Measuring Participation in the Arts in Italy

Abstract

Over the last two decades, cultural participation has vastly changed its modes and contents. Its measurement is undergoing a thorough revision by relevant institutions, such as UNESCO and Eurostat. Today, studies on cultural participation focus today on the conscious nature of the phenomenon, and on the complex and interrelated information, communication, community, enjoyment, expression and transaction aspects. The blurred distinction between consumers and producers, the relevance of new ICTs and the easy access by virtually anyone to unprecedented amounts of cultural material, all require to be taken into serious consideration by researchers. The Italian National Statistical Institute surveys, covering over 50,000 individuals, represent an interesting case for study purposes and more so in view of the future challenges.

Annex Technical Details of the MSH Survey

Data collection mode: Face to face interviewing with paper questionnaire.

Self-administered paper questionnaire—delivery and collection by interviewers.

A pilot introduction of Web self-administered questionnaire was started in 2015.

Periodicity: Yearly.

Survey design

Partly single-stage and partly two-stage sampling with stratification of primary sampling unit.

Approximate size: 24.000.

Primary sampling units: Municipalities. Approximate size 850.

Stratification variables: Demographic size of the municipality, Regions.

Inclusion probabilities: Proportional to demographic size.

Selection scheme: Random.

Reporting units: Households (Municipal population office).

Inclusion probabilities: Equal Selection scheme. Systematic.

Estimation process: Variables with known population totals used to constrain Population: Age classes, Gender, Educational level, Occupation.

Municipalities classified according to socio-demographic characteristics, Region.

Domains: Geographical area (Five geographical areas: North-West, North-East, Centre, South, Islands); Regions; Italy.

Analysis units: Individuals.

Observed phenomena (cultural participation): Ownership of household and/or individual durable goods (books, computers, television, musical instruments, etc.), attendance at museums and art exhibitions, attendance at music events, cinema attendance, listening to the radio and watching television, reading books, reading newspapers, theatre attendance.

Cultural participation questions

The individual form (considering both the interview and the self-administered form)

• Have you taken lessons or courses of a cultural/artistic nature paid by yourself/your family in the last 12 months?

• Have you used recreational services or centres for children and teenagers in the last 12 months?

• Have you accessed the Internet (via pc or mobile/tablet) in the last 3 months:

  • To read or download newspapers, news and magazines

  • To read or download online books or e-books

  • To listen to the radio

  • To watch TV

  • To watch films in streaming

  • To watch videos

  • To podcast audio or video files

  • To play or download games, images, films or music

  • To upload contents of your creation

  • To create websites or blogs

  • To participate in social networks

• Have you purchased over the Internet in the last 12 months:

  • Films, music

  • Books or e-books

  • Cameras or videocameras

  • Tickets for shows

  • Digital contents

  • CDs/DVDs

• How often have you gone, in the last 12 months, to.

  • The Cinema

  • Theatre

  • Museums, exhibitions

  • Classic music/opera concerts

  • Other concerts

  • Sports shows

  • Discos/night clubs

  • Archaeological sites/monuments

• Do you read newspapers at least once a week?

• Have you read books in the last 12 months? How many? (textbooks and professional excluded)

• Do you usually read magazines? How often?

• Are you a member of a cultural/recreational association?

• Have you taken part in cultural/recreational associations meetings in the last 12 months?

The household form

• Does your family own Video recorder, Video camera, DVD player, stereo hi-fi, colour TV, satellite dish, digital terrestrial TV decoder?

• Does your family access the Internet?

• Does your family own books? How many?