Latest publications
June 2010 - regional briefings from the Taking Part survey 2008/09, based on the headline report below.
March 2010 - download headline findings from the Taking Part survey 2008/09 including analysis of arts engagement patterns, respondents' rating of their experience and attitudes to the arts:
Headline findings from the Taking Part survey 2008/09
September 2009 - download our latest Taking Part survey briefing looking at the changes in the arts engagement patterns over the period 2005/06 - 2007/08:
Arts engagement in England from 2005/06 to 2007/08
In-depth analysis
Encourage children today to build audiences for tomorrow, March 2009. A briefing that explores the relationship between childhood arts experience and arts engagement patterns in adulthood, using data from the 2005/06 Taking Part survey.
Arts audiences: insight, August 2008. A publication summarising Arts Council's arts-based segmentation research.
From indifference to enthusiasm: patterns of arts attendance in England, April 2008. In-depth analysis of the levels of arts attendance and the socio-demographic inequalities associated with the take-up of arts opportunities.
Regional profiles
Regional analysis of Taking Part data is available for the first year of the survey (2005/06) and also for 2008/09 data.
- East Midlands - 2005/06, 2008/09
- East of England - 2005/06, 2008/09
- London - 2005/06, 2008/09
- North East - 2005/06, 2008/09
- North West - 2005/06, 2008/09
- South East - 2005/06, 2008/09
- South West - 2005/06, 2008/09
- West Midlands - 2005/06, 2008/09
- Yorkshire - 2005/06, 2008/09
Artform briefings
Headline findings from the first 12 months of Taking Part separated by artform.
- Combined arts attendance in England
- Attendance and participation in dance in England
- Reading, writing and attendance at literature events in England
- Engagement in music in England
- Engagement in theatre, street arts and circus in England
- Engagement in visual arts and crafts in England
Taking Part briefings
An annual treat or a weekly fix? Taking Part findings on frequency of engagement with different arts events and activities
The art of volunteering. Taking Part findings on volunteering
Exploring audience overlap. Taking Part findings on how the audiences of different arts events and activities are related
Arts engagement in England from 2005/06 to 2007/08 Looks at the changes in arts engagement patterns over the period 2005/06 - 2007/08 as measured by the Taking Part survey
Annual reports
- Child survey headline report 2008/09
- a release comparing the headline statistics from 2005/06 and 2007/08, published on the DCMS website
- Informing change - Arts Council annual report 2005/06
- DCMS annual report 2005/06
- Child survey headline report 2007
- Child survey headline report 2006
Future projects
We are currently updating the artform briefings using data from Taking Part 2008/09 which will be published on this webpage in summer 2010.
If you have any questions about this work, or suggestions for further work, email us at takingpart@artscouncil.org.uk
About the Taking Part survey
Taking Part is a major, continuous survey of cultural and sport participation in England, commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Arts Council England, Sport England, English Heritage and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
Every year it collects information from up to 28,000 adults (aged 16 and over) about their attendance at a wide variety of arts events, museums, galleries, libraries and heritage sites, and about their participation in creative activities and sport. The survey also asks about motivations and barriers to engagement and collects a large quantity of socio-demographic information. The data is collected by BMRB Social Research in face-to-face interviews and the survey has been conducted since July 2005. More information is available on the DCMS website.








