Education

UF-led study finds only 1 in 20 Americans participates in arts on a typical day

A University of Florida and University College London analysis of 20 years of national survey data found that roughly one in 20 Americans reports engaging in any arts or cultural activity on a given day, with museum visits and creative writing drawing even smaller shares. Researchers noted that overall participation rates have remained stable since 2003, but Americans are increasingly doing creative activities alone and at home rather than in social, public settings — a shift that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, points to a wide gap between scientific evidence for the health benefits of arts engagement and actual everyday participation.

Sources: UF News