of these 

changes can be attributed to the entry of a new cohort 

of younger adults who in 2012 reported higher levels of 

arts learning than they did in 2002. At the same time, 

caution should be exercised in comparing estimates of 

changes over time. 

Specifically, while the wording of many questions about 

taking lessons or classes has remained the same across 

all survey years (2002, 2008, and 2012), the inclusion of 

questions about learning through other means in 2012 

could potentially have influenced how people responded 

in 2012. Enrollment in an arts lesson or class is highly 

correlated with years of formal education and income. 

People with greater levels of family income and personal 

education are the most likely to have studied the arts 

through formal methods. This finding is understandable 

in view of the discretionary income needed for private 

classes or lessons (see Figure 4-3). 

Music is the art form most commonly studied, whether 

it is voice-training or learning to play an instrument. 

The number of Americans who have taken music lessons 

or classes during their lifetime, either in or out of school 

(Figure 4-1), has increased over the past decade, from 34 

percent in 2002 to nearly 36 percent in 2012 (a 5 percent 

increase in the overall rate of participation in those 

activities, as shown in Chart 4-1). 

Visual art, such as drawing, painting, pottery, weaving, or 

graphic or fashion design, is the second most commonly 

studied art form. Nearly one-fifth of all American adults 

have taken visual art classes or lessons at some point 

in their life, an increase over the 2002 and 2008 levels. 

This proportional growth likely would have been still 

greater had the question on visual arts classes included 

photography and filmmaking as examples, as happened 

in prior rounds of the SPPA.

About 17 percent of adults reported in 2012 that they had 

taken dance lessons or classes, compared with 12 percent 

in 2008. Of all art forms, dance learning experienced the 

largest jump in participation levels, as seen in Figure 4-1.

Eighteen percent of adults in 2012 said that at some 

point they had studied art appreciation or art history. This 

is roughly the same proportion of U.S. adults as in 2002. 

The return to 2002 participation levels represents an 

increase over 2008, when the share dropped to 14 percent. 

Fourteen percent of adults have taken music appreciation 

at some point, higher than in 2008 but lower than in 2002.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 58

Figure 4-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who took arts lessons 

or classes during their lifetime, by art form studied: 2002, 

2008, and 2012

Percent of adults

2002 2008 2012

Music 33.9% 34.0% 35.6%

Visual arts 16.5% 17.0% 19.3%

Acting or theater 7.0% 5.9% 7.1%

Photography or 

filmmaking

Not 

comparable

Not 

comparable

9.4%

Dance Not 

comparable

12.1% 16.7%

Creative writing 13.1% 11.3% 15.4%

Art appreciation or 

Art history

18.3% 13.8% 17.6%

Music appreciation 16.1% 11.0% 13.8%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

Chart 4-1. Percentage change in lifetime arts learning

-20% -10% 0% 10% 20%

Music

Visual arts

Acting or theater

Creative writing

Art appreciation 

or art history

Music 

appreciation

17.6%

-4.0%

1.4%

17.0%

5.0%

-16.7%

Music

Women are somewhat more likely than men to have 

taken music classes or lessons at some point in their 

lives. Thirty-eight percent of all American adult women 

have taken music lessons, compared with 33 percent of 

men (Figure 4-3 and Chart 4-2). Non-Hispanic whites are 

substantially more likely to have taken music lessons 

than members of any other racial or ethnic group, and the 

youngest adults, (aged 18 to 24) are the most likely age 

group to have done so. The likelihood of taking music 

classes or lessons is closely correlated with higher 

education and income. 

Visual arts

Nearly two-thirds of people who took visual arts as a 

child or as an adult are women (Figure 4-2). Americans 

who belong to a racial or ethnic group other than 

non-Hispanic white, Hispanic, and African American are 

the most likely to have taken visual arts (22 percent of 

this group) (Figure 4-3). Young adults are far more likely 

than older adults to have had a visual arts education, 

and people with at least some college education are far 

more likely than less educated people to have had a visual 

arts education. The highest income earners are among 

those most likely to have had visual arts training.

Acting or theater

Nine percent of women and 5 percent of men have taken 

classes or lessons in acting and theater (Figure 4-3 and 

Chart 4-2). Non-Hispanic whites represent the racial and 

ethnic group most likely to have had acting or theater 

training (8 percent of them). Young adults, under the age 

of 35, are far more likely than adults 45 and older to 

have received such education. Americans with a graduate 

degree are far more likely than less educated people to 

have taken acting or theater classes, and individuals from 

high-earning families are more likely than individuals 

from lower-income families to have done so.

Photography or filmmaking

Of the different forms of arts education listed in Figures 

4-2 and 4-3, the gender divide is smallest for photography 

and filmmaking. Nine percent of men and 10 percent 

of women have had classes or lessons in photography and 

filmmaking. Eleven percent of non-Hispanic white 

adults and 4 percent of African Americans have had some 

education in photography and filmmaking. The likelihood 

of photography or filmmaking education is highly 

correlated with education and income (Figure 4-3).
59 • chapter 4. participation in arts learning activities

Dance

Nearly three-quarters of adults who have taken dance 

classes or lessons at some point in their lives are women 

(Figure 4-2) and 80 percent are non-Hispanic white. 

The tendency to pursue dance education does not vary 

much by age but it does by education and income. A 

third of all adults with a graduate degree have had dance 

lessons, compared with 9 percent of high school 

graduates. Similarly, nearly 30 percent of adults in the 

highest wage-earning families have taken dance in 

their lifetimes, compared with 10 percent of adults in 

families making less than $20,000 annually.

Creative writing

Fifteen percent of all American adults—17 percent of 

women and 13 percent of men—have taken a class or 

lesson in creative writing at some point (Figure 4-3 and 

Chart 4-2). The racial or ethnic group most likely to 

study creative writing is non-Hispanic white (18 percent). 

Younger adults 18 to 24 are twice as likely as the nation’s 

oldest adults to have studied creative writing. Education 

in creative writing is correlated with more education 

and more income. Twenty-nine percent of adults with a 

graduate degree and 24 percent of adults earning $150,000 

or more have taken classes in creative writing.

Art appreciation or art history

Eighteen percent of American adults have taken art 

appreciation or art history classes or lessons (Figure 4-3). 

About one-fifth of all women and 16 percent of all 

men have studied art appreciation. Non-Hispanic whites 

are the racial/ethnic group most likely to have taken 

an art appreciation lesson or class. The tendency to study 

art appreciation is inversely related to age; 23 percent 

of the youngest adults have studied it, compared with 11 

percent of the oldest. The likelihood is also associated 

with education and income. The higher the education or 

income, the more likely a person has taken art 

appreciation.

Music appreciation

Fewer Americans take music appreciation classes than 

art appreciation (14 percent compared with 18 percent) 

(Figure 4-3). Similar to other forms of arts learning in 

Figures 4-2, 4-3, and Chart 4-2, more women than men 

have taken lessons or classes in music appreciation. Of 

the people who have taken music appreciation classes, 

over half (54 percent) are under 45 years of age (Figure 

4-3). Thirty percent of adults with a graduate degree have 

taken music appreciation, compared with 6 percent 

of high school graduates. Adults from high wage-earning 

families are more likely than adults from lower-earning 

families to have studied music appreciation.

Chart 4-2. Gender differences in lifetime arts learning, by 

type of class or lesson

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Music appreciation

Art appreciation

Creative

Danc

 writing

e

Photography or film

Acting or theater

Visual arts

Music

33.2%

37.8%

14.3%

23.9%

5.0%

9.1% 10.0%9.2%

23.7%

13.3%

17.4%

15.6%

19.5%

11.9%

15.5%

Males Females

8.7%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 60

Figure 4-2. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults who took arts classes or lessons at any time in their lives: 2012 

2012 U.S. adult 

population

Music Visual arts Acting or 

theater

Photography 

or 

filmmaking

Dance Creative 

writing

Art 

appreciation

Music 

appreciation

Millions Percent

all adults 235.0 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 44.9% 35.6% 33.9% 44.4% 26.5% 41.5% 42.5% 41.6%

Female 121.9 51.9% 55.1% 64.4% 66.1% 55.6% 73.5% 58.5% 57.5% 58.4%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity 

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 7.9% 9.9% 8.4% 8.2% 8.9% 7.6% 8.3% 6.5%

White 155.7 66.3% 78.1% 74.3% 77.2% 80.0% 79.9% 77.7% 76.5% 77.0%

African American 26.8 11.4% 7.4% 7.3% 7.9% 5.8% 5.8% 8.2% 7.8% 8.8%

Other 17.5 7.4% 6.5% 8.5% 6.5% 6.1% 5.4% 6.6% 7.3% 7.7%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 15.9% 18.3% 19.6% 13.8% 13.6% 20.0% 16.8% 17.0%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 18.4% 20.7% 24.6% 21.1% 16.5% 21.9% 20.1% 21.3%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 16.9% 15.8% 19.1% 18.0% 15.9% 16.9% 17.6% 15.7%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 18.1% 16.6% 14.6% 17.7% 17.6% 16.5% 16.9% 14.9%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 16.0% 15.0% 13.2% 17.3% 18.8% 14.5% 15.6% 16.3%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 9.0% 8.7% 5.3% 7.9% 10.1% 7.1% 8.5% 9.5%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 5.8% 4.7% 3.6% 4.2% 6.8% 3.0% 4.5% 5.2%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 0.6% 0.6% 0.1% 0.0% 0.5% 0.4% 0.2% 0.4%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 2.9% 2.6% 2.6% 0.9% 2.6% 1.7% 1.0% 1.5%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 21.3% 18.8% 15.0% 15.6% 16.0% 11.7% 9.8% 12.6%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 33.1% 37.0% 28.3% 29.3% 31.5% 34.2% 33.1% 31.9%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 27.1% 26.5% 31.8% 34.3% 29.6% 33.5% 34.8% 32.0%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 15.0% 14.5% 22.2% 19.8% 19.8% 18.4% 20.9% 21.6%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 12.4% 13.2% 15.0% 10.8% 9.7% 11.6% 10.4% 10.7%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 26.2% 27.7% 24.3% 23.2% 24.3% 25.4% 22.5% 23.5%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 19.2% 19.9% 20.0% 18.0% 20.7% 19.8% 21.1% 19.7%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 14.2% 14.2% 14.5% 16.8% 13.8% 13.8% 15.7% 15.9%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 15.4% 13.7% 14.3% 15.1% 16.4% 16.2% 15.2% 16.7%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 12.7% 11.4% 11.9% 16.0% 15.1% 13.3% 15.1% 13.5%

 Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
61 • chapter 4. participation in arts learning activities

Figure 4-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who took arts classes or lessons at any time in their lives and percentage who took 

such classes or lessons within the last 12 months (in parentheses): 2012

Music Visual arts Acting Photography/

filmmaking

Dance Creative 

writing

Art 

appreciation or 

art history

Music 

appreciation

all adults 35.6% 

(2.0%)

19.3% 

(2.0%)

7.1% 

(0.3%)

9.4% 

(1.2%)

16.7%

(1.8%)

15.4%

(1.7%)

17.6%

(1.5%)

13.8%

(1.0%)

Gender

Male 33.2% 

(1.9%)

14.3% 

(1.1%)

5.0% 

(0.3%)

8.7% 

(1.0%) 

9.2% 

(0.7%)

13.3%

(1.2%)

15.6%

(1.2%)

11.9%

(0.8%)

Female 37.8% 

(2.2%)

23.9% 

(2.7%)

9.1% 

(0.4%)

10.0% 

(1.4%) 

23.7%

(2.8%)

17.4%

(2.2%)

19.5%

(1.7%)

15.5%

(1.1%)

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 19.3% 

(1.6%)

13.1% 

(1.1%)

4.1% 

(0.4%) 

5.2% 

(1.3%)

10.2%

(2.2%)

7.9%

(1.8%)

10.0%

(0.9%)

6.2%

(1.2%)

White 41.6% 

(2.2%) 

21.4% 

(2.3%)

8.2% 

(0.3%)

11.2% 

(1.3%)

19.9%

(1.7%)

17.9%

(1.7%)

20.2%

(1.5%)

15.9%

(0.8%)

African American 23.9% 

(1.8%)

12.6% 

(0.9%)

5.1% 

(0.6%)

4.9% 

(0.6%)

8.7%

(2.1%)

11.4%

(1.7%)

12.5%

(1.0%)

11.0%

(1.0%)

Other 31.4% 

(2.1%)

22.1% 

(2.5%)

6.2% 

(0.2%)

7.7% 

(0.7%)

12.1%

(1.1%)

13.7%

(2.0%)

17.5%

(3.4%)

14.2%

(1.5%)

Age

18–24 42.9% 

(5.3%)

26.9% 

(3.5%)

10.6% 

(1.0%) 

9.8%

(2.6%)

17.3%

(3.0%)

23.6%

(5.9%)

22.6%

(5.2%)

17.9%

(3.1%)

25–34 37.6% 

(1.1%)

23.0% 

(2.7%)

10.0% 

(0.4%)

11.3%

(1.2%)

16.5%

(1.4%)

19.5%

(2.4%)

20.4%

(1.9%)

16.9%

(1.2%)

35–44 35.6% 

(1.7%)

18.0% 

(1.4%)

8.0% 

(0.4%)

10.0%

(1.1%)

15.7%

(2.2%)

15.3%

(1.1%)

18.3%

(0.5%)

12.8%

(0.8%)

45–54 34.0% 

(1.8%)

17.0% 

(1.2%)

5.5% 

(0.1%)

8.8%

(1.1%)

15.5%

(1.2%)

13.5%

(0.8%)

15.8%

(0.7%)

11.0%

(0.3%)

55–64 33.5% 

(2.0%)

17.1% 

(1.5%)

5.6% 

(0.3%) 

9.6%

(0.9%)

18.5%

(2.1%)

13.2%

(0.7%)

16.2%

(0.9%)

13.2%

(0.4%)

65–74 33.9% 

(1.4%)

17.7% 

(2.0%)

4.0% 

(0.0%) 

7.8%

(0.9%)

17.8%

(1.1%)

11.6%

(0.6%)

15.8%

(0.7%)

13.8%

(0.6%)

75+ 28.7% 

(0.6%)

12.7% 

(1.6%)

3.6%

(0.0%) 

5.4%

(0.3%)

15.9%

(0.7%)

6.4%

(0.3%)

11.1%

(0.4%)

10.0%

(0.2%)

Highest level of education

Grade school 5.6% 

(0.2%)

2.7% 

(0.2%)

0.2% 

(0.0%)

0.0%

(0.0%)

2.0%

(0.0%)

1.7%

(0.4%)

1.0%

(0.0%)

1.5%

(0%)

Some high school 13.4% 

(0.6%)

6.6% 

(0.2%)

2.4% 

(0.0%)

1.1%

(0.2%)

5.6%

(1.0%)

3.5%

(0.1%)

2.4%

(0.0%)

2.7%

(0.0%)

High school graduate 24.6% 

(1.0%)

11.7% 

(0.9%)

3.4% 

(0.2%)

4.7%

(0.5%)

8.6%

(1.1%)

5.8%

(0.9%)

5.6%

(0.6%)

5.6%

(0.4%)

Some college 40.7% 

(2.4%)

24.7% 

(2.4%)

7.0% 

(0.5%) 

9.5%

(1.4%)

18.2%

(1.7%)

18.2%

(3.1%)

20.3%

(3.2%)

15.2%

(1.7%)

College graduate 51.3% 

(2.8%)

27.2% 

(3.0%)

12.0% 

(0.5%)

17.1%

(2.1%)

26.3%

(2.6%)

27.5%

(2.2%)

32.9%

(1.6%)

23.6%

(1.1%)

Graduate school 54.6% 

(4.6%)

28.6% 

(4.1%)

16.0% 

(0.6%)

19.0%

(2.2%)

33.9%

(4.1%)

29.1%

(1.3%)

37.8%

(0.7%)

30.6%

(1.4%)

Family income

Less than $20K 26.6% 

(1.7%)

15.3% 

(1.2%)

6.4% 

(0.6%)

6.1%

(0.9%)

9.8%

(1.3%)

10.7%

(1.8%)

11.0%

(1.6%)

8.8%

(1.2%)

$20K to $50K 29.2% 

(1.6%)

16.8% 

(1.7%)

5.4% 

(0.4%) 

6.8%

(0.6%)

12.7%

(1.2%)

12.3%

(1.6%)

12.5%

(1.1%)

10.2%

(1.0%)

$50K to $75K 36.0% 

(2.5%)

20.2% 

(1.3%)

7.5% 

(0.2%)

8.9%

(0.9%)

18.2%

(2.1%)

16.0%

(1.6%)

19.6%

(1.5%)

14.3%

(0.7%)

$75K to $100K 42.6% 

(1.4%)

23.1% 

(2.7%)

8.8% 

(0.2%)

13.3%

(1.4%)

19.6%

(1.6%)

18.0%

(2.1%)

23.6%

(0.9%)

18.6%

(0.3%)

$100K to $150K 44.8% 

(2.9%)

21.6% 

(2.2%)

8.3%

(0.4%)

11.5%

(1.7%)

22.4%

(3.1%)

20.4%

(2.0%)

21.9%

(2.2%)

19.0%

(1.1%)

$150K and over 52.6% 

(3.0%)

25.7% 

(4.3%)

9.9% 

(0.5%)

17.6%

(3.7%)

29.4%

(2.3%)

23.9%

(1.7%)

31.0%

(2.1%)

21.9%

(1.5%)
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 62

Art Classes or Lessons within the Last 12 Months 

As a mode of arts participation, taking arts classes or 

lessons trailed far behind attending arts events or 

creating, performing, or sharing art. In 2012, just 2 

percent of adults took classes or lessons in music, visual 

art, dance, creative writing, art appreciation, or art history 

in the previous 12 months (Figure 4-3). However, a 

promising trend is emerging as the number of adults 

taking lessons or classes during the past 12 months has 

increased from 2002 for all art forms except acting or 

theater. Furthermore, most of the recent increases are 

statistically significant, and acting or theater in 2012 

remained the same as it was in 2008.

Figure 4-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who took arts 

lessons or classes during the past 12 months: 2012

2002 2008 2012

Music 1.4% 1.3% 2.0%

Visual arts 1.7% 2.0% 2.0%

Acting or theater 0.5% 0.3% 0.3%

Photography or 

filmmaking

Not 

comparable

Not 

comparable

1.2%

Dance Not 

comparable

1.1% 1.8%

Creative writing 1.0% 1.3% 1.7%

Art appreciation or 

Art history

1.0% 1.3% 1.5%

Music appreciation 0.6% 0.5% 1.0%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

Overall, 7.3 percent of Americans engaged in arts learning 

through classes or lessons in last 12 months. As expected, 

college-age adults (aged 18 to 24) are the most likely to 

be taking arts lessons or classes (Figure 4-4). While a 

higher percentage of white adults reported taking arts 

classes or lessons at any point in their lives, the share of 

all adults who had taken classes/lessons in the last 12 

months was much more diverse. Evidence for this is 

shown by the relatively higher rates of African Americans 

and Hispanics taking acting, dance, creative writing, and 

music appreciation classes/lessons in the past year versus 

at any time in their lives. If this trend continues into 

the future, the historical gap between whites and nonwhites who have had formal education in the arts 

eventually may close. 

Adults 18 to 24 

The arts learning participation rates for adults 18 to 24 

is especially informative. Younger adults are better able to 

recall whether they have taken classes as a child, making 

their reporting more reliable. Figure 4-5 shows the 

percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds taking arts classes or 

lessons at any time in their life and the percentage taking 

them within the last 12 months in 2002, 2008, and 2012. A 

positive and promising sign for future arts participation 

is that lifetime participation in the arts for adults 18 to 24 

has increased from 2008 levels across all comparable 

genres and also increased from 2002 levels for all genres 

except taking acting or theater classes. In fact, the number 

of 18- to 24-year-olds taking visual arts classes in 2012 

probably would have been even greater had the question 

included photography and filmmaking as it did in 2002 

and 2008.
63 • chapter 4. participation in arts learning activities

Figure 4-5. Percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds who took arts classes or lessons at any time in their lives and percentage who 

took art classes or lessons within the last 12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012 

Percent who took art classes/lessons at any time in their lives Percent who took art classes/lessons during the last 12 months

2002 2008 2012 2002 2008 2012

Music 36.6% 37.5% 42.9% 5.3% 2.2% 5.3%

Visual arts 21.9% 21.5% 26.9% 5.8% 5.7% 3.5%

Acting or theater 11.0% 9.0% 10.6% 2.9% 1.3% 1.0%

Photography or 

filmmaking

Not comparable Not comparable 9.8% Not comparable Not comparable 2.6%

Dance Not comparable 11.9% 17.3% Not comparable 2.3% 3.0%

Creative writing 16.9% 17.5% 23.6% 4.7% 5.2% 5.9%

Art appreciation or art 

history

18.7% 15.1% 22.6% 5.1% 5.9% 5.2%

Music appreciation 16.1% 13.6% 17.9% 3.7% 3.7% 3.1%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level

Visual Arts in 2002 and 2008 included photography and filmmaking

2002 SPPA did not ask about dance other than ballet

Learning for a Lifetime: Childhood versus Adulthood, 

and Formal versus Informal Instruction

Figure 4-6 shows Americans’ patterns of participation 

in arts learning when the definition is broadened to 

include informal teaching methods. Informal learning 

may include learning from family or friends, selfinstruction or learning from books, and learning through 

the Internet (fourth column). The information in Figure 

4-5 differs from Figure 4-2 in showing the distinction 

between classes taken as a child and classes taken as an 

adult. Figure 4-2, by contrast, reports a consolidation of 

the two stages of learning.

Music tops the list as the most common art form studied 

when the survey respondents were children (Figure 4-6). 

Nearly a third of adults said they took music classes 

or lessons as a child. The second most common art form 

studied as children is visual arts; 14 percent learned 

visual arts through classes or lessons. As children, survey 

respondents were the least likely to have taken 

photography or filmmaking classes (5 percent).

As adults, meanwhile, the most common form of arts 

learning that occurred through adult classes or lessons 

is art appreciation and art history. Thirteen percent of 

Americans said they enrolled in these classes or lessons 

as adults. Through adult classes or lessons, the least 

commonly studied art form is acting and theater. Only 

3 percent of Americans engaged in this type of learning 

as adults.

Adults are about as likely to study dance through classes 

and lessons as through less formal methods, such as 

learning from a friend or by teaching oneself. Seventeen 

percent of Americans took dance lessons at some point in 

their lives, and 16 percent reported learning dance some 

other way. Photography, too, is often learned informally. 

Nine percent of adults took photography and filmmaking 

lessons or classes, while 13 percent said they learned 

through other means. Music, however, is much more 

likely to be learned through formal instruction. Thirty-six 

percent of adults took music lessons or classes at some 

point, while 18 percent learned from a friend or family 

member or by teaching themselves. 

Figure 4-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who participated in 

arts learning during their lifetime, by art form studied and 

by mode of learning: 2012 

Percent of U.S. adult population

Took 

classes/lessons 

as a child

Took 

classes/lessons 

as an adult

Learned 

through 

other means

43.0% 32.8% 36.6%

Music 32.8% 11.3% 18.3%

Visual arts 13.9% 11.4% 10.3%

Acting or theater 6.0% 2.8% 4.2%

Photography or 

filmmaking

4.8% 6.5% 13.2%

Dance 11.6% 9.6% 16.0%

Creative writing 10.1% 11.2% 7.3%

Art appreciation or 

Art history

8.9% 13.0% 10.7%

Music appreciation 8.9% 8.5% 11.4%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 64

Learning in the arts occurs more commonly in 

school than outside it (Figure 4-7 and Chart 4-3). 

The one exception is dance. 

Figure 4-7. Percentage of U.S. adults who participated in arts learning at any time in their lives, by whether such learning 

occurred in or outside of school: 2012 

Percent of U.S. adult population Number of adults

Took Classes/lessons in school Took classes/lessons 

outside school

Took classes/lessons in school Took classes/lessons 

outside school

Music 28.1% 19.8% 66,070,785 46,528,722

Visual arts 15.5% 8.7% 36,455,958 20,529,036

Acting or theater 6.3% 2.3% 14,865,927 5,355,738

Photography or 

filmmaking

7.3% 3.8% 17,154,529 8,894,741

Dance 7.5% 12.9% 17,699,009 30,314,167

Creative writing 14.7% 2.9% 34,659,668 6,795,308

Art appreciation or 

art history

17.1% 2.5% 40,183,896 5,831,600

Music appreciation 12.9% 2.8% 30,314,167 6,680,396

Chart 4-3. Percentage of arts learning occurring in school 

versus outside school

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Music appreciation

Art appreciation

Creative

Danc

 writing

e

Photography or film

Acting

Visual arts

Music

In-school Outside of school

19.8%

28.1%

8.7%

15.5%

2.3%

6.3%

3.8%

7.3%

12.9%

7.5%

2.9%

14.7%

2.5%

17.1%

2.8%

12.9%
65 • chapter 4. participation in arts learning activities

Over half of American adults were exposed to the arts as 

a child, either through visiting an art museum or gallery 

or attending a live music, theater, or dance performance 

(Figure 4-8). More women than men experienced the 

arts, as children, through these activities. The oldest 

generation of Americans is less likely to report having 

participated in these activities as a child. Over 60 percent 

of Americans currently aged 18 to 24 visited an art 

museum or gallery between the ages of 5 and 17, 

compared with 38 percent of Americans now 75 or older. 

Even taking into account the possibility of misreporting 

experiences that occurred decades earlier, the difference is 

large. Similarly, Americans 65 and older are less likely to 

have attended a live music, theater, or dance performance 

than are younger Americans.

Childhood experience with the arts is significantly 

associated with the adults’ educational level and family 

income. Over 70 percent of college graduates said they 

visited an art museum or gallery as a child, compared with 

42 percent of adults with only a high school diploma. 

And 41 percent of people from families that currently 

earn less than $20,000 annually said they visited an art 

museum or gallery as a child, compared with 75 percent 

of adults from families now earning $150,000 or more 

(Figure 4-8). The same trend is true for attendance at a 

live music, theater, or dance performance as a child. 

One interpretation of this data is that children who are 

privileged enough to visit an art museum or gallery also 

enjoy socioeconomic advantages such as the ability to 

receive a college education. Another interpretation is that 

the experience of early participation in the arts 

encourages children to pursue other opportunities, such 

as education, to expand their horizons. 

Figure 4-8. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults who 

experienced arts as a child, by activity: 2012

U.S. adult population Visited an 

art museum 

or gallery 

as a child

Attended a 

live music, 

theater, 

or dance 

performance 

as a child

Millions Percent

235.0 100.0% 54.3% 55.6%

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 52.6% 53.4%

Female 121.9 51.9% 55.9% 57.7%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 39.0% 43.2%

White 155.7 66.3% 59.2% 60.3%

African 

American

26.8 11.4% 44.9% 46.8%

Other 17.5 7.4% 55.4% 50.8%

Age 

18–24 30.4 13.0% 60.8% 62.0%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 56.3% 59.9%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 57.7% 61.4%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 54.6% 55.1%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 53.9% 54.0%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 48.2% 46.2%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 37.7% 36.7%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 8.7% 17.1%

Some high 

school

19.0 8.1% 32.4% 30.7%

High school 

graduate

70.9 30.2% 42.1% 44.0%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 61.3% 61.3%

College 

graduate

43.0 18.3% 73.6% 73.6%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 76.5% 76.5%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 41.1% 41.1%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 47.1% 47.1%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 56.2% 56.2%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 63.5% 63.5%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 65.1% 65.1%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 74.9% 74.9%
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 66

Arts Learning Experiences of Children, According to 

Responding Parents 

Twenty-four percent of adults in the survey had schoolaged children, aged 5 to 17. Two-thirds of these parents 

said their child was taught art or music in school, 

and one-quarter said their child received arts or music 

instruction outside school. With the exception of 

elementary, middle, or high school performances, 42 

percent of children went to an art museum or gallery 

or attended a live music, theater, or dance performance 

during the last 12 months.

Non-Hispanic white parents were more likely than 

parents from other racial and/or ethnic groups to have 

children who received arts or music instruction, in 

school and out, and they also were more likely to have 

children who attended a live arts performance or visited 

an art museum or gallery (Figure 4-9).

The more educated the parents or the higher the family’s 

income, the more likely children were to have taken arts 

or music classes in or out of school, attended a live music, 

theater, or dance performance, or visited an art museum 

or gallery. Parental age is also a noteworthy variable: 

children whose parents were 35 or older were more likely 

than children with younger parents to have taken arts 

or music classes in or out of school, attended a live music, 

theater, or dance performance, or to have visited an art 

museum or gallery.

Figure 4-9. Demographic distribution of U.S. adults whose 

school-age children received arts or music instruction, 

attended a live arts performance, or visited an art 

museum or gallery during the last 12 months: 2012 

U.S. adults with children between ages 5 and 17 

Note: Adults with school-aged children compose 24% of 

the U.S. population

Child was taught 

art or music 

in school

Child was taught 

art or music 

outside school

Child went to 

an art museum 

or gallery 

or attended a 

live music, dance, 

or theater 

performance

all parents 

of school-age 

children

69.4% 24.8% 42.1%

Gender

Male 71.0% 27.2% 45.4%

Female 68.2% 22.8% 39.4%

Race/ethnicity 

Hispanic 55.7% 10.2% 28.9%

White 75.1% 30.7% 48.3%

African 

American

66.9% 19.3% 33.1%

Other 65.8% 25.6% 42.3%

Age

18–34 64.9% 19.4% 31.9%

35–64 72.9% 27.3% 46.8%

Highest level of education

Grade school 43.0% 5.6% 18.6%

Some high 

school

63.7% 7.5% 30.9%

High school 

graduate

59.2% 13.5% 31.0%

Some college 72.4% 29.1% 42.5%

College 

graduate

82.2% 40.6% 55.6%

Graduate school 82.7% 38.5% 66.9%

Family income

Less than $50K 61.5% 14.5% 29.4%

$50K to $100K 74.6% 28.0% 44.6%

$100K and over 77.1% 38.8% 61.0%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level
Laura Moulton converses with a patron of Street Books, the mobile 

library she established for homeless individuals in Portland, Oregon. 

Photo by Jodi Darby

Chapter 5. Reading and Film Attendance
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 68

Sample Findings

• Over half of American adults read at least one book in 

2012. This is unchanged from 2008, but in 2002 slightly 

more adults read books.

• The percentage of adults reading a play, poem, or 

novel in 2012 dropped to 2002 levels (47 percent) after 

increasing to 50 percent in 2008.

• Women are far more likely to read books or literature 

than are men.

• Men are more likely to read nonfiction than fiction, while 

the opposite is true for women.

• Reading of books and literature has increased among 

older adults in the past decade.

• Movie-going is as popular today as it was a decade ago. 

Over three-fourths of the youngest adults (aged 18 to 24) 

attended a movie in 2012.

• Movie-going among all racial and ethnic subgroups 

declined from 2002 to 2008 but rose to 2002 levels 

in 2012. In fact, movie-going among African Americans is 

higher in 2012 than it was ten years ago. 

• While the overall rate of movie-going was the same as in 

2002, far greater numbers of older adults went to 

see a movie in 2012 than 10 years ago—particularly 

adults 75 years of age and older.

• Two percent of adults attended a film festival in 2012, 

with men and women attending at equal rates.

• About 4 percent of adults belonged to a book club or 

reading group in 2012.
69 • chapter 5. reading and film attendance

Reading Books and/or Literature

Since its inception, the SPPA has captured data on how 

many American adults read literature, as measured by 

the percentage who read at least one novel or short story, 

poem, or play during the past 12 months. In 1992, the 

survey began also to track adults who had read any book 

not required for work or school. In 2012, the survey 

included an experimental module, which asked for the 

first time about reading fiction versus nonfiction. 

In 2012, 55 percent of adults reported reading, during the 

previous 12 months, at least one book that was not 

required for work or school. This share is unchanged from 

2008 but slightly lower than the 2002 rate (Figure 5-1). 

The percentage of adults reading a play, poem, or novel 

or short story in 2012 (see “Literature” in Figure 5-1) 

dropped to 2002 levels (47 percent) after increasing to 50 

percent in 2008. Poetry-reading in particular has seen a 

sharp drop from 2002 levels.

Figure 5-1. Reading activity: 2002, 2008, and 2012

Percent of U.S. adult population

Reading during the 

past 12 months

2002 2008 2012

Read any book 

not required for work 

or school

56.6% 54.3% 54.6%

Literature (plays, 

poetry, or novels or 

short stories)

46.7% 50.2% 47.0%

Read novels or 

short stories

45.1% 47.0% 45.2%

Read plays 3.6% 2.6% 2.9%

Read poetry 12.1% 8.3% 6.7%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

Demographic information on readers of books and/or 

literature is presented in Figure 5-2. Far more women 

than men read books and/or literature; 64 percent 

of women read at least one book in 2012, compared 

with 45 percent of men, and 56 percent of women read 

literature, compared with 37 percent of men. 

The 65 to 74 age group is the most likely to read books 

(60 percent of adults in this bracket) and literature 

(52 percent). Book and/or literature readership rates 

among all other age groups are similar to each other. 

In 2012, over 50 percent of non-Hispanic white 

Americans, 40 percent of African Americans, and 31 

percent of Hispanic Americans reported reading 

literature.

The rate of reading books and literature increases with 

educational level (Chart 5-1). Over 80 percent of 

Americans who attended graduate school read at least 

one book in the past 12 months, and 70 percent read 

literature. The largest differences in literary reading are 

related to education level—two-thirds of people with a 

college degree read literature, compared to slightly more 

than one-third of people with a high school education. 

Chart 5-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who read books and/

or literature during the past 12 months, by highest level of 

educational attainment: 2012

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Graduate 

school

College

graduate

Some 

college

High school 

graduate

Some 

high school

Grade

school

16.9%

21.6%

22.9%

27.7%

36.9%

41.2%

50.3%

59.8%

63.0%

72.5%

69.5%

81.7%

Read literature Read books Linear (read books)
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 70

Figure 5-2. Demographic distribution and percentage of U.S. adults who read books and/or literature during 

the past 12 months: 2012

Demographic distribution of 

adults who read

Proportion of adults who read

Millions Percent Books Literature Books Literature

all adults 235.0 100.0% 100.0% 54.6% 47.0%

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 39.4% 37.9% 44.7% 37.0%

Female 121.9 51.9% 60.6% 62.1% 63.7% 56.1%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity 

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 9.9% 9.8% 36.4% 31.0%

White 155.7 66.3% 73.7% 73.9% 60.6% 52.3%

African American 26.8 11.4% 9.6% 9.6% 46.4% 40.2%

Other 17.5 7.4% 6.8% 6.6% 49.8% 41.7%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 12.1% 13.0% 51.8% 47.9%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 17.6% 17.8% 54.9% 47.9%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 16.4% 16.3% 53.0% 45.1%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 18.2% 17.7% 53.2% 44.7%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 17.0% 16.8% 56.6% 48.2%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 11.3% 11.2% 61.0% 51.9%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 7.4% 7.2% 52.2% 43.8%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 1.7% 1.5% 21.6% 16.9%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 4.1% 4.0% 27.7% 22.9%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 22.6% 23.5% 41.2% 36.9%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 31.9% 31.3% 59.8% 50.3%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 24.7% 24.9% 72.5% 63.0%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 15.0% 14.8% 81.7% 69.5%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 13.9% 13.5% 43.5% 36.5%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 28.3% 29.0% 47.7% 42.2%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 19.3% 18.9% 56.8% 47.7%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 13.6% 13.4% 51.8% 52.8%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 14.1% 14.0% 67.1% 57.0%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 10.9% 11.2% 72.3% 63.3%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
71 • chapter 5. reading and film attendance

Figure 5-3 shows 2012 readership rates for demographic 

subgroups and different reading materials. 

Men are more likely to read nonfiction books than 

fiction, while the opposite holds true for women: 55 

percent of women read fiction in 2012, and 48 percent 

read nonfiction. Young adults are more likely to read 

fiction than nonfiction books, whereas the oldest 

Americans (aged 75 and older) are more likely to read 

nonfiction books. 

Reading is positively correlated with educational level 

and family income, regardless of type of reading material.

Figure 5-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who read books and/or literature during the past 12 months, by choice of reading 

materials: 2012

Read fiction books Read nonfiction books Read novels or 

short stories

Read plays Read poetry

Demographics Distribution 

of readers

% that read Distribution 

of readers

% that read Distribution 

of readers

% that read Distribution 

of readers

% that read Distribution 

of readers

% that read

all adults 100.0% 44.4% 100.0% 42.7% 100.0% 45.2% 100.0% 2.9% 100.0% 6.7%

Gender

Male 35.3% 33.3% 41.0% 36.8% 37.3% 35.1% 38.1% 2.3% 37.3% 5.2%

Female 64.7% 54.5% 59.0% 48.2% 62.7% 54.6% 61.9% 3.4% 62.7% 8.0%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Race/ethnicity 

Hispanic 8.6% 26.9% 9.7% 29.0% 9.5% 28.9% 8.2% 1.6% 11.0% 4.9%

White 76.3% 59.2% 73.9% 47.0% 74.6% 50.8% 80.5% 3.5% 72.0% 7.2%

African American 8.9% 36.8% 9.8% 38.0% 9.4% 37.7% 7.8% 2.0% 11.7% 6.9%

Other 6.2% 37.9% 6.6% 38.6% 6.6% 39.8% 3.6% 3.6% 5.3% 4.7%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Age

18–24 12.9% 45.3% 11.3% 39.2% 12.9% 45.8% 17.9% 4.0% 15.6% 8.2%

25–34 17.0% 45.0% 16.0% 41.3% 17.8% 46.0% 17.0% 2.8% 17.6% 6.7%

35–44 17.0% 42.6% 17.0% 41.3% 16.4% 43.7% 12.7% 2.1% 15.3% 6.0%

45–54 18.6% 43.0% 18.9% 41.9% 17.7% 42.9% 17.5% 2.7% 13.5% 4.8%

55–64 16.7% 45.4% 17.8% 45.4% 16.8% 46.5% 17.8% 3.1% 18.1% 7.4%

65–74 10.9% 48.8% 11.2% 48.6% 11.3% 50.4% 10.6% 3.0% 11.5% 7.6%

75+ 7.0% 40.4% 7.9% 42.6% 7.2% 42.1% 6.5% 2.4% 7.3% 7.3%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 0.9% 12.1% 1.4% 19.2% 1.4% 15.4% 1.1% 0.7% 1.7% 2.7%

Some high school 3.6% 21.5% 3.8% 21.2% 3.8% 20.9% 2.6% 0.9% 4.1% 3.3%

High school graduate 22.7% 33.1% 22.1% 31.0% 23.0% 34.8% 18.3% 1.8% 22.0% 4.9%

Some college 30.9% 49.1% 29.8% 45.7% 31.6% 49.0% 30.7% 3.0% 29.0% 6.6%

College graduate 26.7% 60.5% 26.2% 57.3% 25.2% 61.4% 26.3% 4.1% 24.4% 8.7%

Graduate school 15.2% 65.8% 16.6% 68.8% 15.0% 68.0% 21.0% 6.0% 18.8% 12.5%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 12.3% 34.3% 13.4% 35.3% 13.3% 34.6% 12.5% 2.1% 17.0% 6.5%

$20K to $50K 26.7% 37.6% 26.9% 36.7% 28.8% 40.4% 27.3% 2.4% 28.5% 5.9%

$50K to $75K 20.1% 46.6% 20.2% 44.8% 18.7% 45.4% 14.5% 2.2% 20.3% 7.3%

$75K to $100K 13.1% 41.9% 13.0% 39.7% 13.6% 51.7% 14.0% 3.4% 11.0% 6.2%

$100K to $150K 15.6% 56.8% 14.5% 51.2% 14.3% 56.1% 17.1% 4.3% 12.6% 7.3%

$150K and over 12.1% 61.3% 11.9% 58.6% 11.3% 61.5% 14.6% 5.1% 10.5% 8.4%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 72

Chart 5-2 shows that over half of readers read both fiction 

and nonfiction. Of adults who read only one type of 

literature, slightly more read fiction than nonfiction. 

Chart 5-2. Percentage of U.S. adult readers who read 

fiction, nonfiction, or both

Both 

58.1%

Fiction 

22.7%

Nonfiction

19.2%
73 • chapter 5. reading and film attendance

Reading levels were higher among older adults in 2012 

than in 2002 and 2008 (Figure 5-4). About 54 percent 

of adults between 65 and 74 years old read at least one 

book in 2002 and 2008 (compared with 60 percent in 

2012), and 44 to 47 percent over 75 reported doing so 

over the same period (compared with 53 percent in 2012). 

With the exception of adults over 65, literary reading 

rates from 2008 to 2012 declined for all age groups.

Among non-Hispanic white Americans, Hispanics, and 

African Americans, the 2012 rates of reading were similar 

to the 2002 rates, albeit lower than in 2008. 

A significant decline occurred from 2008 to 2012 in the 

literary reading rate among adults with only some high 

school education, dropping from 34 percent to 23 percent. 

However, the rate of 23 percent is the same as in 2002.

Figure 5-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who read books and/or literature during the past 12 months: 2002, 2008, and 2012

2002 2008 2012

Books Literature Books Literature Books Literature

all adults 56.6% 46.7% 54.3% 50.2% 54.6% 47.0%

Gender

Male 48.3% 37.6% 46.3% 41.9% 44.7% 37.0%

Female 64.2% 55.1% 61.7% 58.0% 63.7% 56.1%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.6% 26.5% 32.8% 31.9% 36.4% 31.0%

White 61.3% 51.4% 60.8% 55.7% 60.6% 52.3%

African American 47.1% 37.1% 43.4% 42.6% 46.4% 40.2%

Other 56.1% 43.7% 47.7% 43.9% 49.8% 41.7%

Age

18–24 52.0% 42.8% 50.7% 51.7% 51.8% 47.9%

25–34 58.9% 47.7% 54.1% 50.1% 54.9% 47.9%

35–44 59.0% 46.6% 56.2% 50.8% 53.0% 45.1%

45–54 60.7% 51.6% 54.2% 50.3% 53.2% 44.7%

55–64 57.5% 48.9% 58.4% 53.1% 56.6% 48.2%

65–74 53.8% 45.3% 54.5% 49.1% 61.0% 51.9%

75+ 44.3% 36.7% 47.4% 42.3% 52.2% 43.8%

Highest level of education

Grade school 22.8% 14.0% 18.7% 18.5% 21.6% 16.9%

Some high school 30.8% 23.3% 33.4% 34.3% 27.7% 22.9%

High school graduate 46.0% 37.7% 41.5% 39.1% 41.2% 36.9%

Some college 63.9% 52.9% 60.0% 56.2% 59.8% 50.3%

College graduate 76.7% 63.1% 74.1% 66.6% 72.5% 63.0%

Graduate school 84.2% 74.3% 80.8% 71.2% 81.7% 69.5%

Family income

Less than $20K 43.5% 36.5%

$20K to $50K 47.7% 42.2%

$50K to $75K 56.8% 47.7%

$75K to $100K 51.8% 52.8%

$100K to $150K 67.1% 57.0%

$150K and over 72.3% 63.3%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 74

The 2012 SPPA added a question about whether people 

participated in a book club or reading group. About 

4 percent of adults participated in a book club or reading 

group in 2012 (Figure 5-5). Similar to reading literature, 

participating in a book club or reading group is positively 

related to education and family income. African 

Americans are slightly more likely than adults from other 

racial/ethnic backgrounds to belong to a book club, 

and Hispanics are the least likely racial/ethnic group to 

belong to one. 

Figure 5-5. Percentage of adults who belong to a book club 

or reading group: 2012

Demographic 

distribution of 

participants

Percent who 

participated

all adults 100.0% 3.5%

Gender

Male 25.2% 1.9%

Female 74.8% 5.1%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 5.3% 1.4%

White 72.5% 3.8%

African American 16.6% 5.0%

Other 5.5% 2.9%

Age

18–24 10.1% 2.8%

25–34 14.6% 3.0%

35–44 17.2% 3.7%

45–54 20.5% 4.0%

55–64 17.6% 3.8%

65–74 13.5% 4.6%

75+ 6.5% 3.0%

Highest level of education

Grade school 1.8% 1.7%

Some high school 1.0% 0.4%

High school graduate 18.2% 2.2%

Some college 24.2% 2.8%

College graduate 29.9% 5.6%

Graduate school 24.9% 9.2%

Family income

Less than $20K 10.4% 2.3%

$20K to $50K 21.7% 2.4%

$50K to $75K 22.7% 4.2%

$75K to $100K 13.2% 3.9%

$100K to $150K 18.2% 5.3%

$150K and over 13.8% 6.1%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
75 • chapter 5. reading and film attendance

Figure 5-6 displays the reading frequency of U.S. adults 

for all books (not just literature) in 2002, 2008, and 

2012. Among people who read, the largest group read 

one to five books a year. In 2012, only 8 percent of readers, 

and 5 percent of all adults, read 50 books or more. 

Reading has decreased over the past decade in all 

reading frequency categories except among “moderate” 

readers (those who read 6 to 11 books per year); the 

number of moderate readers increased from 2002 to 2012. 

Readers read an average of 14.3 books in 2012, an increase 

over the 2008 average (12.8 books), but fewer books than 

the 18.5 in 2002.

Figure 5-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who read during 

the past 12 months, by frequency (number of books read): 

2002, 2008, and 2012 

Number of books 

read per year

2002 2008 2012

All adults

Light (1–5 books) 29.4% 26.1% 23.4%

Moderate 

(6–11 books)

7.4% 10.9% 10.4%

Frequent 

(12–49 books)

15.7% 13.7% 13.2%

Avid 

(50 books or more)

4.1% 4.6% 4.6%

All book-readers

Light (1–5 books) 51.9% 48.1% 48.3%

Moderate 

(6–11 books)

13.0% 20.0% 19.1%

Frequent 

(12–49 books)

27.8% 25.2% 24.2%

Avid 

(50 books or more)

7.3% 6.7% 8.4%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 76

Movie-Going

Fifty-nine percent of American adults attended a movie 

in 2012 (Figure 5-7). This share is the same as in 2002 but 

significantly higher than the percentage who attended 

four years earlier. Figure 5-8 shows the demographic 

characteristics of movie-goers in 2012. The last column 

shows that movie attendance is inversely related to age 

and that the likelihood of attending a movie increases 

with educational level and family income. Chart 5-3 

illustrates how movie attendance increases as education 

and income go up, but decreases with age. Over half of 

adults from each racial and/or ethnic group attended a 

movie in 2012, and non-white Hispanics attended at the 

highest rate. Over three-fourths of the youngest adults 

(aged 18 to 24) attended a movie in 2012. Despite the high 

proportion, it represents a decline from 2002 rates for 

this age group (Figure 5-9).

Figure 5-7. Percentage of U.S. adults who went to a movie: 

2002, 2008, and 2012.

2002 2008 2012

60.0% 53.3% 59.4%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

Figure 5-8. Percentage of U.S. adults who went to a movie, 

by demographic characteristics: 2012 

U.S. Adult Population Demographic 

distribution 

of 

attendees

Percent 

who 

attended Millions Percent

all adults 235.0 100.0% 100.0% 59.4%

Gender

Male 113.1 48.1% 47.2% 58.2%

Female 121.9 51.9% 42.8% 60.4%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 35.0 14.9% 12.8% 54.8%

White 155.7 66.3% 69.9% 61.6%

African American 26.8 11.4% 10.7% 53.3%

Other 17.5 7.4% 6.6% 57.5%

Age

18–24 30.4 13.0% 16.5% 75.7%

25–34 41.0 17.4% 20.0% 68.5%

35–44 39.6 16.9% 19.1% 68.3%

45–54 43.7 18.6% 18.6% 59.9%

55–64 38.3 16.3% 14.1% 50.6%

65–74 23.8 10.1% 7.8% 44.1%

75+ 18.1 7.7% 4.0% 30.6%

Highest level of education

Grade school 9.9 4.2% 1.4% 21.6%

Some high school 19.0 8.1% 5.0% 36.7%

High school graduate 70.9 30.2% 24.0% 48.6%

Some college 68.7 29.2% 33.2% 64.9%

College graduate 43.0 18.3% 24.0% 75.3%

Graduate school 23.5 10.0% 12.5% 76.8%

Family income

Less than $20K 40.9 17.4% 10.8% 39.4%

$20K to $50K 76.0 32.3% 27.2% 50.3%

$50K to $75K 43.9 18.7% 21.2% 65.3%

$75K to $100K 27.6 11.7% 15.0% 74.8%

$100K to $150K 27.1 11.5% 15.2% 73.0%

$150K and over 19.6 8.3% 10.5% 77.9%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level
77 • chapter 5. reading and film attendance

Chart 5-3. Relationship between movie attendance and age, education, and family income

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Less/younger More/older

68.4%

59.9% 50.6%

Income Education Age

44.1%

30.6%

21.6%

36.7%

48.6%

64.9%

75.3%

76.8%

77.9%

73.0%

74.8%

65.3%

50.3%

39.4%

75.7%

While the rate of movie-going among all adults is the 

same in 2012 as in 2002, the rate among older adults has 

increased over the past decade (Figure 5-8). In particular, 

adults 75 years of age and older attended movies in 2012 at 

1.5 times their 2002 rate. Movie-going among all racial 

and ethnic subgroups declined from 2002 to 2008 but rose 

to 2002 levels in 2012. In fact, movie-going among African 

Americans is higher in 2012 than it was ten years ago. 

Figure 5-9. Percentage of U.S. adults who attended a movie, 

by demographic characteristics: 2002, 2008, and 2012

2002 2008 2012

all adults 60.0% 53.3% 59.4%

Gender

Male 59.5% 52.7% 58.2%

Female 60.5% 54.0% 60.4%

Race and/or ethnicity

Hispanic 52.5% 48.1% 54.8%

White 63.0% 55.7% 61.6%

African American 49.2% 47.4% 53.3%

Other 58.1% 49.3% 57.5%

Age

18–24 82.8% 74.2% 75.7%

25–34 73.3% 64.5% 68.5%

35–44 68.0% 59.5% 68.3%

45–54 60.4% 52.6% 59.9%

55–64 46.6% 46.2% 50.6%

65–74 32.2% 31.7% 44.1%

75+ 19.5% 18.9% 30.6%

Highest level of education

Grade school 19.5% 15.9% 21.6%

Some high school 39.4% 37.9% 36.7%

High school graduate 51.7% 42.5% 48.6%

Some college 68.7% 60.8% 64.9%

College graduate 77.1% 68.8% 75.3%

Graduate school 77.5% 71.6% 76.8%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

2012 estimate for the same sub-group at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 78

The 2012 SPPA added a question about attendance at 

film festivals. Two percent of adults attended a film 

festival in 2012, with men and women attending at equal 

rates (Figure 5-10). Similar to movie-going, attendance 

at film festivals is inversely related to age and positively 

related to education and family income. African 

Americans are slightly less likely than adults from other 

racial or ethnic backgrounds to attend a film festival, 

and Americans other than white, black, or Hispanic are 

the most likely to attend.

Figure 5-10. Percentage of adults who attended a film 

festival: 2012

Demographic 

distribution of attendees

Percent who attended

all adults 100.0% 2.4%

Gender

Male 47.2% 2.4%

Female 52.8% 2.5%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 13.4% 2.2%

White 69.8% 2.6%

African American 7.7% 1.6%

Other 9.1% 3.1%

Age

18–24 15.6% 3.0%

25–34 21.4% 3.0%

35–44 14.9% 2.2%

45–54 19.7% 2.6%

55–64 16.3% 2.4%

65–74 8.2% 2.0%

75+ 3.9% 1.2%

Highest level of education

Grade school 1.5% 1.0%

Some high school 1.3% 0.4%

High school graduate 11.4% 0.9%

Some college 31.1% 2.6%

College graduate 30.7% 3.9%

Graduate school 23.9% 6.0%

Family income

Less than $20K 11.3% 1.7%

$20K to $50K 24.1% 1.8%

$50K to $75K 24.8% 3.1%

$75K to $100K 15.0% 3.1%

$100K to $150K 12.4% 2.4%

$150K and over 12.5% 3.7%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
Wheat-paste work by Jetsonorama. Turecek Family Farm, Byers Colorado. 

From M12 photo archive

Chapter 6. Regional Differences in Arts Participation
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 80

Sample Findings

• For all U.S. census regions except New England, a decline 

in “benchmark” arts attendance was observed from 

2002 to 2008, continuing in 2012. Still, the New England, 

Pacific, and Mountain regions show consistently higher 

attendance rates for benchmark arts events than do 

other regions.

• West South Central is the only U.S. region that saw an 

increase in arts attendance since 2008, although its 2012 

rates were still lower than ten years earlier. 

• West North Central and South Atlantic residents were 

more likely to have attended a visual or performing arts 

event in a church or other religious institution than were 

U.S. adults in general. New England residents were the 

least likely.

• East North Central residents attended visual or 

performing arts events at elementary or high schools, 

or at parks or outdoor facilities, at comparatively 

higher rates. They also reported high rates of attendance 

at outdoor performing arts festivals, as did Pacific 

area residents.

• Pacific area residents had among the highest rates of 

media consumption for nearly every art form referenced 

in the 2012 SPPA. For example, they were more likely 

than residents from most other parts of the country to 

listen to or view recorded or broadcast jazz, classical 

music, Latin music, opera, and musical plays. 

• In general, Pacific residents appear to prefer different 

types of music more than do residents from any other 

region of the country. East South Central residents 

appear to enjoy different genres the least. 

• Rates of reading literature are highest in the Mountain 

and New England regions, while reading rates are lowest 

in the East and West South Central regions. 

• Mountain, New England, and West North Central region 

residents are more likely than U.S. adults in general to 

have created, performed, shared, or edited or remixed 

artworks. (Roughly 50 percent of adults from those 

regions did so, compared with 43 percent of all adults.)

• Residents of the New England, Mountain, and Pacific 

regions are more likely than adults living in other parts 

of the country to have taken arts lessons or classes—

whether in the past 12 months, as a child, or anytime 

during their lives. The Pacific region leads all others 

in rates of participation in arts learning activities.

• Adults living in the Pacific or Mountain region were the 

most likely to go out to see a movie, while those in the 

East South Central were the least likely. Attending film 

festivals occurred more often in the Pacific and Middle 

Atlantic regions and least often in the East and West 

South Central regions. 

• New England had the highest share of adults subscribing 

or donating to an arts or cultural organization (9 percent). 

They also played sports and participated in community 

meetings at higher levels than the national rate.

• Adults living in metro areas were much more likely 

than non-metro area residents to attend live arts 

performances. There is one notable exception, however: 

art/craft fairs or festivals were attended at higher rates 

by non-metro residents. 
81 • chapter 6. regional differences in arts participation

The SPPA sample size is not large enough to provide 

statistically meaningful breakouts for most states. This 

chapter, therefore, examines geographic differences 

in arts participation (as well as arts education and music 

listening preferences) by U.S. census region. Some of 

the regional differences in arts attendance can be 

attributed to relative access and opportunity as resources, 

venues, and income vary broadly by region. 

Results are tabulated by the home address of the 

respondent. For example, a resident from New Mexico 

may have attended a ballet in New York City, but that 

attendance would be counted in the Mountain region. 

In this chapter, SPPA data are parsed by the following 

census regions:

• New England. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, 

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut

• Pacific region. California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, 

and Hawaii

• Middle Atlantic region. New York, New Jersey, and 

Pennsylvania

• Mountain region. Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, 

Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico

• West North Central region. North Dakota, South 

Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and 

Missouri

• East North Central region. Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, 

Michigan, and Ohio 

• South Atlantic region. Maryland, Washington, DC, 

Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, 

South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida

• West South Central region. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, 

and Louisiana

• East South Central region. Kentucky, Tennessee, 

Alabama, and Mississippi

Attendance at Benchmark Arts Events

As explained in Chapter 2, the SPPA has been tracking 

attendance at certain types of arts events, known as 

“benchmark” arts activities, since 1982. These activities 

include attendance at jazz performances, classical music 

performances, operas, musical or non-musical plays, 

ballet performances, or visits to art museums or galleries. 

Figure 6-1 compares participation in benchmark activities 

across regions from 2002 to 2012.

Across the board, regional rates in arts attendance were 

much lower in 2012 than in 2002. For all regions except 

New England, a decline was observed from 2002 to 2008, 

though a decline from 2008 to 2012 was experienced 

only in the following regions: New England, East North 

Central, and West South Central.

West South Central is the only U.S. region that saw an 

increase in arts attendance since 2008, although 2012 rates 

are still lower than ten years ago. Arts attendance in the 

Mountain region dropped dramatically from 2002 to 2008 

but stabilized in 2012.

New England, Pacific, and Mountain region residents 

had consistently higher arts attendance rates than did 

residents from other regions. About 38 percent of New 

England residents and 39 percent of Mountain and 

Pacific region residents reported going to see jazz, 

classical music, opera, a musical or non-musical play, 

ballet, or visiting an art museum or gallery in the 

12-month period of the 2012 SPPA. Attendance at 

benchmark arts activities by East South Central, West 

South Central, and South Atlantic residents have 

generally been lower than for other parts of the country. 

Nevertheless, as noted, the West South Central region 

saw an increase over its 2008 participation rates. 

Figure 6-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who attended 

a benchmark arts activity at least once in the past 

12 months, by census region: 2002, 2008, and 2012

2002 2008 2012

New England 42.7 42.2 38.0

Middle Atlantic 41.9 36.5 34.7

East North Central 39.3 35.4 31.9

West North Central 40.4 35.4 36.9

South Atlantic 35.8 31.3 29.1

East South Central 30.4 24.9 23.5

West South Central 33.0 26.8 30.3

Mountain 46.8 36.4 39.1

Pacific 45.0 41.8 39.1

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the 

overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 82

Figure 6-2 shows 2012 participation rates for each 

benchmark arts activity (attending a jazz, classical music, 

opera, musical or non-musical play, or ballet performance, 

or visiting an art museum/gallery).

New England residents are more likely than residents of 

other regions to attend jazz performances; people living 

in the East South Central region are the least likely to 

attend. A greater share of adults in the Mountain region 

attend classical music than any other U.S. region; classical 

music, meanwhile, has the lowest rate of attendance 

among East South Central residents. 

Nationwide, 2 percent of American adults attended 

live opera in 2012. Pacific residents exceeded this rate, 

whereas East South Central residents fell below it. 

Americans living in the Pacific, Mountain, or New 

England regions were more likely than other Americans 

to have visited an art museum or gallery in 2012, 

and residents in the southern U.S. (East South Central, 

South Atlantic, or West South Central regions) were 

the least likely.

Figure 6-2. Percentage of U.S. adults who attended benchmark arts events at least once in the past 12 months, by census 

region and type of event: 2012

All adults New 

England

Middle 

Atlantic

East North 

Central

West North 

Central

South 

Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

Mountain Pacific

Benchmark 

(any of the following)

33.4% 38.0% 34.7% 31.9% 36.9% 29.1% 23.5% 30.3% 39.1% 39.1%

Jazz 8.1% 10.4% 7.7% 7.8% 9.7% 8.1% 4.6% 7.9% 7.6% 9.1%

Classical music 8.8% 10.2% 8.3% 9.6% 8.6% 7.0% 6.6% 8.5% 13.0% 9.4%

Opera 2.1% 1.6% 2.8% 1.9% 2.4% 1.5% 1.1% 1.7% 2.5% 3.0%

Musical plays 15.2% 16.6% 17.5% 15.0% 19.5% 12.7% 9.8% 13.1% 17.4% 16.8%

Non-musical plays 8.3% 8.3% 9.2% 7.7% 9.7% 7.1% 6.2% 5.6% 10.5% 10.5%

Ballet 2.7% 2.8% 2.9% 3.1% 2.2% 2.3% 2.2% 2.7% 2.6% 3.4%

Art museum or 

gallery

21.0% 23.9% 21.4% 19.8% 22.9% 17.6% 11.2% 17.5% 25.9% 28.3%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level

Other Kinds of Arts Attendance

In 2012, 51 percent of adults attended arts activities 

other than the benchmark activities that SPPA has been 

tracking since 1982, when the survey was established 

(Figure 6-3). (These “other” activities consist of Latin 

music events, dance performances other than ballet, craft 

fairs or visual arts festivals, outdoor performing arts 

festivals, tours of sites for historic or design purposes, and 

any other music, theatre, or dance other than what was 

already reported through the survey). 

Nearly a quarter of American adults visited an historic 

park or monument. Residents of the New England, West 

North Central, or Mountain region were more likely 

than adults living elsewhere to visit, while residents of the 

West South Central or East South Central region were 

the least likely.

More than one-fifth of adults went to an art or craft 

festival in 2012. This activity has the highest rates of 

attendance in the Mountain and Pacific regions of the 

United States and the lowest in the West South Central, 

East South Central, or South Atlantic region. Twenty-one 

percent of Americans attended an outdoor performing 

arts festival in 2012. Residents of the Pacific or East North 

Central region were the most likely to attend; residents of 

a southern region (South Atlantic, East South Central, or 

West South Central) or the Middle Atlantic were the 

least likely.

Nationwide, 5 percent of Americans went to a Latin 

music event in 2012. Eight percent of Pacific residents 

attended, making their region most likely to attend, 

and 2 percent of East South Central residents attended, 

making theirs the least likely.
83 • chapter 6. regional differences in arts participation

Figure 6-3. Attendance at other arts activities, shown by census region: 2012

All adults New 

England

Middle 

Atlantic

East North 

Central

West North 

Central

South 

Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

Mountain Pacific

Arts attendee 

(any of the following)

51.0% 58.0% 51.9% 51.9% 55.5% 45.5% 43.9% 45.5% 56.3% 56.5%

Latin music 5.1% 4.9% 5.5% 3.5% 3.5% 4.6% 1.6% 5.4% 5.0% 8.3%

Dance 

(other than ballet)

5.6% 6.0% 5.5% 5.8% 6.6% 5.0% 5.1% 5.2% 5.4% 6.5%

Visual arts festivals 

or craft fairs

22.4% 23.9% 20.5% 24.2% 24.6% 20.2% 19.5% 18.0% 26.4% 26.2%

Any other music, 

theater, or dance9

11.6% 16.6% 11.2% 13.6% 14.4% 9.2% 8.6% 8.5% 11.7% 13.8%

Outdoor performing 

arts festivals

20.8% 20.8% 18.0% 24.3% 21.6% 18.5% 18.3% 17.0% 21.4% 25.6%

Places visited 

for historic or design 

value

23.9% 28.1% 23.0% 23.6% 29.0% 22.5% 20.0% 19.4% 28.0% 26.2%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level

Venues Where Americans Enjoy Visual Art, Music, 

Theater, and Dance

In 2012, Americans who viewed an art exhibit or attended 

a music, theater, or dance performance were most likely 

to have done so at a park or open-air facility (15 percent 

of adults) (see Figure 6-4). This was especially true 

for people living in the Pacific and East North Central 

regions. Nearly 12 percent of adults went to an art or 

music event at a restaurant, bar, nightclub, or coffee shop 

in 2012, and 12 percent attended or viewed an event at a 

theater, concert hall, or auditorium. 

The findings about arts venues also reveal that East 

North Central and West North Central residents are 

generally more likely than people from other U.S. 

regions to have seen performances or exhibits in school 

and church settings. 

Figure 6-4. Percentage of U.S. adults who viewed an art exhibit or attended a music, theater, or dance performance at least 

once in the past 12 months, by venue type and census region: 2012

All adults New 

England

Middle 

Atlantic

East North 

Central

West North 

Central

South 

Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

Mountain Pacific

College/university 7.3% 9.7% 7.9% 5.9% 8.7% 7.2% 4.5% 5.9% 9.6% 8.0%

Grade school/

high school

10.0% 9.0% 10.3% 12.0% 13.5% 9.7% 4.9% 10.5% 9.4% 9.2%

Church or other 

religious venue

8.9% 4.7% 9.3% 8.8% 11.9% 10.2% 9.9% 8.1% 8.6% 7.4%

Theater, concert hall, 

auditorium

12.5% 11.5% 13.0% 12.2% 13.9% 12.6% 6.3% 11.3% 14.6% 14.4%

Restaurant, bar, 

nightclub, coffee shop

11.7% 12.9% 13.1% 10.5% 12.4% 11.0% 7.2% 10.5% 11.8% 14.1%

Art museum or gallery 9.1% 9.7% 9.1% 8.5% 10.2% 7.4% 4.3% 6.2% 11.6% 13.8%

Park or open-air facility 15.3% 13.3% 15.3% 19.4% 16.5% 13.5% 7.6% 10.9% 16.7% 19.1%

Community center 4.5% 5.1% 5.1% 4.4% 3.4% 4.3% 3.2% 3.2% 5.9% 5.8%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level

9 “Any other music, theater, or dance” refers to a question that followed the SPPA’s 

traditional questions about music, theater, or dance. The purpose was to capture 

events that had not already been reported. Examples might be attendance at a 

rock or folk concert or a hip-hop performance.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 84

Music Listening Preferences

Figure 6-5 shows the types of music enjoyed by our 

nation’s adults. Americans listen to classic rock or 

oldies (49 percent) more than to any other musical genre, 

followed by country music (41 percent). Far fewer 

proportions of adults listen to Asian, African, or Middle 

Eastern music (8 percent) or opera (9 percent).

The same figure reports the U.S. region where each type 

of music is most or least popular. For instance, classical 

music is most popular in the Pacific region (34 percent 

of residents listen to it) and least popular in the East 

South Central (18 percent listen). In general, Pacific 

residents enjoy different types of music more than do 

residents from any other region of the country, and 

East South Central residents appear to enjoy different 

genres the least. East South Central region were more 

likely than all other regions to listen to hymns, gospel, or 

choir music. 

Figure 6-5. Percentage of U.S. adults who like individual types of music, by census region and degree of preference: 2012

Music preferences All adults New 

England

Middle 

Atlantic

East North 

Central

West North 

Central

South 

Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

Mountain Pacific

Classical music 26.3% 27.8% 28.1% 24.5% 27.3% 24.3% 17.8% 20.7% 28.1% 34.2%

Opera 8.8% 11.2% 10.1% 6.7% 8.8% 7.7% 4.5% 8.1% 9.6% 12.1%

Broadway musicals 

or show tunes

20.1% 23.1% 24.7% 21.0% 23.3% 19.2% 12.7% 13.0% 21.1% 21.9%

Jazz 26.6% 27.4% 28.1% 26.7% 27.8% 27.5% 21.4% 21.8% 25.1% 29.3%

Classic rock or oldies 48.9% 53.3% 49.6% 53.6% 58.1% 45.6% 42.4% 39.4% 51.4% 50.9%

Alternative or indie 

rock

19.4% 25.8% 20.2% 20.9% 22.4% 16.2% 10.1% 14.7% 22.3% 23.7%

Pop 36.7% 43.6% 38.1% 38.2% 38.5% 34.4% 29.6% 29.5% 37.9% 41.2%

Country music 40.5% 40.2% 33.9% 44.1% 52.8% 40.3% 49.3% 42.2% 41.7% 33.0%

Dance, techno, or 

electronica

15.9% 15.8% 17.7% 14.7% 14.3% 14.3% 9.7% 16.7% 16.6% 19.2%

Rap or hip-hop 20.0% 18.8% 19.1% 18.9% 19.4% 20.7% 16.1% 19.5% 17.4% 24.5%

Reggae 15.5% 19.2% 15.1% 13.6% 12.8% 16.3% 8.9% 11.7% 16.6% 21.4%

Blues, rhythm and 

blues, soul music

29.3% 29.0% 26.9% 30.3% 31.4% 30.4% 27.4% 26.1% 28.7% 31.7%

Latin, Spanish, or salsa 19.0% 14.9% 18.9% 14.6% 13.3% 16.6% 6.1% 22.2% 25.7% 29.1%

Asian, African, or 

Middle Eastern music

8.3% 9.3% 9.6% 7.3% 8.7% 6.7% 2.6% 5.9% 9.0% 12.9%

Bluegrass 16.3% 17.1% 12.5% 18.1% 20.6% 17.1% 16.3% 12.1% 18.1% 17.1%

Folk music 16.0% 18.9% 14.1% 16.5% 22.1% 14.9% 10.8% 11.6% 16.8% 19.7%

Hymns, gospel, or 

choir music

25.7% 14.4% 21.7% 24.7% 27.9% 31.7% 37.3% 27.8% 22.1% 21.0%

n Highest % who say they like

n Lowest % who say they like 

Movie-Going, Literary Reading, and Participating in 

Other Leisure Activities

Movie-Going

More than 59 percent of American adults went to a 

movie in 2012 (Figure 6-6). People living in the Pacific or 

Mountain region were the most likely to have gone, and 

those in the East South Central were the least likely. 

Attending film festivals occurred more often in the 

Pacific and Middle Atlantic region and least often in the 

East and West South Central regions. 

Reading Literature

The rate of reading literature was highest in the 

Mountain and New England regions and lowest in the 

East and West South Central regions. The share of adults 

who participated in a book club or reading group was 

relatively consistent from region to region. Additionally, 

Figure 6-6 shows that about 47 percent of all U.S. adults 

read literature.
85 • chapter 6. regional differences in arts participation

Exercise, Sports, and Outdoor Activities

About 46 percent of Americans exercised or participated 

in a sport activity in 2012. (Please see the appendix to 

this report for detailed findings about sports and exercise 

participation.) New England residents were more likely 

than others to have exercised or played sports, and people 

living in the West South Central were the least likely. 

In 2012, about 39 percent of American adults said they 

gardened, an activity that did not depend very much on 

regional climate: 49 percent of New Englanders gardened, 

compared with 34 percent of South Atlantic residents. 

Residents in the West North Central states are among the 

most likely to have gone hiking, camping, canoeing, or 

hunting or fishing. 

Other Forms of Social and Civic Engagement

The New England region had the highest percentage of 

adults participating in community activities (34 percent), 

the highest percentage subscribing to an arts or cultural 

event (9 percent), and the highest percentage donating to 

arts or cultural organizations (17 percent). The mountain 

region had the highest percentage of adults who 

volunteer for charity work (38 percent).

Figure 6-6. Percentage of U.S. adults who did selected leisure activities at least once in the past 12 months, by census region 

and type of activity: 2012

All adults New 

England

Middle 

Atlantic

East North 

Central

West North 

Central

South 

Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

Mountain Pacific

Movies

Went to a movie 59.4% 59.2% 60.3% 58.3% 57.3% 58.9% 49.5% 57.5% 64.0% 64.2%

Attended a film 

festival

2.4% 3.0% 3.2% 1.6% 1.7% 2.5% 1.1% 1.2% 2.5% 4.0%

Reading

Read literature 

(plays, poetry, 

novels)

47.0% 51.9% 49.1% 47.5% 48.4% 46.7% 38.7% 42.8% 51.8% 46.9%

Participated in a book 

club or reading group

3.6% 3.7% 2.2% 3.9% 3.4% 3.5% 3.5% 3.7% 5.1% 3.6%

Outdoor activities

Attended a sporting 

event

30.4% 30.1% 30.4% 34.1% 34.8% 27.4% 23.1% 28.0% 31.0% 32.7%

Exercised or 

participated in a 

sports activity

45.7% 54.5% 47.9% 46.4% 50.3% 41.3% 42.2% 37.0% 49.4% 50.0%

Did hunting or fishing 17.1% 15.2% 11.9% 19.5% 26.2% 14.3% 22.5% 21.6% 19.3% 13.3%

Went camping, 

hiking, or canoeing

28.3% 32.0% 26.3% 29.2% 37.1% 19.3% 25.8% 18.9% 44.1% 35.9%

Did gardening 38.7% 48.7% 39.2% 43.1% 44.5% 33.9% 34.2% 34.6% 43.0% 38.0%

Civic engagement activities

Participated in a 

community activities, 

meetings, or events.

24.8% 33.9% 24.3% 26.2% 28.0% 24.5% 23.4% 20.5% 24.5% 24.5%

Do any volunteer or 

charity work

30.3% 36.1% 26.8% 31.7% 36.8% 27.3% 27.4% 26.8% 38.4% 31.2%

Member of or 

Subscribe to an 

arts or cultural 

organization

6.8% 8.7% 6.7% 6.6% 7.2% 5.9% 5.0% 6.6% 7.0% 8.0%

Donate any money, 

goods, or services 

to an arts or cultural 

organization

11.1% 16.5% 12.6% 9.9% 10.2% 9.2% 8.8% 9.8% 13.1% 13.2%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 86

Arts Consumption through Electronic Media

Pacific area residents had among the highest rates of 

media consumption for nearly every form of art studied 

in the 2012 SPPA. For example, they were more likely 

than others to view or listen to recorded or broadcast 

jazz, classical music, Latin music, opera, and theater 

productions. Pacific residents also had high media 

participation rates for programs about the visual arts 

and programs about books and authors. Similarly, they 

reported higher usage of handheld or mobile electronic 

devices and were more likely to access art through 

these devices. 

East South Central residents reported relatively low rates 

of media participation (below the national average) for 

most art forms. Figure 6-7 provides a detailed overview of 

arts/media participation rates for all regions. 

Figure 6-7. Percentage of U.S. adults who consumed arts through broadcast or recorded media at least once during the past 

12 months, by census region: 2012

All adults New 

England

Middle 

Atlantic

East North 

Central

West North 

Central

South 

Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

Mountain Pacific

Watched or listened to a broadcast or recording (by TV, radio or Internet)

Jazz 11.8% 12.3% 12.2% 12.2% 10.8% 11.4% 8.6% 9.0% 11.5% 15.0%

Latin, Spanish, or 

salsa music 

12.6% 10.9% 13.3% 8.1% 7.8% 9.9% 5.0% 18.1% 16.0% 19.5%

Classical music 13.6% 16.5% 11.9% 13.3% 12.1% 12.9% 7.2% 11.5% 17.2% 18.2%

Opera 4.3% 5.1% 5.4% 3.5% 3.4% 3.6% 2.1% 3.9% 4.7% 6.0%

Other music, rock, 

pop, country, folk, rap 

46.9% 45.3% 44.5% 50.5% 50.5% 42.6% 48.1% 42.2% 52.7% 50.0%

Theater productions 7.1% 8.3% 7.1% 6.3% 5.6% 7.6% 4.5% 6.9% 8.4% 8.3%

Ballet, modern, or 

contemporary dance 

4.5% 4.3% 4.5% 3.5% 4.6% 5.0% 2.7% 3.9% 3.3% 6.5%

Other dance 

programs or shows 

9.2% 12.4% 8.2% 8.0% 8.7% 9.1% 5.6% 8.8% 9.5% 11.9%

Programs or 

information about 

the visual arts

9.4% 11.7% 9.3% 6.9% 10.2% 8.2% 7.7% 7.8% 11.4% 12.9%

Programs or 

information about 

books or writers 

10.0% 10.7% 9.4% 7.9% 10.5% 8.9% 7.2% 8.4% 11.6% 14.8%

Other Books, short 

stories, or poetry 

read aloud 

7.1% 8.6% 5.9% 6.2% 7.0% 4.4% 6.9% 6.6% 9.5% 10.9%

Used a handheld or mobile device to access art

Used handheld or 

mobile devices for 

any reason

53.2% 51.9% 53.7% 54.0% 49.4% 50.2% 46.8% 53.4% 55.1% 59.3%

Used device to read, 

listen or download 

novels, short stories, 

poetry, or plays

16.0% 18.5% 15.3% 16.2% 14.2% 12.5% 15.3% 16.2% 20.4% 19.0%

Used device to 

download, watch or 

listen to any music 

34.2% 34.8% 33.0% 36.2% 31.9% 29.8% 39.1% 33.4% 37.0% 40.7%

Used device to 

watch, listen to, or 

download any 

theater or dance 

performances

3.4% 4.9% 3.5% 3.2% 2.0% 2.9% 3.6% 3.8% 3.4% 3.8%

Used device to 

download or view 

visual arts (paintings, 

sculpture, graphic 

design, photographs)

7.9% 10.0% 6.1% 7.0% 6.5% 6.6% 7.2% 8.4% 10.1% 10.7%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
87 • chapter 6. regional differences in arts participation

Creating, Performing, or Sharing Art

The most common way Americans created art in 2012 

was by weaving, crocheting, quilting, needlepoint, 

knitting, or sewing (13 percent of adults). Residents 

of the Mountain, West North Central, and New 

England regions were the most likely to do this activity, 

and residents of the South Atlantic region were the 

least likely. 

Twelve percent of Americans took artistic photographs 

in the 12-month SPPA period, making this activity the 

second most common way of creating art in 2012. People 

living in New England or the Pacific region were the 

most likely to take photographs, while residents of the 

East South Central or West South Central region were 

below the national average for photography. 

Figure 6-8. Percentage of U.S. adults who created or performed arts at least once, by census region and type of 

activity: 2012

All adults New 

England

Middle 

Atlantic

East North 

Central

West North 

Central

South 

Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

Mountain Pacific

Created or performed 

any music

5.0% 5.5% 3.1% 4.3% 5.7% 4.7% 3.3% 5.5% 5.6% 7.2%

Create or performed 

any dance

1.3% 1.6% 0.9% 1.0% 1.7% 1.1% 1.2% 1.1% 0.8% 2.0%

Created any artistic 

films or videos

2.8% 3.8% 2.5% 2.9% 2.8% 2.7% 1.5% 1.5% 2.4% 4.5%

Took any artistic 

photographs

12.4% 16.4% 12.3% 11.0% 12.8% 10.2% 8.8% 9.4% 15.7% 16.9%

Created any visual art 5.7% 5.5% 5.5% 4.6% 6.9% 4.9% 4.8% 4.5% 6.9% 8.2%

Did any scrapbooking 6.5% 6.7% 5.4% 6.4% 8.2% 6.4% 5.9% 6.1% 7.7% 6.8%

Did any creative 

writing

5.9% 6.4% 5.8% 5.7% 6.6% 4.9% 3.3% 6.0% 7.8% 7.0%

Did pottery, ceramics, 

or jewelry-making

4.5% 4.1% 3.0% 4.3% 4.6% 3.6% 3.5% 5.1% 6.7% 6.2%

Did leatherwork, 

metalwork, or wood 

work

8.2% 10.5% 6.7% 7.3% 11.2% 5.7% 10.5% 8.4% 10.0% 9.4%

Did weaving, 

crocheting, quilting, 

needlepoint, knitting, 

or sewing 

13.2% 16.0% 12.4% 13.4% 16.7% 9.5% 12.2% 11.9% 17.0% 15.4%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level

For the first time in the survey’s history, the 2012 SPPA 

included questions on how art is shared, edited, and 

preserved. The survey also included new questions on 

use of a computer, a handheld or mobile device, or 

the Internet to share, create, perform, edit, or remix art. 

Overall, about 43 percent of American adults, or 102 

million people, reported they had created, performed, 

shared, or edited or remixed works in one or more 

of the art forms shown in Figure 6-2. Chart 6-1 illustrates 

how this distribution varies by region. The regions 

with a red bar were below the national average in the 

proportion of residents creating, performing, or 

sharing art. The regions with the gray bar were above 

the national average. 
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 88

Chart 6-1. Percentage of Americans who created, 

performed, shared, or edited or remixed art, by census 

region and degree of participation: 2012

0% 20% 40% 60%

Mountain

West North 

Central

New England

East North 

Central

Pacific

U.S. Average

West South 

Central

Middle

Atlantic

East South 

Central

South 

Atlantic 37.1%

39.8%

40.8%

41.7%

43.3%

43.6%

46.2%

51.0%

51.9%

53.1%

Participating in Arts Learning Activities

Nearly 50 percent of American adults have taken classes 

or lessons in visual art, music, dance, acting, writing, 

photography, or filmmaking at some point in their lives 

(Figure 6-9). As reported in Chapter 4, the 2012 SPPA 

asked about learning both in and outside school and 

about formal and informal instruction.

Whether in or out of school, or whether through 

classes, lessons, or by learning through some other 

means, Pacific area residents had the highest rates of 

arts learning, and West South Central residents had 

the lowest.

Regarding formal instruction (taking art classes or 

lessons), the most common art form studied was music; 

over one-third of Americans have studied music either in 

or out of school. The second most common formal 

learning pertained to visual arts. Acting and theater was 

the least common form of formal learning, reported 

by 7 percent of adults.

Figure 6-9. Percentage of U.S. adults who have taken arts lessons or classes at some point in their lives, by census region 

and art form: 2012

Arts learning All adults New 

England

Middle 

Atlantic

East North 

Central

West North 

Central

South 

Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

Mountain Pacific

Any art form 

(any of the following)

49.8% 52.2% 53.1% 50.1% 54.3% 43.8% 40.6% 43.2% 55.5% 56.9%

Music 35.6% 38.3% 34.2% 37.3% 43.0% 30.1% 28.8% 29.3% 40.8% 42.3%

Visual arts 19.3% 18.1% 18.9% 20.0% 18.8% 16.8% 15.5% 14.0% 20.9% 26.7%

Acting or theater 7.1% 5.4% 6.2% 6.4% 8.0% 5.7% 7.8% 7.3% 8.7% 9.2%

Photography or 

filmmaking

9.4% 11.2% 6.8% 9.7% 9.2% 7.0% 6.0% 7.0% 11.7% 15.3%

Dance 16.7% 18.7% 19.4% 13.8% 14.7% 14.5% 10.9% 13.0% 20.4% 23.0%

Creative writing 15.4% 15.1% 14.2% 17.2% 18.1% 12.4% 12.9% 11.9% 17.2% 19.6%

Art appreciation or 

art history

17.6% 15.4% 14.5% 17.4% 17.6% 16.8% 18.1% 11.7% 20.5% 24.8%

Music appreciation 13.8% 12.5% 12.4% 12.3% 15.1% 13.0% 16.0% 11.6% 14.6% 17.5%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
89 • chapter 6. regional differences in arts participation

Charts 6-2 and 6-3 illustrate that residents of New 

England, Mountain, and the Pacific regions were more 

likely than adults in other areas of the country to 

have taken art lessons or classes—whether in the past 

12 months, as a child, or anytime during their lives. 

The Pacific region leads all U.S. regions in arts learning.

Chart 6-2. Percentage of U.S. adults who took any 

arts classes or lessons in the last 12 months, by census 

region: 2012

0% 5% 10% 15%

Pacific

Mountain

New England

U.S. Average

Middle

Atlantic

East North 

Central

East South 

Central

South 

Atlantic

West South 

Central

West North 

Central 5.5%

6.1%

6.3%

6.4%

7.1%

7.3%

7.4%

8.0%

8.7%

10.1%

Chart 6-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who took arts classes 

or lessons as a child or adult by census region: 2012

0% 20% 40% 60%

Pacific

Mountain

New England

West North 

Central

Middle

Atlantic

U.S. Average

East North 

Central

South Atlantic

East South 

Central

West South 

Central

53.0%

41.2%

52.1%

39.4%

47.1%

36.5%

50.1%

35.5%

48.1%

32.9%

45.8%

32.8%

46.2%

31.2%

40.1%

29.1%

38.0%

27.1%

38.7%

25.0%

As a child As an adult Linear (as an adult)
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 90

Arts Participation by Metro or Non-Metro Area

The SPPA data file includes a variable from the Current 

Population Survey that indicates whether the SPPA 

respondent lives in a metro or non-metro area. A 

metropolitan area is a large population nucleus that has a 

high degree of economic and social integration within 

that nucleus. About 80 percent of 2012 SPPA respondents 

reside in a metropolitan area, and about 20 percent live 

in a non-metro area. Figures 6-10 and 6-11 look at various 

differences in the SPPA results between adults living in 

metro versus non-metro areas of the country.

Adults living in metro areas were much more likely to 

attend live arts performances than people outside cities. 

Metro residents had higher rates of attendance at all 

types of events except for craft fairs or visual arts festivals, 

which often take place in non-metropolitan areas. 

Much of the metro-versus-non-metro differences in arts 

attendance can be attributed to relative access and 

opportunity. People living in metropolitan areas have 

greater access to live arts performances. 

In the SPPA, this assertion is bolstered by data 

on venues where people participate in the arts. SPPA 

respondents living outside cities attended art events 

at schools, churches, and community centers at about the 

same rates as did metropolitan respondents. However, 

they attended at lower rates than did metro area residents 

when the venues were theaters, concert halls, museums, 

restaurants, and nightclubs. 

Metro area residents were more likely than non-metro 

residents to go to sports events or movies, while nonmetro residents reported higher levels of outdoor 

activities such as hunting and fishing. Metro adults were 

much more likely than non-metro adults to watch or 

listen to broadcasts of jazz, Latin, and/or classical music 

and to watch or listen to programs about visual arts. 

Non-metropolitan adults were more likely to watch or 

listen to broadcasts or recordings of other music such 

as rock, pop, country, folk, rap, or hip-hop. 

Compared with adults living in non-metro areas, 

metro respondents were more likely to use mobile or 

handheld devices to access the arts. This finding 

should be tracked over time since wireless capacity in 

non-metro areas is increasing. 

Regarding arts creation, there are few differences 

between metropolitan and non-metropolitan adults. 

Metro residents were more likely to create visual arts, 

while non-metro residents had higher rates of doing 

leatherwork, metalwork, woodwork, knitting, and sewing. 

Metro area residents were more likely in their lifetimes 

to have taken lessons or classes in all art genres, although 

the overall difference in having taken any art lessons or 

classes was only about five percentage points (51 percent 

versus 46 percent).
91 • chapter 6. regional differences in arts participation

Figure 6-10. Percentage of U.S. adults who did selected arts and non-arts activities at least once in the past 12 months, 

by metro or non-metro residency: 2012

All adults Metro Non-metro

Attended arts events or activities

Any arts event or activity listed below 50.1% 51.7% 41.0%

Any benchmark arts event 33.2% 35.2% 22.1%

Jazz 8.1% 8.8% 4.3%

Classical music 8.8% 9.3% 6.0%

Opera 2.1% 2.4% 0.9%

Musical plays 15.2% 16.2% 9.7%

Non-musical plays 8.3% 8.8% 5.2%

Ballet 2.7% 2.9% 1.6%

Art museum or art gallery 21.0% 22.5% 12.8%

Latin music 5.0% 5.5% 2.3%

Dance other than ballet 5.6% 5.9% 4.0%

Craft fairs or visual arts festivals 22.4% 22.5% 21.9%

Any other music, theater, or dance events 11.6% 12.0% 9.3%

Outdoor performing arts festivals 20.8% 21.4% 16.9%

Places visited for historic or design purposes 23.8% 24.5% 19.9%

Attended art exhibits or music, theater, or dance performances, by venue

College or university 7.3% 7.6% 5.5%

Grade school or high school 10.0% 9.9% 10.9%

Church or other religious venue 8.9% 8.9% 8.8%

Theater, concert hall, or auditorium 13.5% 13.4% 8.1%

Restaurant, bar, nightclub, or coffee shop 11.7% 12.5% 7.3%

Art museum or gallery 9.1% 10.0% 4.8%

Park or open-air facility 15.3% 16.0% 11.8%

Community center 4.6% 4.7% 4.1%

Attended other types of events and/or participated in other activities

Movie-going 59.3% 61.9% 45.8%

Attended a film festival 2.4% 2.7% 1.0%

Participated in a book club or reading group 3.6% 3.7% 2.8%

Attended a sports event 30.4% 32.1% 21.6%

Participated in a sports activity 45.6% 47.0% 38.3%

Did hunting or fishing 16.9% 15.1% 26.3%

Did camping, hiking, or canoeing 28.1% 27.7% 30.4%

Did gardening 38.6% 38.1% 41.5%

Participated in a community activities, meetings, or events. 24.8% 24.5% 26.2%

Do any volunteer or charity work 30.2% 30.3% 29.7%

Member of or Subscribe to an arts or cultural organization 6.8% 7.3% 3.9%

Donate any money, goods, or services to an arts or cultural organization 11.1% 11.5% 9.0%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 92

Figure 6-11. Percentage of U.S. adults who did various arts activities at least once in the past 12 months, by metro or 

non-metro residency: 2012

All Adults Metro Non-metro

Watched or listened to a broadcast or recording (TV, radio, or the Internet)

Jazz 11.9% 12.6% 7.4%

Latin, Spanish, or salsa music 12.6% 13.6% 7.0%

Classical music 13.7% 14.3% 9.9%

Opera 4.3% 4.5% 3.1%

Other music, rock, pop, country, folk, rap 46.9% 46.7% 48.3%

Theater productions 7.2% 7.5% 5.1%

Ballet, modern, or contemporary dance 4.5% 4.8% 3.0%

Other dance programs or shows 9.2% 9.6% 6.9%

Programs or information about the visual arts 9.4% 9.9% 6.8%

Programs or information about books or writers 10.0% 10.3% 8.3%

Other books, short stories, or poetry read aloud 7.1% 7.2% 6.5%

Used a handheld or mobile device to access art

Used device for any purpose 53.4% 54.7% 45.9%

Used device to read, listen or download novels, short stories, poetry, or plays 16.0% 16.7% 12.2%

Used device to download, watch, or listen to any music 34.3% 35.8% 25.4%

Used device to watch, listen to, or download any theater or dance performances 3.3% 3.5% 2.2%

Used device to download or view visual arts (paintings, sculpture, 

graphic design, photographs)

7.9% 8.3% 5.6%

Created or performed art

Created or performed music 5.1% 5.1% 4.1%

Created or performed any dance 1.3% 1.3% 0.9%

Created artistic films or videos 2.8% 3.0% 1.8%

Took artistic photographs 12.4% 12.7% 10.6%

Created visual art 5.7% 6.2% 3.2%

Did scrapbooking 6.5% 6.5% 6.4%

Did creative writing 5.9% 6.1% 5.2%

Did pottery, ceramics, or jewelry 4.5% 4.7% 3.9%

Did leatherwork, metalwork, or woodwork 8.2% 7.8% 10.3%

Did weaving, crocheting, quilting, needlepoint, knitting, or sewing 13.2% 12.8% 15.2%

Arts learning activities—classes or lessons taken anytime during person’s lifetime

Any art form (any of the following) 49.9% 50.6% 46.0%

Music 35.6% 35.9% 34.2%

Visual arts 19.3% 19.5% 18.1%

Acting or theater 7.1% 7.4% 5.4%

Photography or filmmaking 9.4% 9.7% 7.6%

Dance 16.7% 17.3% 13.3%

Creative writing 15.4% 15.7% 14.0%

Art appreciation or art history 17.7% 18.5% 13.0%

Music appreciation 13.9% 14.2% 11.8%

Gray Shaded Box indicates that the estimate is significantly different from the overall 2012 estimate at the .05 level
93 • survey and research methodology

Survey and Research 

Methodology

The SPPA has collected arts and leisure participation 

data from U.S. adults since 1982. Subsequent iterations 

were conducted in 1985, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2008, and 2012. 

Until 1997, the SPPA was a supplement attached to the 

U.S. Census Bureau’s National Crime Survey. In 1997, the 

SPPA was a stand-alone study conducted by a private 

contractor. In 2002, the SPPA became a periodic 

supplement to the Census Bureau’s Current Population 

Survey (CPS). 

The 2012 SPPA was administered as a supplement to the 

July 2012 CPS. The CPS is commissioned by the U.S. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics for the purpose of producing 

a monthly report on the national employment situation. 

The report provides estimates of the number of employed 

and unemployed people in the United States.

Approximately 60,000 households are eligible for the 

CPS each month. Sample households are selected by 

a multistage, stratified, statistical sampling scheme. 

A household is interviewed for four successive months, 

then not interviewed for eight months, then returned 

to the sample for four additional months. 

The 2012 SPPA supplement was administered to one-half 

of the eligible CPS households, those that were in the 

exit round of the CPS sample rotation. The SPPA survey 

allows proxy responses for spouses or partners, and in 

larger households a second supplemental interview was 

often conducted. After taking nonresponse into account, 

a total of 20,847 households provided at least one 

completed SPPA interview. The final distribution 

of 2012 SPPA interviews consisted of an initial 20,847 

randomly selected adults, plus an additional 3,506 

interviews of adults residing in larger households. In 

addition, 11,382 spouse or partner proxy interviews 

were conducted. In total, data on 35,735 adults were 

collected, and the average number of completed adult 

interviews per household was 1.7. 
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 94

The CPS is one of the nation’s most respected surveys and 

maintains a high response rate. Although the SPPA is 

conducted with only a portion of the overall CPS sample, 

it is a random portion and is representative of the noninstitutionalized U.S. adult population. Because the SPPA 

questions are asked after the monthly CPS questions, the 

2012 SPPA response rate is lower than the overall CPS 

response rate—but quite high nonetheless, 71.5 percent10. 

For the sections of the survey that included spouse/

partner questions, the 2012 response rate is 73.4 percent11. 

This is lower than for the 2008 SPPA study (81.6 percent), 

perhaps because the 2012 SPPA was fielded in July, a 

common vacation month.

To see the SPPA 2012 questionnaire and other research 

resources, go to http://arts.gov/sites/default/files/sppaquestionnaire-2012.pdf.

Throughout this report, standard errors of the survey 

estimates are used to determine whether a subgroup 

estimate or prior-year estimate differs significantly from 

the overall 2012 estimates. Standard errors are commonly 

used to conduct hypothesis tests or tests of statistical 

significance. A clear presentation of estimates from a 

survey should include measures of uncertainty associated 

with using a sample for inference, as opposed to using 

the entire population. 

Given the SPPA’s complex survey and sample design, 

the standard errors for each estimate have been adjusted 

accordingly. This is done by multiplying the usual 

standard error formula by the square root of the 

estimated design effect. Thus, the formula used in this 

report for computing the 95 percent confidence interval 

around a percentage is: 

where pˆ is the sample estimate, n is the unweighted 

number of sample cases in the group being considered, 

and deft is the square root of the survey design effect.

10 In 2012, 24,353 out of the 34,039 CPS respondents randomly selected to 

complete the supplement.

11 When spouse and partner responses are included, survey data were obtained 

from 35,735 people out of the 48,372 people who were sampled. 

Finally, for the analyses discussed on page 22, the model 

used was logistical regression with the dependent 

variables being whether or not the person attended a 

benchmark activity. The independent variables 

(predictors) were gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, 

income, region, metro status, immigration status, 

marital status, and presence of children in the household. 

Each independent variable was dichotomized so 

that there were a total of 37 predictors used in the model. 

For example, for race/ethnicity there were four 

predictors used (i.e. Hispanic (Y/N), White (Y/N), African 

American (Y/N); and Other Race (Y/N). 
95 • appendix: sports and exercise

Appendix: 

Sports and Exercise

The SPPA traditionally captures estimates of adult 

participation in various leisure activities that are 

generally not considered arts-related. In this section, we 

look at sports and exercise in particular.

Attending an Amateur or Professional Sports Event

Roughly 30 percent of American adults attended an 

amateur or professional sports event in 2012, the same as 

in 2008 but lower than in 2002 (Figure A-1).

Figure A-1. Percentage of adults attending an amateur or 

professional sports event during the last 12 months: 2002, 

2008, and 2012.

2002 2008 2012

35.0% 30.6% 30.4%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different than the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level

Sports attendance is more common in men than women; 

however, the gender disparity that existed in 2002 was 

smaller in 2008 and 2012. In 2002, a 12-percentage point 

difference existed between male and female levels of 

activity (41 percent of men, compared with 29 percent 

of women). In 2008 and 2012, the percentage of men who 

attended sports events dropped to 35 percent, narrowing 

the gender gap (Figure A-2). About 26 percent of women 

attended a sports event in 2008 and 2012.
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 96

Figure A-2. Demographic characteristics of adults who attended an amateur or professional sports event: 

2002, 2008, and 2012

Demographic distribution 

of 2012 attendees

2002 

% who attended

2008 

% who attended

2012 

% who attended

all adults 100.0% 35.0% 30.6% 30.34%

Gender

Male 54.9% 41.4% 34.9% 34.7%

Female 45.1% 29.2% 26.6% 26.4%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 11.0% 26.4% 22.1% 24.3%

White 75.6% 38.4% 34.0% 34.0%

African American 8.6% 27.0% 24.5% 21.9%

Other 4.8% 22.3% 21.8% 21.4%

Age

18–24 17.2% 46.0% 37.4% 40.7%

25–34 20.6% 41.8% 37.3% 36.2%

35–44 19.2% 42.2% 36.7% 35.2%

45–54 19.5% 35.8% 31.3% 32.2%

55–64 13.5% 25.5% 25.9% 24.5%

65–74 7.2% 19.7% 18.2% 20.8%

75+ 2.9% 11.1% 10.3% 11.2%

Highest level of education

Grade school 1.0% 9.4% 6.6% 7.8%

Some high school 3.6% 17.4% 17.8% 13.6%

High school graduate 21.2% 28.3% 22.8% 22.0%

Some college 33.1% 39.9% 33.7% 33.1%

College graduate 27.7% 51.0% 44.9% 44.4%

Graduate school 13.4% 48.3% 44.2% 42.2%

Family income

Less than $20K 7.8% 14.5%

$20K to $50K 23.7% 32.9%

$50K to $75K 20.9% 33.0%

$75K to $100K 16.6% 42.4%

$100K to $150K 17.8% 43.9%

$150K and over 13.2% 49.9%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different than the 2012 estimate at the .05 level
97 • appendix: sports and exercise

Exercise or Participate in a Sports Activity

Forty-six percent of Americans exercised or participated 

in a sports activity at least once in 2012 (Figure A-3). A 

comparable question was not asked in prior years. Men 

are more likely than women to exercise or participate in 

sports (47 percent of men, 44 percent of women). The 

likelihood of physical activity is inversely related to age: 

59 percent of 18- to 24-year olds engaged in exercise 

or sports in 2012, but among adults 75 and older, the 

share was 24 percent. The likelihood of physical activity 

increased significantly with educational level and 

family income. 

Figure A-3. Percentage of U.S. adults who exercised or 

participated in a sports activity: 2012

Demographic 

distribution

% who participated

all adults 100.0% 45.7%

Gender

Male 50.1% 47.5%

Female 47.4% 44.0%

Race/ethnicity

Hispanic 13.0% 38.5%

White 70.9% 49.3%

African American 9.0% 37.7%

Other 7.2% 40.8%

Age

18–24 16.3% 58.5%

25–34 20.1% 52.8%

35–44 18.4% 49.3%

45–54 18.4% 44.9%

55–64 14.6% 40.8%

65–74 8.2% 37.2%

75+ 4.1% 24.1%

Highest level of education

Grade school 1.1% 12.2%

Some high school 4.5% 24.1%

High school graduate 23.4% 35.0%

Some college 30.5% 49.2%

College graduate 25.9% 62.6%

Graduate school 14.7% 68.8%

Family income

Less than $20K 12.0% 31.3%

$20K to $50K 24.9% 35.4%

$50K to $75K 20.4% 48.9%

$75K to $100K 14.1% 56.1%

$100K to $150K 16.3% 63.3%

$150K and over 12.4% 69.4%

Gray shaded box indicates that the estimate is significantly different than the 

2012 estimate at the .05 level
2012 survey of public participation in the arts • 98

Chart A-1 illustrates how education, age, and income 

influence a person’s likelihood of being active in sports. 

As seen in the chart, exercise or active participation 

in a sports activity decreased with age and increased with 

educational level and income. 

Chart A-1. Percentage of U.S. adults who exercise or participated in a sports activity in the last 12 months, by age, education, 

and income: 2012

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Less/younger More/older

58.5%

51.0%

44.9%

40.8%

Income Education Age

37.2%

24.1%

12.2%

24.1%

35.0%

49.2%

62.6%

68.8%

69.4%

63.3%

56.1%

48.9%

35.4%

31.3%

Back cover photo: Young folklorico dancers perform in 

Ajo, Arizona, to celebrate the Smithsonian’s Between 

Fences traveling exhibit. Photo by Jewel Clearwater
400 7th Street SW

Washington, DC 20506

Not for sale. Available for free at arts.gov