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Mapping Cultural Participation
Mapping Cultural Participation is the nation’s first comprehensive study of cultural participation across a metropolitan area. Led by Harris School faculty members Robert J. LaLonde and Colm A. O’Muircheartaigh, this study drew upon data from ticket purchases, subscriptions, and donor lists from Chicago-area arts organizations to produce neighborhood-by- neighborhood maps of participation patterns. The researchers found that Chicagoans are strong supporters of the largest institutions, with one household in six participating. Engagement varies significantly across the metropolitan areas—from one household in two, in some of the Chicago suburbs, to one household in 20, in the city’s South and West Sides. By comparing the collected data against a model derived from U.S. Census data, the research team found that, while race and ethnicity do play a role in lower participation rates among African Americans and Latinos, socioeconomic factors appear to be the strongest predictors of participation. This work will provide the basis for future research exploring the barriers to participation and offers a foundation from which to evaluate future interventions.
Show latest news, more from June 2007.
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