The inclusivity imperative

Written By Ruth Hartt

It’s no secret—the arts sector struggles to reflect the diversity of the real world. And the NEA’s most recent Survey of Public Participation in the Arts has the hard numbers to prove it.

Take classical music, for example:

  • In 2017, 94.5% of Hispanic Americans did not attend classical music concerts. That number increased to 97.8% in 2022.

  • In 2017, 96.1% of Black Americans did not attend classical music concerts. That number increased to 96.5% in 2022.

  • 91.5% of Asian Americans did not attend classical music concerts in 2017. That number increased to 95.1% in 2022.

Opera audiences look even less diverse:

  • In 2017, 98.3% of Hispanic Americans did not attend opera performances. That number increased to 98.9% in 2022.

  • In 2017, 99.8% of Black Americans did not attend opera performances. That number decreased slightly to 99% in 2022.

  • 96.7% of Asian Americans did not attend opera performances in 2017. That number increased to 98.5% in 2022.

And in the world of ballet:

  • 98.1% of Hispanic Americans did not attend ballet performances in 2017. That number increased to 98.8% in 2022.

  • 97.6% of Black Americans did not attend ballet performances in 2017. That number increased to 98.1% in 2022.

  • 97.8% of Asian Americans did not attend ballet performances in 2017. That number decreased slightly to 97.3% in 2022.

Looking at theater:

  • 96% of Hispanic Americans did not attend theater performances in 2017. That number increased to 97.1% in 2022.

  • 92.3% of Black Americans did not attend theater performances in 2017. That number increased to 94.8% in 2022.

  • 95.2% of Asian Americans did not attend theater performances in 2017. That number increased to 98.2% in 2022.

When it comes to musical theater, things look slightly less dire:

  • 90.3% of Hispanic Americans did not attend musical theater performances in 2017. That number increased to 94.9% in 2022.

  • 89.9% of Black Americans did not attend musical theater performances in 2017. That number increased to 93.4% in 2022.

  • 90.6% of Asian Americans did not attend musical theater performances in 2017. That number increased to 91.6% in 2022.

And of course we already know that across the board numbers are down dramatically, even for white Americans.

These figures are more than just statistics. They signal a growing demand from today’s consumer. The issue is complex, but we can’t ignore the fact that 40% of consumers “would stop using brands that do not promote inclusion and diversity, according to Kantar.

For a comprehensive slide deck tracking attendance data and demographics from 40 years of the NEA’s Survey for Public Participation in the Arts, click here.

Ruth Hartt

Former opera singer Ruth Hartt leverages interdisciplinary insights to champion the arts, foster inclusivity, and drive change.

Currently serving as Chief of Staff at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, Ruth previously spent nearly two decades in the arts sector as an opera singer, choral director, and music educator.

Merging 23 years of experience in the cultural and nonprofit sectors—including six years’ immersion in innovation frameworks—Ruth helps arts organizations rethink audience development and arts marketing through a customer-centric lens.

Learn more here.

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