DCMS conducts first national study of voluntary arts activity in England

On 1 February, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched the first ever national survey of amateur arts groups in England. Groups of voluntary and amateur participants from all artistic walks of life - from music, dance and crafts, to theatre, visual arts and literature - are being encouraged to participate by going to www.artsurvey.org.uk and completing a short online questionnaire before 29 February 2008.

The survey will help focus attention on the wealth of amateur and voluntary arts opportunities enjoyed by millions of people across the country every day - often with little publicity. The research has the potential to be very useful for arts groups, who will be able to refer to the findings when applying for funding, and for policy-makers, who can use it to look at how amateur arts groups could be better supported.

The results will be published in the summer.

Charity internet use: annual survey

Deadline: 18 January 2008

The seventh annual Virtual Promise survey of charities' use of the internet, carried out by nfpSynergy, is currently open for completion at www.nfpsynergy.net/vp07 for charities of all sizes.

Since 2000 Virtual Promise has aimed to provide a unique insight into charities use of the Internet. They are now repeating this research for the seventh time to continue their look into trends and to keep pace with the changes everyone involved in online activity experiences.

Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport

More than nine out of ten adults in England have engaged in at least one form of cultural or sporting opportunity during the past twelve months, a new report reveals. The survey was commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport with culture and sporting bodies English Heritage, Arts Council England, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and Sport England. It is the first comprehensive study of how we are spending our leisure time.

Headline results for the year included 67 per cent of people attending an arts event, and 53 per cent participating in the arts. 7 per cent of people volunteered in the cultural and sporting sectors. Other results show that rural inhabitants are more likely to attend and participate in arts events than their urban counterparts. People from the South West and South East were most likely to get involved in the arts, while those from the North East the least like to attend.

The findings will help shape future policy to improve engagement across the cultural, leisure and sporting sectors.

To view the Taking Part survey in full, go to www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Research/taking_part_survey/surveyoutputs_may07.htm