Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) Series

The Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) 2022 collection is comprised of responses from two sets of surveys, the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the SPPA supplement to the CPS administered in July 2022. This supplement asked questions about public participation in the arts within the United States, and was sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The CPS, administered monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau, collects labor force data about the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 15 years or older living in the United States. The CPS provides current estimates of the economic status and activities of this population which includes estimates of total employment (both farm and nonfarm), nonfarm self-employed persons, domestics, unpaid helpers in nonfarm family enterprises, wage and salaried employees, and estimates of total unemployment. The basic CPS items in this data provide labor force activity for the week prior to the survey. In addition, the CPS provides respondents' demographic characteristics such as age, sex, race, marital status, educational attainment, family relationships, occupation, and industry.

In addition to the basic CPS questions, interviewers asked supplementary questions on public participation in the arts of two randomly selected household members aged 18 or older from about one-half of the sampled CPS households. The supplement contained questions about the respondent's participation in various artistic activities over the last year. If the selected respondent had a spouse or partner, then the respondent answered questions on behalf of their spouse/partner and the spouse/partner responses are proxies.

The 2022 SPPA included two core components: Core 1 (C1Q1A-C1Q17A) and Core 2 (C2Q1A-C2Q1R) asked respondents if they attended any artistic events or live performances, and if so, how often and where. Questions were also asked about any books the respondent may have read.

In addition, the SPPA supplement included four modules designed to capture other types of arts participation. The four modules were separated by topic:

• Module A (MAQ1A-MAQ5D) asked respondents if they used electronic devices or electronic media to watch or listen to artistic performances and if so, how often. Questions were also asked about sharing information related to artistic performances.
• Module B (MBQ1A-MBQ4A) and Module C (MCQ1A-MCQ7) asked if the respondent performed any artistic activities (e.g., singing, dancing, playing instrument, painting, photography, etc), and if so, how often and where. Questions were also asked about participation in certain hobbies such as exercising, sports activities, hunting, gardening, etc., and if so, how often.
• Module D (MDQ1A-MDQ4H) asked if you've ever taken lessons in music, photography, filmmaking, visual arts, acting, theater, dance, creative writing, art history, art or music appreciation, creative coding, computer animation, or digital art. A follow-up question (MDQ2) is asked about if the classes were taken in school. Another follow-up question (MDQ3) is then 3-2 asked if they have done that activity within the last 12 months. A final follow-up question (MDQ4) is then asked if they learned that activity through other means not involving lessons or classes.

The Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) 2017 collection is comprised of responses from two sets of surveys, the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the SPPA supplement to the CPS administered in July 2017. This supplement asked questions about public participation in the arts within the United States, and was sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The CPS, administered monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau, collects labor force data about the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 15 years or older living in the United States. The CPS provides current estimates of the economic status and activities of this population which includes estimates of total employment (both farm and nonfarm), nonfarm self-employed persons, domestics, unpaid helpers in nonfarm family enterprises, wage and salaried employees, and estimates of total unemployment. The basic CPS items in this data provide labor force activity for the week prior to the survey. In addition, the CPS provides respondents' demographic characteristics such as age, sex, race, marital status, educational attainment, family relationships, occupation, and industry.

In addition to the basic CPS questions, interviewers asked supplementary questions on public participation in the arts of two randomly selected household members aged 18 or older from about one-half of the sampled CPS households. The supplement contained questions about the respondent's participation in various artistic activities over the last year. If the selected respondent had a spouse or partner, then the respondent answered questions on behalf of their spouse/partner and the spouse/partner responses are proxies.

The 2017 SPPA included two core components: a questionnaire used in previous years to ask about arts attendance and literary reading, and a newer survey about arts attendance, venues visited, and motivations for attending art events. In addition, the SPPA supplement included five modules designed to capture other types of arts participation as well as participation in other leisure activities. Questions included items on the frequency of participation, types of artistic activities, training and exposure, musical and artistic preferences, school-age socialization, and computer and device usage related to the arts. The five modules were separated by topic:

• Module A: Consuming Art via Electronic Media
• Module B: Performing Art
• Module C: Creating Visual Art and Writing
• Module D: Other Leisure Activities
• Module E: Arts Education, and Arts Access and Opportunity

Respondents were randomly assigned to either of the core questionnaires and were then randomly assigned to two of the five additional modules so that each module was administered to a portion of the sampled cases.

The State-Level Estimates of Arts Participation Patterns (2012-2015) highlights selected arts-participation rates for all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. These summary statistics were derived from the following studies: ANNUAL ARTS BASIC SURVEY, 2015 [UNITED STATES]; ANNUAL ARTS BASIC SURVEY, 2014 [UNITED STATES]; and SURVEY OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS (SPPA), 2012 [UNITED STATES].

The following tables are provided:

• Tables 1 and 1a-1d - Events Attended: Reports AABS 2015 data on attendance at visual and performing arts events.

  Includes - attending a live music, theater, or dance performance; attending a live book reading, poetry, or storytelling event; going to see an art exhibit; going to a movie; and touring/visiting buildings, neighborhoods, parks, or monuments for their historical, architectural, or design value.

• Table 2 - Literature Read: Shows AABS 2015 data on literary-reading rates.

  Includes - reading novels, short stories, poems, or plays.

• Table 3 - Performed or Created Artworks: Shows AABS 2014 data on personal performance and creation of artworks.

  Includes - making pottery, ceramics or jewelry; making leatherwork, metalwork, or woodwork; making weaving, crocheting, or other textile art; playing a musical instrument; acting; performing or practicing dance; doing social dancing; performing or practicing singing; creating films or videos; taking photographs for artistic purposes; creating other visual arts (e.g., paintings, sculpture, or graphic design; and doing creative writing.

• Table 4 - Arts Consumed via Electronic Media: Features SPPA 2012 data on arts consumption via electronic media.

  Includes - Use TV, Radio, and/or the Internet to watch, listen to, and/or download any: jazz; Latin, Spanish, or salsa music; classical music; opera; rock, pop, country, folk, rap, or hip-hop; musicals or stage plays; ballet, modern, or contemporary dance; other dance programs or shows; programs about visual arts such as painting, sculpture, graphic design, or photography; programs or information about books or writers, or other books, short stories, or poetry read out loud.