New research into museum attendance has found that over a third of adults in Britain have visited a museum and/or gallery in the past year and eight out of ten people feel it is important that their local city or town has its own museum or art gallery. The research, carried out by MORI on behalf of the Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), found that wealth and education were significant factors in driving museum attendance.
Those with a household income of £30,000 or more were twice as likely to have visited as those who earn less than £17,500; people with a Masters degree or PhD were three times as likely to have been to a museum or gallery as people with no formal qualifications. The main reason given for visiting a museum or art gallery was the subject matter of what was on offer. Ancient or local history were the most popular areas of interest while food and agriculture, geology, geography and modern history were the least appealing exhibitions. A similar survey in 1999 found that 41% of people questioned felt there was nothing in museums they wanted to see: that figure has now halved to 19%.
Published: 01-11-2004