A study to be released later this year by UNBC Chancellor and quality of life researcher Alex Michalos is casting doubt on the commonly held notion that residents of large urban centres are more passionate about the arts than people in smaller communities. 

In the spring of 2007, Dr. Michalos conducted a survey of British Columbians aged 18 and older in five small communities measuring participation in the arts and its effect on perceived quality of life. The results of the study, which was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, were remarkably consistent with a province-wide survey he conducted in the fall of 2006 that included Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

“So little research has been done on cultural life in small communities that there is little to support or challenge the notion that residents of urban centres have a superior appreciation for the arts,” says Dr. Michalos, who is considered one of the world’s leading researchers on factors that affect quality of life. “It appears that, in ways that matter, there is little difference.”

The top five arts-related activities include:

• listening to music
• reading novels, short stories, plays or poetry
• watching films on dvd
• singing alone
• reading to oneself and to others

Dr. Michalos also notes that there was evidence that producing art (e.g. playing a musical instrument) produces more satisfaction than consuming art (e.g. listening to music).

“One fascinating bit of data is that live theatre remains a potent source of artistic satisfaction for people in most walks of life,” says Dr. Michalos. “It is interesting to note that, in this age of HDTV and iPod, so little research has been devoted to the impact of arts-related activities – especially that of live theatre.”

Dr. Michalos adds that, while there were a few minor differences, (larger centres appear to have more of an appetite for live theatre while smaller communities enjoy going to museums), the studies do not indicate any particularly striking disparities.
 

Media Download
Click on the thumbnail to download a high resolution image of Alex Michalos.