Table Of Contentage and Arts
Participation
Boom
a Focus on the Baby Cohort
jtfith
iard A. Peterson and Darren E. Sherkat
idith Huggins Balfe and Rolf Meyersohn
ited by Erin V. Lehman
iearch Division Report #34
ENDOWMENT
"ATIONAL FOR THE ARTS
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Age and Arts Participation
with a Focus on the Baby Boom Cohort
Richard A. Peterson and Darren E. Sherkat
Judith Huggins Balfe and Rolf Meyersohn
Edited by Erin V. Lehman
Research Division Report #34
National Endowment for the Arts
Seven Locks Press
Santa Ana, California
Age and Arts Participation
with a Focus on the Baby Boom Cohort
Age andArts Participation with a Focus on the Baby Boom Cohort is Report #34 in a
series on matters of interest to the arts community commissioned by the Research
Division of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Cover: Line of people outside the National Gallery ofArt waiting to see the Jo-
hannes Vermeer exhibit, January 30, 1996. AP Photo by Scott Applewhite.
J.
First printed 1996
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Peterson, Richard A., 1932—
Age and arts participation with a focus on the baby boom cohort /
Richard A. Pete—rson . . . (et al.).
p. cm. (Research Division report: 34)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-929765-45-1 (paperback)
— —
1 . Arts audiences United States. 2. Arts surveys United States. I.
Peterson, Richard A., 1932- II. Series: Research Division report (National
.
Endowment for the Arts. Research Division) 34.
;
NX220.A36 1996
700M'030973—dc20 96-7841
CIP
Manufactured in the United States ofAmerica
Seven Locks Press
Santa Ana, California
1-800-354-5348
Table of Contents
List of Tables VI
List of Figures vn
Executive Summary
1
The Report in Brief
1
The Cohorts
1
Highlights ofChange in Cohort Attendance 2
From 1982 to 1992
Life Course, Demographics, and Alternatives 4
Education, Income, Children, and the Baby Boomers 4
The Ultimate Question 5
Introduction 7
Background on the SPPA 11
PART I: Effects of Age on Arts Participation 13
Introduction to Age Cohorts 13
Comparisons ofArts Participation Across Cohorts 16
by Art Form
Arts Participation of Specific Cohorts Over Time 24
Implications of Life Course and Demographics 39
Alternatives to Active Arts Participation: 46
Consumption via Media
PART II: Arts Participation of the Baby Boomers 68
Introduction and Methodology 68
Arts Participation by Cohort in the 1982 and 1992 SPPAs 72
Effect of Education on Arts Participation 82
Effect of Income on Arts Participation 89
Effect of Households with Children on Arts Participation 96
Alternative Forms ofArts Participation: The Case of Music 97
Implications of Baby Boomer Analysis 114
vi Age and Arts Participation
I
Summary
117
Appendix A: 1992 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts 119
Appendix B: Additional Tables 126
Notes 134
Bibliography 136
About the Authors 138
Other Reports on Arts Participation 140
Tables
Table 1 Age Group Comparisons for Participation in Classical Music
.
and Opera, 1982 and 1992: Unadjusted, Controlling for
Demographics, and Controlling for Demographics and Period 17
Table 2. Age Group Comparisons for Participation in Ballet
and Musicals, 1982 and 1992: Unadjusted, Controlling
for Demographics, and Controlling for Demographics
and Period 18
Table 3. Cohort Comparisons of Participation Rates for Jazz, Plays,
Art Museums, and Novels, 1982 and 1992:
Unadjusted, Adjusted for Demographics, and Adjusted
for Demographics and Period 22
Table 4. Period Comparisons: Percentage Change in Participation of
Classical Music and Opera by Age and Cohort 26—27
Table 5. Period Comparisons: Percentage Change in Participation of
Ballet and Musicals by Age and Cohort 29-30
Table 6. Period Comparisons: Percentage Change in Participation
ofJazz and Plays by Age and Cohort 34-35
Table 7. Period Comparisons: Percentage Change in Participation
ofArt Museums and Novels by Age and Cohort 37-38
Table 8. OLS Regression of the Influence of Life Course Factors on
Arts Participation: 17- to 46-Year-Olds 42
Table of Contents vii
I
fable l>. OLS Regression of the Influence of Life Course Factors on
Arts Participation: 47- to 66-Year-Olds 44
Table 10. OLS Regression of the Influence of Life Course Factors on
Arts Participation: Age 67 and Over 45
Table 1 1. Percentage ofVideo Media Consumption ofClassical
Music and Opera 48-49
Fable 12. Percentage ofVideo Media Consumption of Ballet and
Musicals 51-52
Table 13. Percentage ofVideo Media Consumption ofJazz and Plays 55-56
Table 14. Percentage ofVideo Media Consumption ofVisual Arts 58
Table 15. Percentage of Radio Consumption of Classical Music
and Opera 61-62
Table 16. Percentage ofConsumption of Classical Music and
Opera Recordings 65-66
Table 17. Education and Cohorts by Size, in Millions (1992 Data Only) 71
Table 18. Highest and Lowest Cohort Arts Participation Rates
in 1982 and 1992 77
Table 19. Highest and Lowest Cohort Arts Participation Rates
(Average of 1982 and 1992) by Education 87
Table 20. Highest and Lowest Cohort Arts Participation Rates by
Income (1992 Data Only) 94
Table 21. Percentage of the 1941-45 and 1961-65 Cohorts Liking
Various Types of Music 02
1
Table 22. Music Liking and Projected Audience Size for 1941-45
and 1961-65 Cohorts 115
Table 23. Classical Music Attendance and Nonattendance for 1941-45
and 1961-65 Cohorts with One or More Years ofCollege 116
Table B-l. Arts Participation by Age Cohort and Survey Year 126
Table B-2. Arts Participation Rates (Average of 1982 and 1992)
by Age Cohort and Educational Level 127
Table B-3. Arts Participation Rates (Average of 1982 and 1992)
by Age Cohort and Annual Family Income 128
Table B-4. Arts Participation Rates (Average of 1982 and 1992)
by Age Cohort and Number ofChildren 129
Table B-5. Percent and Number Liking Various Types of Music by
Age Cohort 30
1
Table B-6. Percent and Number Liking Various Types ofMusic by
Age Cohort and Extent ofArts Participation 131-133
1
viii Age and Arts Participation
I
Figures
Figure 1. Educational Level by Age Cohort 71
Figure 2. Percentage of 1982 and 1992 Attendance at Classical
Music Concerts by Age Cohort 73
Figure 3. Percentage of 1982 and 1992 Attendance at Jazz Concerts
by Age Cohort 73
Figure 4. Percentage of 1982 and 1992 Attendance at Operas by
Age Cohort 74
Figure 5. Percentage of 1982 and 1992 Attendance at Musicals by
Age Cohort 74
Figure 6. Percentage of 1982 and 1992 Attendance at Ballet
Performances by Age Cohort 75
Figure 7. Percentage of 1982 and 1992 Attendance at Theater by
Age Cohort 75
Figure 8. Percentage of 1982 and 1992 Attendance at Museums
by Age Cohort 76
Figure 9. 1982 and 1992 Classical Music Concert Attendance by
Age Cohort 79
Figure 10. 1982 and 1992 Jazz Concert Attendance by Age Cohort 79
Figure 11. 1982 and 1992 Opera Attendance by Age Cohort 80
Figure 12. 1982 and 1992 Musicals Attendance by Age Cohort 80
Figure 13. 1982 and 1992 Ballet Attendance by Age Cohort 8
Figure 14. 1982 and 1992 Theater Attendance by Age Cohort 81
Figure 15. 1982 and 1992 Museum Visits by Age Cohort 82
Figure 16. Classical Music Concert Attendance by Age Cohort
and Education 83
Figure 17. Jazz Concert Attendance by Age Cohort and Education 83
Figure 18. Opera Attendance by Age Cohort and Education 84
Figure 19. Attendance at Musicals by Age Cohort and Education 84
Figure 20. Ballet Attendance by Age Cohort and Education 85
Figure 21. Theater Attendance by Age Cohort and Education 85
Figure 22. Museum Visits by Age Cohort and Education 86
Figure 23. Family Income by Age Cohort 89
Figure 24. Attendance at Classical Concerts by Age Cohort and Income 90
Figure 25. Attendance at Jazz Concerts by Age Cohort and Income 90
Figure 26. Opera Attendance by Age Cohort and Income 91
Figure 27. Attendance at Musicals by Age Cohort and Income 91
