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Belgium/Flanders – The Participation survey The Participation survey is a large-scale research study in Flanders focusing on participation behaviour, on the most prominent barriers for and attitudes to participation, and on a mapping of the supply of arts, heritage and socialcultural activities with special attention for the different types of participation. Such analysis gives an insight to the state of cultural participation in Flanders, on possible levers for increased participation, and on possible explanations for differences in participation. The survey also focused on the perception of cultural activities, on virtual cultural consumption, on participation during one’s lifetime and on an economic analysis of the use of culture. So far, two Participation surveys (2004 and 2009) were conducted by the scientific research centre for culture, youth and sports (subsidised by the Flemish government), thus already allowing comparisons in cultural participation over time. Some interesting conclusions of the survey (2009) include a sudden decline in cultural participation from the age of 60; motivational, time and geographical barriers being the most frequent barriers preventing people from participating; and education level, parental situation (especially the participation culture of the parents) and life stage being crucial indicators for cultural participation. Based on the results of the Participation survey (2004) the University of Ghent conducted research on ‘lifestyles’: the connection between behavioural, attitudinal and social-demographic aspects of cultural participation. Three large segments were identified in Flanders: engaged participants (26 %), occasional participants (54 %) and non participants (20 %). Within these three segments the researchers determined some other groups. Engaged participants are either ‘omnivorous’ (16 %) or ‘connoisseurs’ (10 %) – the first have broad and diverse interests, the latter have more specific preferences. In the second group there are ‘action seekers’ (24 %) who like action and adventure and have an interest for all modern and mainstream genres and cultural types, ‘recreation seekers’ (13 %) who, on the contrary, also have an interest in more classical genres and art forms, the ‘stay-athome’ (12 %) who are interested in Flemish musicians, romantic and historic films, TV-programmes and non-artistic hobby activities, and ‘home hedonists’ (6 %) who are more focused on classical cultural genres. The last segment of non participants primarily watch TV and are not interested in inside or outside cultural participation and is, therefore, the hardest to reach.
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