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CHAPTER 2: PARTICIPATION IN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

OUTSIDE SCHOOL

Participation in and attendance at cultural activities outside school

2.1 The Scottish Government's Manifesto committed to widening access to culture, because of the benefits that participation in culture can bring to the individual. Previous research ¹ has shown that participation in cultural activities can increase confidence, improve self-esteem, lead to new skills and improve attendance and educational outcomes at school.

2.2 Overall, this survey shows that outside of school, 96% of young people say they have participated in at least one cultural activity in the last 12 months, while 89% say they have attended at least one cultural event.

Library usage

2.3 Half of young people surveyed (51%) have visited a library at least once in the last 12 months, with girls more likely than boys to have done so (55% vs. 47%). While some have been infrequent visitors, two in five have not visited a library at all in the last 12 months (41%), which includes nearly half of 14 year olds and boys (see Table 2.1 below).

2.4 Twelve year olds are most likely to be frequent visitors, with one in ten (10%) making a trip to the library once a week or more often. This is most likely to be 12 year old girls (13%) rather than 12 year old boys (8%). As well as age and gender differences, young people with no working parents in the household are more likely to use the library at least once a week (9%, compared with 4% of those with two working parents) as are those living in a rural area (9%, vs. 5% of urban residents).

Table 2.1: Frequency of library usage

Reasons for library usage

2.5 Young people who have visited a library at least once in the last 12 months are most likely to have done so to borrow or return books (67%) or use the computers or internet (37% - see Figure 2.1 below). There are few significant differences between sub-groups, but girls are more likely than boys to have borrowed books (71% vs. 61%) as are those who live in the least deprived areas in Scotland (77% vs. 49% of those living in the most deprived areas). Those who live in the most deprived areas and use the library are more likely to have done so to use computers and the internet (48% compared with 14% of those living in the least deprived areas).

Figure 2.1: Reasons for library usage

Base: All who have visited a library at least once in the last 12 months (884)
Source: IpsosMORI

Reasons for non-usage

2.6 For the 41% of young people who said they had not visited a library in the last twelve months, the top three reasons are concerned with young people not having a particular interest or reason to use the facility:

• 55% say they don't have any need to go to the library;
• 42% prefer to do other things in their spare time;
• 38% are not really interested in libraries generally.

2.7 One might imagine that this lack of concern with what libraries have to offer may in part be due to low levels of awareness of what functions they have besides lending books. However, since just 1% of respondents said they did not have enough information about what there is to do at the library, this may not be the case.

2.8 Thirteen year olds are most likely to express having no interest in libraries (45%, compared with 38% overall) and also preferring to do other things in their spare time (52% vs. 42% overall). Fifteen year olds are most likely to feel that they have no need to go to the library (63%, vs. 55% overall) and as might be expected, young people living in a rural area are more liable to attribute their lack of use of the library to poor transport and not being able to get there easily (9%, compared with just 1% of those living in an urban area).

Visits to historical and archaeological sites

2.9 Slightly more than half of young people surveyed (54%) have been to a historical or archaeological site, other than as a part of a school trip in the last 12 months. Of those who have made such a visit, most have done so just once or twice in the last year (32%), though one in eight (12%) say they have made three or four visits (see Table 2.2 below).

2.10 Sub-group differences are most notable when looking at the proportion of young people who have not visited any historical or archaeological site in the last 12 months. Overall, nearly two in five (38%) have not made any visits and this increases to 45% of 14 year old girls and boys (though there is no clear pattern of falling numbers of visits with rising age). Lower household income appears to be closely linked with lack of visits to sites, with young people who live in the most deprived areas of the country and in households where no parents work, significantly more likely to have made no visits (51% and 46% respectively).

Table 2.2: Frequency of visits to historical and archaeological sites

Reasons for visits

2.11 Among those who have visited a historical or archaeological site in the last 12 months, most have done so as part of a trip with family and friends (72% - see Figure 2.2) and this is particularly true of girls (76%) and those living in households where both parents work (75%). Boys are significantly more likely than their female peers to say they have visited a site to learn something new (23% vs. 16%), with 12 year old and 15 year old boys particularly likely to have done so (26% and 25% respectively).

Figure 2.2: Reasons for visit to historical or archaeological site

Base: All who have visited a historical or archaeological site (excluding school trips) in the last 12 months (932)
Source: IpsosMORI

Reasons for not visiting sites

2.12 As with libraries, young people's reasons for not visiting historical or archaeological sites are primarily concerned with not being interested and having other things to do in their spare time (both 46%). Girls are particularly liable to mention a lack of interest (52%, compared with 41% of boys).

2.13 Lack of transport is cited by one in ten (11%) of the young people surveyed as an explanation for not visiting sites, while for seven per cent, perceived cost, lack of information, and not having anyone to go with are concerns.

Visits to museums and galleries

2.14 Slightly fewer than half of young people (45%) have been to a museum or gallery, other than as part of a school trip in the last 12 months and among those who have, most have done so only once or twice (32% - see Table 2.3 below).

2.15 A greater proportion, 48%, have not visited a museum or gallery at all in the last year, and there are a couple of notable differences by sub group.

• 14 year olds (55%) and 15 year olds (50%) are more likely than their younger peers to not visit museums or galleries;
• Young people living in a household where no parents work are significantly more likely to not visit museums or galleries (56%), than those with both parents working (43%).

Table 2.3: Frequency of visits to museums and galleries

Reasons for visits

2.16 As with trips to archaeological and historical sites, the primary reason young people visit museums and galleries is as part of a visit with family or friends (66% - see Figure 2.3). Those living in the least deprived areas of the country (72%) and in rural areas (74%), are most likely to cite this as one of the reasons for their visit.

2.17 Just over a quarter (27%) attribute their visit to wanting to visit a specific exhibit or display, with girls most likely to have done so (30%). Girls are also more likely to have visited with a club or organisation (6% vs. 2% of boys) and to take part in a creative activity (8% compared with 3% of boys).

Figure 2.3: Reasons for visit to museum or gallery

Base: All who have visited a museum or gallery (excluding school trips) in the last 12 months (789)
Source: IpsosMORI

Reasons for not visiting museums and galleries

2.18 As with their main reasons for not visiting historical and archaeological sites, many young people are just not especially interested in visiting museums and galleries and have other things they would prefer to do in their spare time (both cited by 47%). Girls are particularly likely to say that they have other things they would prefer to do (52%), but a smaller proportion also appear to have concerns about visiting these types of attraction, with 4% saying they might feel out of place or uncomfortable.

2.19 For 6%, concern about the cost of visiting has seemingly deterred them from making a visit, and this rises to one in ten (11%) young people whose parents are both out of work.

Frequency of participation in artistic and cultural activities

2.20 Young people take part in a broad range of activities outside of school, with more than half (54%) stating that they have done four or more of the activities listed in the survey in the last 12 months. Nevertheless, as with participation in activities while in school, there are a number of differences in young people's involvement in pursuits outside of school time.

Differences by gender

2.21 The most noticeable differences between boys and girls are in the proportions that have read for pleasure, taken dance lessons and rehearsed for a performance, with girls significantly more likely to have done such activities at least once in the last month. On the whole, girls take part in a greater range and number of activities than boys, as Figure and Table 2.4 below highlight. However, boys are more likely than girls to have used a computer to create original artworks and to have done crafts such as textile, wood or pottery.

Figure 2.4: Number of activities undertaken outside of school in the last year

Base: All respondents aged 12-15 (1,759)
Source: IpsosMORI

Table 2.4: Participation in activities outside of school

Differences by age

2.22 It is clear that young people's involvement in artistic activities outside of school varies by age, with regular involvement ² in certain pastimes far less common among 14 and 15 year olds than 12 and 13 year olds. Indeed, there are no instances where 14 and 15 year olds are significantly more likely than 12 and 13 year olds to be doing any of the hobbies listed on a regular basis. For instance, 12 and 13 year olds are far more likely to have done crafts such as textile, wood, knitting or sewing at least once a month than 14 and 15 year olds. Twelve and 13 year olds are also much more likely to have played a musical instrument or written or recorded music and done painting, drawing or printmaking on a regular basis than their older peers.

2.23 There are, however, some activities for which age does not appear to be an influencing factor in involvement. There is little difference in the proportions who say they have rehearsed or practiced for a performance; DJ'd; written stories or books; or done photography.

Differences by area

2.24 There are no clear associations between frequency of participation in activities outside of school and the type of area the young person lives in, but there are some findings worth highlighting nonetheless:

• Young people living in an urban area are more likely to attend dance lessons on a weekly basis than those living in a rural area (18% vs. 12%);
• Those living in the least deprived areas of Scotland are significantly more likely to have played a musical instrument or written or recorded music on a weekly basis than their peers living in the most deprived areas (47% vs. 17%);
• Two in five young people (40%) living in the least deprived areas have read for pleasure at least once a week, compared with just 16% of those living in the most deprived areas.

INSIDE SCHOOL

Artistic activities

2.25 Young people carry out a diverse range of activities while at school, with more than half (52%) asserting that they have done four or more of the activities listed in the survey. Analysis shows that there are some significant differences between sub groups, including gender, age and the type of area where young people live.

2.26 Table 2.5 below illustrates differences in participation between genders for different activities. On balance, girls appear to have participated in a greater range and number of activities at school than their male peers, with differing levels of participation most prominent in relation to involvement in dance lessons and rehearsing/practicing for a performance.

2.27 Similar to their involvement in activities outside of school, however, boys are more liable to have used computers to create artworks or animation and to have done crafts such as textile, wood or pottery.

Table 2.5: Participation in activities at school

2.28 Girls are also more likely to have done a greater number of activities than boys, as illustrated in Figure 2.5 below. Nearly three in five girls (57%) claim that they have participated in four or more activities at school in the last 12 months, compared with just under half of boys doing the same number (47%).

Figure 2.5: Number of activities done whilst in school

Base: All respondents aged 11-15 (1,762)
Source: IpsosMORI

Age and gender differences

2.29 Analysis by age within gender also highlights where there are similarities between genders at certain ages, as well some notable differences (see Table 2.6 below). At different ages, similar proportions of boys and girls have played an instrument or written or recorded music; made films or videos as an artistic activity; and done photography as an artistic activity.

2.30 There is also some similarity in the incidence with which activities are undertaken by both sexes. For instance, the proportions of girls and boys playing an instrument or writing and recording music is significantly lower among 14 and 15 year olds, compared with 12 and 13 year olds. In other activities, where boys and girls have similar involvement in activities when they are 12 or 13, participation is much lower among older boys. In particular, painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture; and the proportion doing crafts such as textile, wood or pottery is far lower among 14 and 15 year old boys.

Table 2.6: Participation in activities at school: age within gender

Differences according to area

2.31 There are some stark differences worth mentioning relating to the type of area where young people live. For instance, those living in the least deprived areas of the country are more likely to have participated in a range of activities than their peers living in the most deprived areas, including dance lessons (41% vs. 26%); playing an instrument or writing music (63% vs. 32%); painting, drawing or sculpture (60% vs. 44%) and reading for pleasure (60% vs. 30%). Overall, those living in the least deprived areas are 1.5 times more likely to have done 4 or more of the activities listed in school time than those living in the most deprived areas of Scotland (61% vs. 40%). Conversely, those living in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to have done only one activity as those living in the least deprived areas (18% vs. 8%).

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