Reading literary fiction improves emotion recognition

This research was conducted by Jessica E. Black and Jennifer L. Barnes at the University of Oklahoma, USA

Summary

This study aimed to replicate previous findings that have shown reading literary fiction to enhance people’s Theory of Mind (the ability to infer and reason about our own and others’ beliefs, desires …

By | 6 June 2016 |

Changing patterns of musical tastes

This research was conducted by Omar Lizardo and Sara Skiles at the University of Notre Dame, USA

Summary

This paper looked at differences in people’s music taste across age groups and over time in the USA. The researchers concentrated on the phenomenon of ‘symbolic exclusion’: namely, the propensity of people to …

By | 21 March 2016 |

What aging facilities mean for performances and audiences

This research was conducted by Geoffrey Propheter at the New York City Independent Budget Office, USA

Summary

Many Americans (almost one quarter in 2013) attend popular music concerts, making them an important amenity for communities. There are also wider benefits to the area: civic pride, local jobs and income. For this …

By | 8 February 2016 |

Using culture in local development to increase wellbeing

This research was conducted by Annie Tubadji, Brian J. Osoba and Peter Nijkamp at the University of the Aegean, Greece, Central Connecticut State University, USA and VU University, The Netherlands

Summary

This paper explored the link between culture and regional development the US. The study aimed to expand the ‘culture-based development’ …

By | 11 January 2016 |

Can arts in education prevent high school drop outs?

This research was conducted by M. Kathleen Thomas, Priyanka Singh and Kristin Klopfenstein at Mississippi State University, Citigroup and the University of Northern Colorado, USA

Summary

In America it has been shown that those who complete high school have less trouble finding jobs, earn higher wages, often have better health and …

By | 21 December 2015 |

Understanding music-making as an act of civic engagement

This research was conducted by Samuel Byrd at Hunter College, City University of New York, USA.

Summary

In interviews with immigrant musicians at concerts and festivals, the author found that music making becomes political through both social and physical processes. It creates opportunities to understand, assess, and debate the political …

By | 5 August 2015 |

Concert-going is related to increased civic engagement

This research was conducted by Donald J. Polzella and Jeremy S. Forbis at the University of Dayton, Ohio.

Summary

This paper investigated whether attending arts events – specifically, jazz, opera, or classical music concerts – made people more civically engaged. The authors found that those who attended these concerts were …

By | 3 August 2015 |

Why do more women participate in highbrow cultural activities?

This research was conducted by Angèle Christin at the University of Princeton, USA

Summary

This paper addressed gender as an influential factor in cultural participation in America. It explored the possible reasons why higher numbers of women than men participate in high-status cultural activities. Early exposure to the arts from a …

By | 5 May 2015 |

Art spaces can act as community spaces

This research was conducted by Carl Grodach at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA

Summary

This research explored the role of community arts spaces in providing public space and in this way supporting community development. It provides a comprehensive inventory of community art spaces (such as artist cooperatives, ethnic-specific art …

By | 5 May 2015 |

Understanding ‘place’ in arts-driven urban development

This research was conducted by Carl Grodach and three other people at Queensland University of Technology, Australia; University of Southern California and University of Texas at Arlington, USA

Summary

Do location factors such as affordable rent, neighbourhood aesthetics, and demographic diversity always predict the formation of artistic clusters in the United …

By | 24 March 2015 |