West Midlands

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Taking Part 2015/16:

This report provides an overview of the arts and cultural engagement of adults living in the West Midlands.

Data is taken from the Taking Part Survey 2015/16 and makes comparisons with 2010/11.

All statistically significant differences are noted in the text and on the charts: - a statistically significant difference is a difference which is probably true and not due to chance - a non statistically significant difference is probably not a true difference and is likely to be due to chance

* on the charts indicates a statistically significant difference between 2010/11 and 2015/16.

+ on the charts indicates a statistically significant difference between the region and England overall.

More information about the Taking Part Survey can be found in Appendix A. A Technical Note on the survey is in Appendix B.

Contents The West Midlands Region ...... 4 The adult population in the West Midlands region ...... 4 Creative workforce of the West Midlands ...... 6 Creative clusters in the West Midlands ...... 6 Adult engagement in the West Midlands ...... 7 Adult arts attendance in the West Midlands ...... 12 Adult arts participation in the West Midlands ...... 14 Digital engagement in the West Midlands ...... 16 Attitudes towards the arts in the West Midlands ...... 19 Donations in the West Midlands ...... 22 Appendix A - About the Taking Part survey ...... 25 Appendix B - Technical note ...... 26

The West Midlands Region

The West Midlands is one of the nine regions of England; it consists of the western part of the Midlands, encompassing the cities of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry, but also covers the predominantly rural shire counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

The 2011 census showed that the population of the West Midlands was 5,602,000.

The adult sample size for Taking Part 2015/16 in The West Midlands region was 1,107 (national sample size 10,171). The adult population in the West Midlands region

This section outlines the key characteristics of the West Midlands adult population based on their responses to the Taking Part survey 2015/16 demographic questions:

 In the West Midlands region, 51.3 per cent of adults were female and 48.7 per cent of adults were male. In England 51.2 per cent were female and 48.8 per cent male.

 In England 87.8 per cent of the adult population belonged to a white ethnic group and 12.2 per cent another ethnic group. In the West Midlands 85.3 per cent of adults belonged to a white ethnic group and 14.7 per cent another ethnic group.

 In the West Midlands region 32.2 per cent of adults reported that they had a long standing illness or disability. In England 30.9 per cent of adults reported this.

 In the West Midlands over half of the population belonged to the upper-socio economic group (55.9 per cent) and 44.1 per cent the lower socio-economic group. In England 63.1 per cent belonged to the upper and 36.9 per cent the lower socio-economic group.

Figure 1: Age group of adults in the West Midlands – 2015/16

8.7% 16.9% 16-24 12.6% 25-44 45-64 32.4% 65-74 29.4% 75+ 5

Creative workforce of the West Midlands DCMS official statistics report key figures and trends on employment in the Creative Economy and the Creative Industries1 2. - Creative Economy - there were 184,000 jobs in the Creative Economy in the West Midlands in 2015, 6.9 per cent of all jobs in the region. This was an increase from 145,000 jobs in 2011. - Creative Industries - there were 111,000 jobs in the Creative Industries in the West Midlands in 2015, 4.2 per cent of all jobs in the region. This was an increase from 80,000 jobs in 2011.

Creative clusters in the West Midlands In their recent report3 NESTA and Creative England used the latest data and official definitions to map the creative industries in the UK. They identified 47 creative clusters across the UK – 43 of which are in England. Although London and the South East are important components of the UK creative industries, so too are the North, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The report identified one creative cluster in the West Midlands region:  Leamington Spa - categorised as an area of ‘high concentration and high growth’

1 The Creative Economy includes the contribution of those who are in Creative Occupations outside the Creative Industries as well as all those employed in the Creative Industries. The Creative Industries are a subset of the Creative Economy which includes only those working in the Creative Industries themselves (and who may either be in Creative Occupations or in other roles e.g. finance). 2 DCMS (2016) Creative Industries: Focus on Employment – available https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/creative-industries-2016-focus-on 3 NESTA and Creative England (2016) The Geography of Creativity in the UK: Creative clusters, creative people and creative networks – available: http://www.nesta.org.uk/sites/default/files/the_geography_of_creativity_in_the_uk.pdf 6

Adult engagement in the West Midlands

Figure 2: Adult engagement with the arts – at least once in the past year

100.0% 90.0% 81.9% 84.2% 77.8% 77.5% 79.7% 79.1% 79.3% 80.0% 74.5% 74.0% 75.7% 75.8% 73.4% 74.1% 76.2% 76.1% 70.5% 72.2% 72.3% 69.9% 71.2% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England Humber England * 2010/11 2015/16

Around seven in ten adults in the West Midlands had engaged with the arts at least once in 2015/16.

The proportion of adults in the West Midlands who had engaged in the arts was similar in 2010/11 and 2015/16 – 75.7 per cent and 71.2 per cent respectively.

Figure 3: Adult engagement with the arts –three or more times in the past year

100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 67.9% 69.4% 70.0% 63.9% 64.1% 64.7% 60.7% 61.1% 61.2% 61.0% 59.0% 59.8% 59.5% 59.9% 58.1% 60.5% 57.4% 56.8% 55.4% 57.3% 60.0% 52.7% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England Humber England

2010/11 2015/16

Around six in ten adults in the West Midlands had engaged with the arts three or more times in 2015/16.

The proportion of adults in the West Midlands who had engaged in the arts three or more times was similar in 2010/11 and 2015/16 – 58.1 per cent and 57.3 per cent respectively.

Figure 4: Adult attendance of museums and galleries

100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 62.1% 55.4% 60.0% 54.1% 51.3% 53.3% 51.8% 52.6% 50.7% 48.9% 47.9% 49.4% 47.2% 44.3% 47.0% 44.4% 45.4% 46.4% 50.0% 39.9% 40.6% 42.5% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England * Humber * England * * * * 2010/11 2015/16 *

In 2015/16 less than half of adults in the West Midlands had visited a museum or gallery at least once in the past 12 months.

The proportion of adults in the West Midlands who had visited a museum or gallery was similar in 2010/11 and 2015/16 – 40.6 per cent and 44.4 per cent respectively.

Figure 5: Adult use of public libraries

100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 43.1% 42.4% 43.1% 38.8% 40.5% 38.8% 39.7% 34.9% 35.8% 36.6% 37.4% 35.2% 40.0% 32.5% 33.6%31.3% 33.1% 33.0% 31.9% 33.4% 27.9% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England * * Humber * England * * * * 2010/11 2015/16

Around a third of adults in the West Midlands had used a public library service at least once in 2015/16.

The proportion of adults in the West Midlands who had used a public library service was similar in 2010/11 and 2015/16 – 36.6 per cent and 33.1 per cent respectively.

Figure 6a: Adult engagement in the arts broken down by attendance and participation - 2010/11 100.0% 90.0% 32.3% 33.8% 34.8% 35.0% 32.9% Neither 80.0% 41.8% 37.9% 41.7% 41.7% 37.4% 70.0% 9.9% 9.0% 10.5% 60.0% 9.5% 10.7% 8.0% 9.2% 8.1% Only 50.0% 8.7% 9.2% 28.2% attend 40.0% 31.6% 28.1% 28.3% 32.2% 27.5% 29.7% 29.2% 29.4% 30.0% 31.0% Only 20.0% participate 29.5% 25.5% 27.7% 26.0% 24.3% 26.6% 23.8% 10.0% 20.3% 18.1% 20.7% * 0.0% Both North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England Humber England

Figure 6b: Adult engagement in the arts broken down by attendance and participation - 2015/16 100.0% 90.0% 34.3% 35.8% 32.8% 33.4% 33.9% 80.0% 37.0% 37.2% 40.0% 44.1% 36.7% 70.0% 60.0% 10.6% 10.6% 8.0% 8.6% 9.8% 9.9% 8.6% 8.4% 9.2% 50.0% 10.2% 27.3% 26.5% 29.8% 31.6% 40.0% 32.2% 30.6% 29.9% 30.7% 30.2% 30.0% 29.9% 20.0% 28.7% 30.1% 28.8% 24.2% 25.9% 23.9% 10.0% 22.2% 22.5% 20.9% 15.8% 0.0% * North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England Humber England

Between 2010/11 and 2015/16 there were no changes in the way adults in the West Midlands engaged in the arts.

* Adult arts attendance in the West Midlands

Compared with adults in England as a whole, in 2015/16 adults in the West Midlands were less likely to have attended:

- Opera or operetta – 4.0 per cent in England and 2.0 per cent in the West Midlands

- An exhibition or collection of art, photography or sculpture – 18.3 per cent in England and 14.8 per cent in the West Midlands

- An event which included video or electronic art – 3.6 per cent in England and 2.0 per cent in the West Midlands

Figure 7: Arts attendance in the West Midlands by artform – 2015/16

3.6% + Event which included video or electronic art 2.0% 10.0% Craft exhibition 8.8% 18.3% + Exhibition of art, photography or sculpture 14.8% 3.9% Event connected with books or writing 3.7% 3.5% Culturally specific festival 3.5% 10.6% Carnival 9.4% 4.5% Circus 4.5% 12.5% Public art display or installation 10.5% 9.3% Street arts 8.0% 20.6% Musical 19.2% 12.0% Pantomime 12.8% 22.4% Play/drama 20.5% 30.7% Other live music event 29.7% 4.0% + Opera/operetta 2.0% 5.2% Jazz performance 4.8% 7.6% Classical music concert 6.3% 4.8% Other live dance event 5.9% 1.7% African people's dance or South Asian and Chinese dance 1.9% 3.1% Contemporary dance 2.9% 4.2% Ballet 2.9% 13 England West Midlands Adult arts participation in the West Midlands

Compared with adults in England as a whole, in 2015/16 adults in the West Midlands were less likely to have:

- Played a musical instrument to an audience or rehearse for a performance – 3.1 per cent in England and 1.3 per cent in the West Midlands

- Played a musical instrument for own pleasure – 10.1 per cent in England and 7.7 per cent in the West Midlands

- Written music – 2.1 per cent in England and 0.9 per cent in the West Midlands

- Photography as an artistic activity – 8.2 per cent in England and 5.7 per cent in the West Midlands

- Been a member of a book club – 2.1 per cent in England and 1.0 per cent in the West Midlands

Figure 8: Arts participation in the West Midlands by artform – 2015/16

1.2% Learned or practised circus skills 1.0% 0.6% Taken part in street arts 0.2% 1.4% Taken part in a carnival 1.6% 2.1% + Been a member of a book club 1.0% 3.1% Written poetry 2.7% 3.0% Written stories or plays 3.6% 4.4% Other crafts (calligraphy, pottery, jewellery making) 4.7% 4.6% Wood crafts 3.3% 13.1% Textile crafts 13.3% 5.3% Used a computer to create original artwork or animation 4.2% 2.1% Made films or videos as an artistic activity 1.2% 8.2% + Photography as an artistic activity 5.7% 12.9% Painting, drawing, printmaking or sculpture 12.4% 7.9% Other dance (not for fitness) 7.7% 0.6% Ballet 0.5% 2.1% + Written music 0.9% 10.1% + Played musical instrument for own pleasure 7.7% 3.1% + Played musical instrument to an audience 1.3% 3.7% Sang to an audience or rehearsed for performance 3.8% 0.8% Rehearsed or performed in opera or musical theatre 1.6% 1.5% Rehearsed or performed in a play or drama 2.0%

England West Midlands

Digital engagement in the West Midlands

Figure 9: Digital and place based engagement in the arts4 100% 90% 21.6% 27.6% 20.8% 22.7% 80% 2.7% 3.0% 1.2% 70% 1.2% No engagement Digital only 60% 36.7% 39.3% Place based only 50% 52.1% 47.7% Place based and digital 40% 30% 20% 36.4% 39.6% 10% 23.5% 24.0% 0% West Midlands West Midlands England 2010/11 England 2015/16 2010/11 2015/16

24.7 per cent of adults in the West Midlands had visited an arts website in 2015/16.

23.5 per cent of adults in the West Midlands had both engaged with the arts digitally (by visiting an arts website) and had engaged with the arts in a place based way (through attendance or participation) in 2015/16.

4 Wording differences in the question asking about ‘arts’ website before and after July 2011 mean that the results for 2010/11 are not strictly comparable with the results for 2015/6. 16

Figure 10: Digital and place based engagement with museums and galleries 100% 90%

80% 44.4% 52.4% 49.8% * 70% 55.7% 60% No engagement 3.0% 50% * Digital only 3.3% 3.7% 3.6% 40% 27.0% Place based only 23.1% 25.1% * Place based and digital 30% 24.5% 20% * 25.6% 10% 16.2% * 21.3% 21.3% 0% West Midlands West Midlands England 2010/11 England 2015/16 2010/11 2015/16

24.6 per cent of adults in the West Midlands had visited a museum or gallery website in 2015/16 – an increase from 19.8 per cent in 2010/11.

21.3 per cent of adults in the West Midlands had engaged with museums and galleries digitally (by visiting a museum/gallery website) and made a place based visit in 2015/16 – an increase from 16.2 per cent in 2010/11.

Figure 11: Digital and other engagement with libraries 100% 90% 80% 56.6% 70% 60.3% 63.7% 62.8% 60% * No engagement 50% Digital only 3.7% 40% 3.1% Place based only 3.2% 3.8% 30% Place based and digital 27.9% 20% 29.6% 25.1% * 22.9% 10% 7.0% 8.0% 11.8% 10.4% 0% * West Midlands West Midlands England 2010/11 England 2015/16 2010/11 2015/16

11.3 per cent of adults in the West Midlands had visited a library website in 2015/16.

8.0 per cent of adults in the West Midlands had visited a library website and had used a library service in 2015/16.

Attitudes towards the arts in the West Midlands

Figure 12: The arts make a difference to the area where I live

100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 58.8% 57.2% 54.6% 60.0% 50.6% 53.2% 51.4% 47.1% 46.4% 50.0% 41.5% 41.3% 44.0% 44.7% 41.4% 42.0% 39.5% 39.0% 37.3% 39.2% 40.0% 35.4% 28.4% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of England London South East South West England * Humber * * * * * * 2010/11 2015/16

Between 2010/11 and 2015/16 there was an increase in the proportion of adults in the West Midlands who agreed with the statement “The arts make a difference to the area where I live”– from 35.4 percent to 47.1 per cent.

Figure 13: The arts are not really for people like me

100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 27.0% 23.9% 24.5% 24.7% 25.1% 26.0% 30.0% 23.1% 22.2% 20.8% 22.8% 22.2% 18.9% 19.5% 19.6% 17.3% 17.6% 20.0% 13.9% 14.4% 14.4% 12.1% 10.0% 0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of England London South East South West England * Humber * * 2010/11 2015/16

In 2015/16 around two in ten adults in the West Midlands agreed with the statement “The arts are not really for people like me – 18.9 per cent.

Figure 14: There are lots of opportunities to get involved in the arts if I want

100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 62.5% 61.0% 61.8% 60.3% 59.3% 59.3% 57.8% 55.5% 55.6% 58.4% 60.0% 53.7% 55.2% 55.1% 52.3% 53.8% 54.4% 48.1% 51.0% 49.4% 48.8% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of England London South East South West England Humber * 2010/11 2015/16

In 2015/16 over half of adults in the West Midlands agreed with the statement “There are lots of opportunities to get involved in the arts if I want” – 55.6 per cent.

Donations in the West Midlands

Figure 15: Donations to the arts

30.0%

25.0%

20.0%

15.0% 10.1% 10.0% 8.8% 6.7% 6.8% 6.7% 6.9% 6.2% 6.0% 5.7% 6.0% 5.6% 6.4% 4.2% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 3.2% 3.6% 3.8% 3.9% 3.9%

0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England Humber England * 2010/11 2015/16

A minority of adults in the West Midlands had donated to the arts in 2015/16 – 5.7 per cent.

Figure 16: Donations to museums or galleries 30.0%

25.0% 20.9%20.2% 20.0% 17.8% 16.9% 16.8% 16.6% 16.3% 16.1% 15.6% 15.9% 14.6% 14.4% 15.2% 15.0% 14.0% 13.6% 11.9% 11.6% 12.1% 10.3% 10.6% 10.0%

5.0%

0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England Humber England

2010/11 2015/16

A minority of adults in the West Midlands had donated to museums and galleries in 2015/16 – 12.1 per cent.

Figure 17: Donations to libraries 30.0%

25.0%

20.0%

15.0%

10.0%

5.0% 1.1% 0.9% 1.0% 1.0% 0.6% 0.1% 0.6% 0.7% 0.3% 0.0% 0.1% 0.5% 0.1% 0.5% 0.2% 0.3% 0.6% 0.7% 0.6% 0.5% 0.0% North East North West Yorkshire & East Midlands West Midlands East of London South East South West England Humber England

2010/11 2015/16

Less than one per cent of adults in the West Midlands had donated to libraries in 2015/16 – 0.1 per cent.

Appendix A - About the Taking Part survey

Taking Part is a major, continuous survey of cultural and sport participation in England, commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in partnership with Arts Council England, Sport England and Historic England.

Every year it collects detailed information from adults (aged 16 and over) in England about their attendance at a wide variety of arts events, museums, galleries, libraries and heritage sites, and about their participation in creative activities and sport in the last 12 months. The survey has been conducted since July 2005 and since 2008 there has also been a child survey.

Findings from Taking Part, including national trends and some regional analysis, are released twice a year by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. An annual report summarises trends over the financial year. All these reports can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-sport/series/taking-part

In March 2016 DCMS published a strategy outlining proposed developments to the Taking Part survey over the next five years: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/taking-part-a-strategy-for-the-next-five-years

Appendix B - Technical note

Arts Engagement

‘Engagement’ in the arts is calculated by looking at attendance and/or participation in a range of arts events and activities. Adult ‘engagement’ is calculated by the proportion of adults who engage in the arts at least once in the past 12 months, whether it is through attending arts events, participating in arts activities, or through a mixture of both. This includes any of the following activities or events:

Activities Events Dancing – ballet or other dance (not for fitness) Visual arts exhibition (e.g. paintings, photography or sculpture) Singing – live performance, rehearsal or practice (not karaoke) Craft exhibition (not crafts market) Playing a musical instrument – live performance, rehearsal, Event that includes video or digital art practice or playing for own pleasure Writing music Event connected with books or writing

Theatre – live performance, rehearsal or practice Street arts (art in everyday surroundings such as parks, streets or shopping centre) Opera or musical theatre - live performance, rehearsal or practice Public arts display or installation (an artwork such as a sculpture which is outdoors or in a public place) Carnival (e.g. as a musician, dancer or costume maker) Circus (not animals) Street arts (art in everyday surrounding such as parks, streets, Carnival shopping centre) Circus skills (not animals) – performance, learning or practice Culturally specific festival (e.g. Mela, Baisakhi, Navratri) Visual arts (e.g. painting, drawing, printmaking or sculpture) Theatre (e.g. play, drama, pantomime) Photography (as an artistic activity, not family or holiday snaps) Opera or musical theatre Film or video – making as an artistic activity (not family or Live performances (e.g. classical, jazz or other live musical event but holidays) not karaoke)

Digital art – producing original digital artwork or animation with Live dance event (e.g. ballet, African People’s dance, South Asian, a computer Chinese, Contemporary or other live dance event). Craft – any craft activity (e.g. textiles, wood, mental work, pottery, calligraphy) Creative writing – original literature (e.g. stories, poems or plays) Book club – being a member of one

Data conventions

The figures in this report are rounded to the nearest decimal place – therefore the totals may not always add up to 100%. Those who responded ‘don’t know’ have been excluded from the analysis.

Statistically significant differences on the charts:

* indicates a statistically significant difference between survey years.

+ indicates a statistically significant difference between the region and England overall.

Statistical significance

Significance testing has been used to identify where differences are statistically significant at the 95% level and not due to chance. Only where the differences are significant are they noted in the text and on the charts. A significant increase or decrease at the 95% level means that there is less than a 5% (1 in 20) chance that the difference observed within the sampled respondents is not representative of the population as a whole.

Due to the smaller base sizes for the ‘attitudes towards the arts’ and ‘donations’ questions statistical differences which may be present at a population level may not have been detected.

Weighting

The data are weighted to ensure the representativeness of the Taking Part sample. Weighting is based on mid-2014 population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.