The majority of people in Ireland go to an arts event at least once a year, with plays, art exhibitions and classical music concerts most popular in every part of the country, according to new research.
In addition, more than 1.2 million people report that they actually participate in artistic or creative activities, such as drawing, painting, performing or playing an instrument.
The report commissioned by the Arts Council confirms previous studies showing that the arts are Ireland's most popular pursuit. It was drawn from data from Target Group Index, the largest study of consumer behaviour carried out each year in Ireland.
The report shows that 66 percent of the adult population, or approximately 2.3 million people have attended an arts event, and of these 1.8 million attend once a year or more. The age profile shows that adults attend the most arts events but that young people are also frequent attendees, with little gender divide.
The report published by Arts Audiences, a partnership between the Arts Council and Temple Bar Cultural Trust, provides a vital demographic picture and will be of great value to the Arts Council and arts organisations across the country in relation to developing marketing strategies. Full report available on the Arts Audience website: www.artsaudiences.ie
