A behavioural approach to understanding cultural participation: evidence from Australia

Abstract This article examines the role of behavioural determinants on an individual’s level of cultural participation across a range of cultural activities. Using behavioural insights to incorporate psychometric tools within a survey administered to a sample of the Australian population, the resulting dataset is analysed using ordered logit regression to uncover evidence on the role of curiosity, personality and values on cultural participation activities that include visiting museums, art galleries, and cinemas; attending live performances and festivals; and directly engaging in creative or cultural practices, either professionally or for pleasure. Results reveal that individual differences play a role in cultural participation, although specific behavioural traits that matter, particularly in relation to curiosity, differ across various types of cultural participation. We find evidence that psychological factors play important roles in determining different types of cultural participation. These findings extend understanding into the determinants of cultural consumption by revealing that consumption of different types of arts and culture is behaviourally stratified.