A new study from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) reveals a strong correlation between the number of people working in arts, culture, and heritage occupations in English local authorities and the rates of public participation in cultural activities. Analyzing data from DCMS's Participation Survey 2023–24 and the Office of National Statistics Labour Force Survey, the report found the strongest link between cultural employment and art gallery attendance, followed by literary events and live dance. London boroughs dominated the top rankings, with Cambridge, Brighton and Hove, Oxford, Bristol, and Waverley also showing high correlations, though exceptions like Stoke-on-Trent and York highlighted local variations in specific art forms.
The findings matter because they suggest that local cultural workforce levels can drive community engagement, supporting the case for holistic local strategies that both nurture arts jobs and boost participation. However, the report also reveals widening inequalities since the pandemic: the gap between middle-class and working-class attendance at art exhibitions grew by 7%, and Black and Asian people were significantly less likely than white people to engage in most cultural activities. These disparities underscore the need for targeted policies to ensure equitable access to the arts, beyond simply increasing overall participation rates.