Abstract

The thesis offered was that the arts enhance the quality of life and should, therefore, be accessible to all. An argument was posited in favor of democratization of culture. Funding and provision for the arts were examined. A survey was conducted on 391 17-18 year old residents of Edinburgh, Scotland . A questionnaire was designed to measure the extent to which participation in the arts featured in their leisure patterns. An attitude measurement instrument was designed to measure their attitudes towards the arts. The 164 usable replies were analyzed . It was found that over 53% of the sample participated in arts activities. The least positive attitudes were towards traditional art forms; the most positive were towards contemporary genres in the arts. Data collected via depth interviews allowed identification of two factors that influenced these attitudes, namely, unsatisfactory experiences of the arts in school, and lack of the necessary skills in arts appreciation. It was concluded that the arts have a positive status in contemporary society, but it is not sufficient to make the arts financially and physically accessible. There is a need for arts education programs that will make the arts cognitively accessible