October 2022
Featured in this insight: Culture, heritage & leisure
63% of Brits say they regularly read, making it the nation’s most popular form of physical art engagement: An annual survey into how the British public spend their free time has uncovered that almost two-thirds of people aged 16 and above say they choose to read magazines and books; making it the most popular arts-based pastime in the UK.
The Participation Survey by Gov.UK polled over 33,000 respondents about their participation in DCMS (digital, culture, media and sport) sectors, to illicit the most recent trends. Almost nine in 10 (87%) said they physically engaged in DMCS sectors, with 27% engaging digitally.
Attending live events was found to be a popular way for people to participate in the arts, with 38% of respondents going to the cinema, while 19% said they enjoy attending live music events. A further 18% reported enjoying watching theatrical performances.
When asked about what they like to do online in their spare time, 36% said they enjoy playing video games; with a further 15% stating they enjoy watching a pre-recorded music or dance event. In addition, one in 10 participants enjoy watching an event being live-streamed.
The study also looked at reasons why people might choose to not attend events or participate in DCMS sectors, with around 28% saying they have 'no interest'. Furthermore, 26% say they are worried about COVID and health implications.
Despite almost two-thirds of Brits enjoying reading, the research found that just two in 10 British adults have engaged with their local library in the last year.
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