Cultural engagement in Scotland: insights from people's experiences

Footnotes

1 Findings from the SHS indicate that in 2022 the library was the most frequently visited place to attend: 9. Culture and heritage - Scottish Household Survey 2022: Key Findings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

2 In 2023 a refreshed action plan was published to support delivery of the strategy in the future.

3 Scottish Government Culture Outcomes: Measuring progress - Culture | National Performance Framework

4 Scot Gov Culture (@culturescotgov) / X

5 ‘White: Other’ includes Gypsy/Traveller, Polish and other White ethnic groups.

6 ‘Minority ethnic groups’ includes mixed or multiple, Asian, African, Caribbean or Black, Arab or any other ethnic groups.

7 Disability is defined if they have a physical or mental health condition, disability or illness lasting or expected to last 12 months or more.

8 Scottish Government Cultural engagement topic report: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781836910329

9 The RADIANCE framework produced by Fancourt and Warran (2024) helped to inform how the research team categorised the different barriers within the survey responses. The full research article is available via Wellcome Open Research: A fRAmework of the DetermInants of Arts aNd Cultural Engagement (RADIANCE): integrated insights from ecological, behavioural and complex adaptive systems theories.

10 Recent data from the SHS indicated that in 2022 the most frequently cited factors limiting or preventing people from attending cultural events and activities were ‘lack of time’ followed by ‘cost of tickets’ 9. Culture and heritage - Scottish Household Survey 2022: Key Findings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

11 When responding to the question: ‘How well would you say you are managing financially these days?’, 15% of respondents reported that they were struggling financially: including either ‘not managing very well’ (8.5%), ‘having some financial difficulties’ (5.4%) or are ‘in deep financial trouble’ (0.6%). See Annex B for full breakdown.

12 The Action Group is a disability advocacy charity that contributed additional responses from their members, alongside the main survey responses. See Appendix B.

13 69% of the respondents identified as being in employment.

14 The National Theatre in England has recently piloted an earlier performance start-time to make it easier for attendees to travel home, in response to changing behaviours/preferences since the pandemic: We're piloting early-evening performances starting at 6.30pm (nationaltheatre.org.uk)

15 The Social Model of Disability says that disability is caused by barriers that rise because society is not designed to accommodate people who have impairments (e.g. The Social Model of Disability - Inclusion Scotland)

16 As noted in the statistical report on cultural engagement there was an increase from 2019 to 2022 in the proportion of disabled respondents who participated in cultural activities.

17 Respondents were asked the following question: ‘Would you consider yourself to be a carer (someone who supports someone else)?’

18 This has been discussed in a report from Creative Policy and Evidence Centre, Social mobility in the Creative Economy: Rebuilding and levelling up? (pec.ac.uk), finding that: “Class-based exclusion is more pronounced in the Creative Industries than other sectors of the economy, and creative occupations are amongst the most elite” (Carey, O’Brien & Gable, 2021).

19 Findings from the 2023 Scottish Islands Survey notes variation in attendance and participation amongst islanders and other residents of Scotland. Section 3.10 1. Introduction - Scottish Islands Survey 2023: main findings report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

20 Findings from the 2023 Scottish Islands Survey notes that digital connectivity varies a great deal across island groups. Section 3.6 3. Main Findings - Scottish Islands Survey 2023: main findings report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

21 In addition to the online survey, researchers joined discussions with disability membership networks. See Annex B for further details.

22 Research has explored the facilities, spaces and networks that can build and maintain social connections within a community: see New Social Spaces (stirtoaction.com)

23 The survey did not ask respondents whether they work in the cultural/creative sector or if they identify as a creative/cultural worker, so the research team could not quantify this. The survey did ask respondents completing the survey as an organisation, rather than as an individual, to cite their organisation.

24 The Irish Government is currently piloting a Basic Income for Artists: gov.ie - Early research findings of Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme show positive impact on recipients (www.gov.ie)

25 27% of the sample identified as having a long-standing physical or mental impairment, illness or disability.

26 21% of the respondents identified as being ‘retired’.

27 For a more detailed exploration of national and sub-group rates of volunteering see 2024 publication on social capital in Scotland: Supporting documents - Social capital and community wellbeing in Scotland - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

28 For a more detailed exploration of people’s perception of their community, neighbourhood and local area see 2024 publication on social capital in Scotland: Supporting documents - Social capital and community wellbeing in Scotland - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

29 For a more detailed exploration of inequalities across different geographic areas see 2024 publication on social capital in Scotland: Supporting documents - Social capital and community wellbeing in Scotland - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

30 Findings from the SHS indicate that in 2022 the library was the most frequently visited place to attend: 9. Culture and heritage - Scottish Household Survey 2022: Key Findings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

31 Organisations cited include: Expressing Scotland, Anti-Racism Education (AREducation), Feis Rois, Cutting Edge Theatre, Scottish Book Trust, The Queen’s Hall and The Wyllieum, Articulate Cultural Trust, Narture Cic, Age Scotland, Shetland Library, PAMIS (promoting a more inclusive society), Falkland Society, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Family Fund.

32 The Assembly is a group that supports accessible politics and political engagement for people with learning disabilities and autism in Scotland.

33 Disability is defined as having a physical or mental health condition, disability or illness lasting or expected to last 12 months or more

34 Note respondents were asked to select all qualifications that applied to them. Consequently the columns will not add up to 504 respondents and 100%.