Background to the Research
- Since the early 1990s there
has been an upsurge of interest in the concept of culture in NI. However, culture is a controversial
and contested concept for which there is no widely accepted definition.
- Despite the confusion surrounding
the term, it features strongly in the literature and debates on the
conflict in NI. The existence of different cultural traditions in
NI has resulted in volumes of work on cultural heritage and diversity.
- Somewhat surprisingly, therefore,
there has been little attempt to ascertain public perceptions of it.
Reflecting the heightened profile given to the area of culture, as
illustrated by the creation of a Department for Culture, Arts and
Leisure under the Good Friday Agreement, a module on culture, leisure
and the arts was included in the NILT survey. The main issues covered
were perceptions of the term culture, participation in cultural activities
and identification of barriers to participation.
Research
Approach
- The data used by the author come from the
2001 NILT survey.
- The NILT survey began in 1998 and is carried
out annually. Interviews are conducted with a random selection of
adults (aged 18 years and over) who live in private households in
NI.
- The sample size for the 2001 NILT survey
was 1,800 respondents although some modules were asked of only
half the sample.
- The sample size for the module on culture
was 900.
Main
Findings
- Almost half (49%) of all respondents associated
the term culture with arts/theatre/museums/music/dance/books/painting.
Popular culture, such as pop concerts and
watching television, do not feature significantly in descriptions
of culture.
- Only one in five (21%) respondents claim
they regularly do anything in their leisure time that is to do with
culture. These activities range from watching football to amateur
dramatics, although the most popular is 'go to museums/art galleries/theatre
or concerts'.
- 43% of those in the professional and managerial
social class compared with only 18% of those in the partly skilled
and unskilled manual class say that taking part in cultural events
is important to them.
- Overall, just 15% of respondents describe
their participation in church activities as very important, with a
further 26% describing it as quite important.
- Twice as many Protestants (22%) as Catholics
(11%) consider that taking part in church activities is a very important
part of their leisure time
- Just over half (51%) of NILT respondents
believe that, compared with two years ago, NI offers more cultural
events and attractions. Of these, 95% believe that this increase
has been a good thing for NI and many think this is because it brings
people together socially and encourages religious mixing.
- Catholics (63%) are more positive about
the cross-community benefit than Protestants (55%), while the latter
are more likely to say that the increase in cultural activities brings
people together socially (44% and 61% respectively).
- When asked why they do not participate
in cultural events, 38% of respondents say they are not interested
in them.
- Almost one third of respondents (30%) would
like to be involved in cultural activities but cannot afford the time,
while cost constraints are mentioned by 20% of respondents.
- Just 14% of respondents think it is mainly
the government's responsibility to encourage people to take part in
cultural events and visit cultural attractions.
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