Ticket sales data reveals the exclusivity of activities like ballet and literary events

This research was conducted by Laurie Hanquinet, Dave O’Brien and Mark Taylor at the University of York, University of Edinburgh and University of Sheffield

Summary

This paper compared survey data with ticket sales data to better understand who attends literary events and dance performances in England. It found that people from …

Help prevent depression in old age by staying culturally active

This research was conducted by Daisy Fancourt and Urszula Tymoszuk at University College London.

Summary

This paper explored whether cultural attendance by older adults is associated with a reduced risk of developing depression. The paper considered attendance to comprise visits to the theatre, concerts or opera, the cinema and art …

The best way to attract donations is by making it easy to do and easy to justify

This research was conducted by Caroline Moraes, Athanasia Daskalopoulou and Isabelle Szmigin at the University of Birmingham and the University of Liverpool

Summary

This paper used in-depth interviews to reveal the reasons, emotions, and habits that underpin why people make voluntary donations to arts organisations. Perhaps more important were the …

The elements of an autism-friendly relaxed performance

This research was conducted by Ben Fletcher-Watson and Shaun May at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Kent

Summary

This paper used the case study of the UK’s Autism Arts Festival in 2017 to outline the components and characteristics of relaxed performances. During a relaxed performance the audience is …

The different audience responses to Shakespeare staged in a women’s prison

This research was conducted by Matthew Reason at York St John University

Summary

This paper analysed the responses of women prisoners to a staging of The Tempest. The author identified ‘moments of identification, where the women found direct resonance and self- recognition’ with the characters and experiences in the play. The …

Thinking about cultural engagement in terms of capabilities and ecologies

This research was conducted by Jonathan Gross and Nick Wilson at King’s College London

Summary

This paper proposes a new way to think about the role and purpose of cultural policy and arts administration: the fulfilment of people’s cultural capabilities. This proposal comes out of a critique of existing ways to …

Using theatre to engage people in neuroscience and criminal justice

This research was conducted by Robert Blakey at the University of Oxford

Summary

This paper looked at whether people’s attitude to youth justice can be changed by watching a play about neuroscience. After watching the play, people recommended a slightly higher age of criminal responsibility than is currently the case in …

Measuring the social return on investment of an art gallery

This research was conducted by Andrew Jackson and Richard McManus at Canterbury Christ Church University

Summary

The paper describes a project to measure the social impact of Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate, UK during the 2015/16 financial year. The total investment by Turner Contemporary in the Lifelong Learning programme for …

Using the arts to enhance communication in dementia care

This research was conducted by Gill Windle and six others at Bangor University and four other institutions.

Summary

This paper examined the results of four sessions of ‘Creative Conversations’: an arts-based intervention for care staff development. The 'Conversations' improved staff skills and confidence, enabling meaningful interactions that were ‘creative, ‘in …

The impact of cultural activities on the wellbeing of immigrants

This research was conducted by Eleftherios Giovanis at Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Turkey

Summary

This paper explores the ‘participation of migrants in socio-cultural activities related to arts, theatre, concerts and sports events’ and the impact of that participation on subjective well-being (SWB). The research looked at the experience of first, second …