The table illustrates four reasons why adults in the UK have attended arts events over the past twenty years. The predominant motivation throughout this period was the desire to see a specific performer or artist, while work-related attendance was consistently the least common reason.
The proportion of attendees motivated by seeing a particular performer has remained fairly stable, fluctuating slightly from 58% twenty years ago to 56% today.
In contrast, attendance to accompany children has risen significantly, increasing from 9% two decades ago to nearly 25% currently. Those attending for special occasions or celebrations experienced a decline, falling from 27% twenty years ago to 20% ten years ago, before dropping sharply to 9% today.
Attendance for work or business purposes has shown a modest increase, rising from 6% twenty years ago to just over 10% today.
Overall, there has been a notable rise in attendance for accompanying children and work-related reasons, while participation for celebratory occasions has diminished over time.