Cultural engagement impacts positively on our general wellbeing and helps to reinforce our resilience in difficult times. Cultural participation is known to bring benefits in learning and education; there is a significant association with good health and satisfaction with life. Our culture is key to our sense of identity as individuals, as communities and as a nation. Maintaining the quality and diversity of our cultural offerings in conjunction with enabling a strong level of engagement with culture helps to promote Scotland on an international stage as a modern dynamic nation. These factors also encourage visitors to come to Scotland, creating and maintaining jobs in cultural tourism; and support the conditions for Scotland's creative economy by encouraging creative industries to be leading edge in their field, particularly as part of maintaining and growing city economies.
Key influences are the availability and quality of cultural offerings for those attending, participating and learning from them; location and accessibility, both physical ease and by introducing people to unfamiliar experiences which they are then encouraged to repeat and develop; and the capacity of cultural organisations (particularly in a local authority context) to deliver.
The Government sets the overall framework within which Scotland can produce world-class culture and creative output, and people are actively engaged in culture and creative activities. It promotes the value of taking part in cultural activities. It has a key policy and funding relationship with Creative Scotland which has a statutory function of encouraging as many people as possible to access and participate in the arts and culture. The Government works with local authorities to agree shared priorities on the value and benefits of cultural engagement. It also works with national organisations in the culture and heritage sector to set priorities and monitor progress on access to and participation in culture.
Between 2015 and 2016, the percentage of adults who engaged in culture has increased by 0.1 percentage points, from 91.9% in 2015 to 92.0% in 2016. This comes after a increase of 1.1 percentage points between 2014 and 2015, from 90.8% in 2014 to 91.9% in 2015.
The wording of the question used to gather the information was changed in the Scottish Household Survey in 2012, meaning data from 2012 onwards is not comparable with previous years.
Previously, the data remained fairly stable since it was first collected in 2007 but showed a slight increase in 2011.
The data is available at the bottom of the page.
Cultural engagement is closely linked with a number of socio-economic indicators, such as age. In 2016, 96% of 16 – 24 year olds either participated in a cultural activity or attended a cultural place or event in the last 12 months. This compared with 84% of those aged 75 and older.
In 2016, 97% of adults in the least deprived areas of Scotland either participated in a cultural activity or attended a cultural place or event in the last 12 months. This compared with 86% in the most deprived areas.
The data is available at the bottom of the page.
This evaluation is based on: any difference within 2 percentage points of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. An increase of 2 percentage points or more suggests the position is improving; whereas a decrease of 2 percentage points or more suggests the position is worsening.
For information on general methodological approach, please click here.
Scotland Performs Technical Note
Creative Scotland
Historic Scotland
Local Authorities
Museums Galleries Scotland
National Collections and National Performing Companies:
National Galleries Scotland
National Library of Scotland
National Museums Scotland
National Records of Scotland
National Theatre of Scotland
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Scottish Library and Information Council
Scottish Opera
Wealthier and Fairer
Smarter
Healthier
Safer and Stronger