Arts Council England survey: 69% say culture improves high streets

Arts Council England published a research report titled 'A High Street Renaissance: How arts and culture bring people and pride back to our high streets,' based on a survey commissioned from BOP Consulting in June 2021. The survey found that 69% of British adults believe cultural venues like theatres, museums, libraries, and concert halls on main streets make their area a better place to live, ranking higher than bars and restaurants. Over 17,500 retail chains closed on high streets in 2020, but cultural venues proved more resilient during the pandemic, supported by the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. The report also found that 83% of residents who visited local cultural sites gained greater awareness of their area's history, and 62% agreed that cultural experiences give a sense of local pride, with higher percentages in the North (68%) and Midlands (67%), among women (65%), and those aged 55–64 (66%) and over 65 (65%). Additionally, 48% of respondents desire more cultural opportunities in the future, while only 29% expect them.