Cultural engagement in Scotland: what is it and why does it matter?
This report provides evidence on cultural engagement in Scotland from 2019 - 2024. It draws on a range of data, from both the Scottish Household Survey and qualitative research, to explore attitudes and behaviours for different people and places across Scotland.
Impact of Culture and Heritage (2022)
Respondents were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed with a number of statements regarding the impact of culture on people’s lives[25] (Table 5).
In 2022, a quarter of adults (25%) tended to agree with the statement that ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ and a further 23% strongly agreed with the statement. Twenty-six percent neither agreed or disagreed with the statement, and 14% tended to disagree and eight percent strongly disagreed with the statement.
Over half of adults (53%) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (20% and 33% respectively) with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my local community’. Just under half of respondents (45%) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (14% and 31% respectively) that there are lots of opportunities to get involved in culture and the arts in their local area.
Almost half (47%) of respondents either strongly disagreed (26%) or tended to disagree (21%) with the statement that ‘culture and the arts are not really for me’.
Around three in five adults (58%) strongly agreed and a further 28% tended to agree that it is important to them that Scotland’s heritage[26] is well looked after. The majority of respondents strongly agreed or tended to agree that the heritage of their local area is well looked after (35% and 37% respectively).
Table 5: Almost half of adults agreed culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life
Percentage of adults who agree or disagree with views on culture and heritage, 2022, Scotland
| View | Strongly agree | Tend to agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Tend to disagree | Strongly disagree | No opinion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life | 23% | 25% | 26% | 14% | 8% | 4% |
| Culture and the arts are not really for me | 10% | 20% | 20% | 21% | 26% | 3% |
| Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my local community | 20% | 33% | 26% | 7% | 3% | 11% |
| There are enough opportunities to get involved in culture and the arts if I want to in my local area | 14% | 31% | 25% | 13% | 5% | 12% |
| It is important that Scotland’s heritage is well looked after | 58% | 27% | 9% | 1% | 0% | 4% |
| The heritage of my local area is well looked after | 35% | 37% | 15% | 4% | 2% | 7% |
The 2022 data also showed that:
- Females were more likely to agree or strongly agree that culture makes a positive difference to their lives than men (50% vs 46%).
- Adults aged 75 and over were less likely to agree or strongly agree culture makes a positive difference to their lives (39%).
- Those with a degree more likely to agree or strongly agree that culture makes a positive difference to their lives than those with no qualifications (69% vs 21%).
- Those living in the 20% least deprived areas were more likely to agree or strongly agree that culture makes a positive difference to their lives than those in the least deprived areas (61% vs 35%).
- Those who are not disabled more likely to agree or strongly agree that culture makes a positive difference to their lives than those who are disabled (51% vs 41%).
- Those who are gay, lesbian or bisexual more likely to agree or strongly agree that culture makes a positive difference to their lives than those who are heterosexual or straight (76% vs 47%).
Those respondents who either strongly agreed or tended to agree that culture and the arts make a positive difference to their life were further asked about the type of positive difference culture and the arts make[27].
Almost three in four (74%) reported that culture and the arts make them feel happy or are something that they really enjoy (Table 6). Forty-six percent said that culture and the arts improve their mental health and wellbeing. Twenty-six percent said culture and arts helps them socialise with other people and make new friends and 20% reported that is made me think and opens my mind to other opinions, perspectives, and cultures as a reason for culture and the arts making a positive difference to people’s lives.
Table 6: Three in four adults reported that culture and the arts make them feel happy or are something that they really enjoy
Percentage of adults who agree with reasons as to why culture and arts makes a positive difference to people’s lives, 2022, Scotland
| Reason | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Makes me feel happy/something I really enjoy | 74% |
| Improves my physical health and fitness | 17% |
| Improves my mental health and wellbeing | 46% |
| Takes my mind off my problems | 20% |
| Allows me to socialise with other people and make new friends | 26% |
| I am learning new skills/knowledge | 19% |
| Helps me to feel part of my local community | 15% |
| Make me think and opens my mind to other opinions, perspectives and cultures | 20% |
| Other reason | 3% |
Contact
Email: socialresearch@gov.scot
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