The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has released a compelling research brief, Arts Attendance, Art-Making, and Social Connectedness: Spring/Summer 2024, exploring the profound relationship between arts engagement and social well-being.
The findings, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey from April to July 2024, reveal how attending live arts events or creating art fosters social connectedness while reducing feelings of loneliness.
Key Findings: Arts Participation and Social Benefits
Increased Social Engagement
Adults who attended arts events or created art were significantly more likely to participate in social groups or attend meetings compared to non-attendees. Among arts event attendees, 29.2% reported attending group or club meetings 12 or more times annually, compared to just 15% of non-attendees.
Loneliness and Emotional Support
Live arts attendees reported lower levels of acute loneliness, with only 2.7% feeling “always” lonely, compared to 5.1% of non-attendees. Additionally, 29.8% of arts attendees said they “always” received the social and emotional support they needed, compared to 23.4% of non-attendees.
Interestingly, while arts creators experienced slightly higher levels of loneliness than non-creators, they were also more likely to report receiving social and emotional support, with 38.8% “usually” feeling supported versus 30.3% of non-creators.
Community Accessibility
Over 62% of adults agreed that their neighborhoods offer ample opportunities for arts and cultural engagement. However, disparities remain, as younger adults, Black and Hispanic communities, and those without high school education were less likely to agree.
NEA’s Commitment to Arts Research
NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, emphasized the importance of this data in addressing societal challenges like loneliness and social isolation. “Timely data on arts engagement in our country is key as researchers seek to measure the health of the arts sector following the COVID-19 pandemic and improve our understanding of how the arts impact many aspects of our lives,” she stated.
This research underscores the broader value of the arts, highlighting their ability to not only enrich individual lives but also strengthen community bonds.
A Path Forward
As the NEA continues to explore the intersection of arts and social well-being, this research reinforces the importance of expanding access to the arts, particularly for underserved communities.
Future studies will delve deeper into subgroup differences, offering valuable insights for policymakers and arts practitioners.
