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From Ballroom Dancing to Book Clubs

New study for amateur arts

On 5th September 2007 Margaret Hodge announced that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is commissioning a new study which will produce, for the first time, a national picture of amateur arts activity in England.

Speaking to the National Association of Local Government Arts Officers (NALGAO) conference, she unveiled plans for the six-month joint Arts Council England research project.

Margaret Hodge said

"We know from our Taking Part survey that nearly 70 per cent of people in England attend and participate in a huge range of arts and craft activities from book clubs to amateur orchestras and from lace-making to ballet and ballroom dancing.

"Much of this activity isn't through publicly-funded organisations so it is important to take into account the thousands of people who participate in the voluntary and amateur arts sector and consider whether the different kinds of support available are providing the right platform for them to thrive."

Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said

"We are very pleased to be supporting this research. The arts - professional and amateur - play an important part in people's lives and the Arts Council is working to bring the arts to ever wider and more diverse audiences. Adult and community learning in particular offers people excellent opportunities to engage with artistic activities and develop their skills and creativity as artists. This research will provide us with valuable information about this type of participation and how it can be developed effectively in the future."

Robin Simpson, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Arts Network (VAN), said

"This research being commissioned by DCMS represents a significant development in the recognition of the scale, value and importance of the voluntary arts sector. It will provide long-overdue statistical evidence of the range and diversity of voluntary arts activity. We hope this will prove to be a major step in a developing partnership between Government and the voluntary arts to realise the massive potential of the voluntary arts sector to encourage, increase and broaden participation in the arts."

As well as trying to provide a national picture of the sector, the study will explore what prompts people to take part (and what barriers there are) and the impact voluntary arts groups can have in their communities.  A second strand to the research will seek to determine the contribution Adult and Community Learning makes to public engagement with and participation in the arts.

DCMS is committed to widening participation in the arts and one of the aims of this research is to find out more about the participation opportunities offered by the voluntary arts sector and to use this information to try and support increased engagement more widely.

More info:

Public enquiries 020 7211 6200
http://www.culture.gov.uk

2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH
http://www.culture.gov.uk