CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPATION
TYPE OF ACTIVITIES
Men and women had different patterns of participation in selected cultural activities in the 12 months before interview in 2010–11. For example, women were more likely than men to participate in textile crafts, jewellery making, paper crafts or wood crafts – with participation rates of 15% (1.3 million female participants) and 5.3% (463,300 male participants) respectively – and in sculpting, painting, drawing or cartooning – with participation rates of 10% (896,400 female participants) and 6.3% (547,200 male participants) respectively. (Table 5)
In contrast, men were more likely than women to participate in writing song lyrics, or mixing or composing music – with participation rates of 4.0% (350,400 male participants) and 1.7% (154,200 female participants) respectively – and in designing websites, computer games or interactive software – with participation rates of 4.4% (382,300 male participants) and 2.2% (198,100 female participants) respectively. (Table 5)
BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION
Particular factors can prevent people participating in cultural activities. The most common barrier people cited was a lack of time, reported by an estimated 1.7 million people (9.8% of the population). An estimated 3.4 million people (72% of participants) who participated in a cultural activity did not want to participate in more cultural activities. (Table 4)
LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT
People who participated in more than three activities in the 12 months before interview were asked to report on the three activities they did the most. For the majority of these selected cultural activities, people reported a short-term involvement (up to 13 weeks). Furthermore, these participants participated for less than ten hours per week. For example, 73% (97,400) of participants in printmaking, screen printing or etching took part in the activity for up to 13 weeks. Of these people, 83,100 (62% of participants in the activity) participated for less than ten hours per week and 14,300 (11%) participated for ten hours or more per week. The majority (61%) of people involved in singing or playing a musical instrument participated in the activity for more than 13 weeks for less than ten hours per week. (Table 9)
REASONS FOR PARTICIPATION
The most common reason for participation in a cultural activity was personal enjoyment or use, reported by 88% of all participants. Other reasons for involvement included friends or family use or entertainment (25%), self-expression (21%) and therapy or relaxation (21%). Note that people could nominate more than one reason for participation. (Table 6)
PAYMENT STATUS
An estimated 15% of people who participated in a cultural activity (682,500 people) received a wage or salary or other form of payment for their participation. A higher proportion of men (18%) than women (12%) were paid for their participation. Men aged 25–34 years and 35–44 years (24% of participants in each age group) were more likely than men in other age groups to be paid for their participation in cultural activities. (Table 7)
QUALIFICATIONS
The proportion of participants who had ever completed a qualification in, or related to, a cultural activity varied across the selected activities. For example, about a quarter of participants in fashion, interior or graphic design (26% or 85,000 people) had a qualification relevant to this activity. Relevant qualifications were also held by about 23% of participants in designing websites, computer games or interactive software, around 19% of participants in singing or playing a musical instrument, and around 19% of those performing in a drama, comedy, opera or musical. In contrast, about 5.9% of participants (96,000 people) in textile crafts, jewellery making, paper crafts or wood crafts had a relevant qualification. (Table 12)
Quality Declaration 
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