For most people who participate in arts and culture, the experience involves community connections with particular people or acquaintances in their communities; through community organizations that are important to them; or at places that are familiar, friendly and accessible. These community connections represent "paths of engagement," and a deeper understanding of those everyday connections can open new opportunities for arts and cultural organizations to build participation. This is a key finding from a survey of residents in five places where programs have been working to broaden, deepen, and diversify cultural participation. In the Community Partnerships for Cultural Participation (CPCP) initiative, a total of community foundations around the country received grants from the Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds to induce more people to attend arts and cultural events, encourage people who attend to contribute their time and money as well, and attract people who do not usually attend. The survey was conducted by the Urban Institute as part of an evaluation of the cultural participation initiative. The findings are important to providers, funders, and policymakers who aim to increase involvement in arts and culture because the community connections of people who participate represent paths of engagement in arts and cultural activities. The survey asked people about the types of arts and cultural events they attended and how often, their reasons for attending, and where the events they attended took place. (From Arts & Culture: Community Connections, Contributions from New Survey Research)

This document offers findings from a survey, conducted by the Urban Institute, of residents in five places where programs have been working to broaden, deepen, and diversify cultural participation.