This Note summarizes the data collected in the Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts in 1982 and in 1985. The Note describes the 22 activities or participation measures that had statistically significant changes (95% confidence level) between 1982 and 1985. Such changes occurred for attendance at performances of classical music, opera performances, and performances of musical plays or operettas; visits to art or craft fairs or festivals; participation in the arts by the media (particularly jazz music, classical music, plays [non-musical], and ballet); and also for preferences for various musics (particularly soul/blues, country-western, rock, mood/easy listening, hymns/gospel, and other [mostly ethnic]).

Presents highlights from the 1992 and 1982 nationwide Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts.

Reading on the Rise documents a definitive increase in rates and numbers of American adults who read literature. This new growth reverses two decades of downward trends cited previously in NEA reports such as  Reading at Risk and To Read or Not To Read. Reading on the Rise is based on early results from the 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts.

This note provides state and regional estimates for artist occupations based on the 1970, 1980, and 1990 Censuses of Population. All 50 states are ranked by the size of their artist labor force and the concentration of artists in the total state labor forces in 1990, 1980, and 1970. Regional estimates are also provided for the four major Census Bureau regions — Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.

Report on the forum held in Washington, D.C., Oct. 28, 1991, on cultural property and its policy implications.