Cultural participation : small population – big variation

Abstract

Recent scholarly and public-policy interest has thrown up many novel insights, nuanced findings and recommendations for policy action for cultural participation in Malta. One notable headline message that emerged, based on 2011 data, is that, notwithstanding the variation, in most domains of culture non-participation is the norm in Malta (Briguglio, 2016; NSO, 2012). In 2011, attending art exhibitions and dance were the least popular forms of cultural consumption, and what attracted significant numbers in terms of audience was television, listening to music and using the internet for cultural purposes (NSO, 2012). Participants with a tertiary level of education made up a bigger share of the audience at art exhibitions, concerts, museum, performances and even cinema, while respondents with low levels of education were more present at traditional and local activities including village feasts and Carnival. Productive or active participation was mainly prominent in traditional village feasts, while other traditional events like Carnival continued to provide an opportunity for some segments of the population to actively engage (Briguglio and Sultana, 2015).