Culture and the British public

Only one in three people in Britain (37%) feel cultural events are designed with them in mind, according to a survey by MORI. The project was commission by Cardiff 2008, the team leading the city's bid to be the European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Half the population (49%) believes cultural events are aimed at the middle or upper classes and only one in 10 (nine per cent) believes cultural events are truly inclusive. Ethnic minorities are most positive about culture in Britain: almost half feel cultural events are aimed at them (against just over one in three of the general population). They are also less likely to view culture as a middle and upper class activity (36%, compared with 49% of the general population).

The study also shows that films are the most popular cultural activity for Britons, with two thirds (65%) having been to the cinema in the past two years. More than half (54%) have been to an art gallery or museum, more than two in five (43%) to a play, opera, dance performance or classical music concert, and a similar percentage (42%) to a musical, outdoor festival, pop or rock concert. Three in 10 (29%) have been to a major sporting event.

One in seven (14%) has not been to any of these types of events in the past two years.

Topline Results

• MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,102 adults aged 15 and over between the 12 and 16 September 2002.
• This includes separate booster sample of interviews conducted with non-white respondents conducted to ensure their views were accurately represented.
• Interviews were conducted by telephone.
• Data have been weighted to the national profile.

Q1 To what extent do you agree or disagree that cultural events in Britain are designed to appeal to people like you ... ?

Q2 And which of these groups, if any, do you feel in general that cultural events are designed to appeal to most ... ?

Q3 Which, if any, of the following activities have you undertaken in the past two years?