Bostonians attend more arts events than average, MFA study finds

Boston residents are more likely to attend arts and cultural events than the average American, according to a study released Friday by the Museum of Fine Arts.

Culture Track: Focus on Boston is the first in-depth regional study that looks into Bostonians’ interest in arts and cultural institutions, according to a Friday press release from the MFA.

“The report is audience research on attendance data,” said MFA spokeswoman Isabella Bulkeley. “When asked in general how many do attend cultural events, what the statistics imply is…Bostonians are participating in more [cultural] activities compared to the national average.”

With the trend of the arts and cultural activities in the city, Julie Burros was appointed as the City of Boston’s Chief of Arts and Culture on Sept. 23 to advocate for the arts community across new policy creation.

The study used a nationwide, online survey of 4,026 respondents from all 50 states and 1,238 respondents from the Greater Boston area to map how individuals of ages 18 to 70 years and older, attend cultural and artistic events ranging from aquarium exhibits to modern dance.

78 percent of Bostonians attend one or more cultural activities per month, including visiting museums, theaters, concerts and gardens, compared to the 69 percent nationally, the MFA’s report stated.

“On the whole, Boston respondents consider the main roles of cultural organizations to be entertainment; education; and fostering appreciation of, celebrating and preserving the arts,” the report stated. “Boston respondents are slightly more likely than national respondents to see each of these roles, excluding contribution to the local economy, as a primary function of cultural organizations.”

On a typical month, the Millennial generation attended 2.02 cultural events, the highest proportion of any other generation, followed by Generation X, the report stated.

Richard Cornell, professor and director ad interim of the School of Music in the College of Fine Arts, said the MFA study confirms that Boston attracts people who want access to its rich array of cultural options.

“In the arts, in particular, the audiences here are well informed, engaged and critical consumers,” he said in an email. “Boston has a long-established tradition of strong support for the arts…What is special about Boston is that the cultural community has a sense of itself and knows how valuable all this energy is and how it enhances life.”

Lynne Allen, professor and director of the School of Visual Arts in CFA, said students and residents have ample opportunities to get involved in cultural activities.

“People living in Boston and its environs take advantage of the many concerts, art exhibitions and lectures that are offered in a wide variety of venues,” she said in an email. “The fact that there are so many schools and colleges within a 15-mile radius of Boston also allows students the opportunity to enrich their cultural lives.”

Several students said they found the study’s results accurate and the arts hold a great importance to Boston residents.

Lindsay Sterling, a junior in the College of Engineering, said schools in the Boston area aptly promote arts and culture in the city.

“I will hear about the promotions for museums and concerts and assume they are everywhere and that most schools have student discounts,” she said. “Our generation is culturally active and engaged through access to information [through] social media. With it, it’s easier to get out there and find out what’s going on.”

Sasha Parodi, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she participates in Boston’s arts culture through visiting museums and attending concerts.

“Boston is very dynamic…and it’s so diverse in the realm of cultural events,” she said. “It’s definitely a place that’s very proud of its cultural diversity and celebrates that, particularly due to the fact that there’s so many campuses around here.”