DCMS aims to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. We, along with our partner organisations, need to know what helps or hinders people taking part in these activities.
Until now, there has been no single survey providing the required detail of data on participation and attendance across our sectors. We and our partners relied on compiling research from a variety of sources. There was a need for quality-assured data on participation, attendance, attitudes and related factors across its sectors, particularly to inform policy and planning.
Working in partnership with four partners – Arts Council England, English Heritage, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and Sport England – we commissioned the “Taking part” survey with the aim of improving our current knowledge base of users and non-users of our sectors.
The key objectives of this project are to:
- Provide a robust measurement of the Departmental Public Service Agreement (PSA) target 3, increasing participation and attendance amongst priority groups
- Meet the key data requirements of stakeholders around the general theme of participation, attendance and attitudes amongst individual DCMS targets at a national level
- Provide data comparable across different sectors
In the past, DCMS has not been able to report on progress against similar targets with the same level of confidence over accuracy that is be provided by "Taking part". The survey also provides the data around which we, our public bodies, and the wider cultural and sporting communities are able to develop better research and analysis across our sectors.
The dataset from year one of "Taking Part" has been deposited for public access at the UK Data Archive at Essex University.
Visit and search using Study Number 5717 or by entering "taking part". Please note that the dataset has been deposited for not-for-profit educational and research purposes only.
"Taking part" is produced in line with the National Statistics protocols to give it added quality assurance.
