Victoria Ateca-Amestoy

Forecasting accuracy of behavioural models for participation in the arts

This paper assesses the forecasting performance of count data models applied to arts attendance. We estimate participation models for two artistic activities that differ in their degree of popularity – museums and jazz concerts – with data derived from the 2002 release of the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts for the United States. We estimate a finite mixture model – a zero-inflated negative binomial model – that allows us to distinguish between “true” non-attendants and “goers” and their respective behaviour regarding participation in the arts. We evaluate the predictive (in-sample) and forecasting (out-of-sample) accuracy of the estimated model using bootstrapping techniques to compute the Brier score. Overall, the results indicate the model performs well in terms of forecasting. Finally, we draw certain policy implications from the model’s forecasting capacity, thereby allowing the identification of target populations.

Changing trends in Spanish library services: Conceptualization and measurement in official statistics

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how public libraries have been conceptualized and measured in official Spanish statistics over the past 15 years. This allows us to reflect on the transformation of the very nature and aims of libraries during the first 15 years of the 21st century. We examine the main official statistical source of information on cultural participation, the Survey on Cultural Habits and Practices in Spain, and track the impact of social change and digitization on library services. By analysing the 2002–2003, 2006–2007, 2010–2011 and 2014–2015 surveys, we monitor changes in the questionnaires and in the derived indicators, and relate the findings to general trends and challenges for public libraries in contemporary societies.

Enhancing Participation in the Arts in the EU

This chapter compares different profiles of video game players and studies how these groups differ in their cultural consumptions patterns. By using a unique dataset on cultural participation in Denmark, we address the problem of over-aggregation and differentiate between several profiles of video gamers based on the genre they play. We find that video gamers are far from being unresponsive to other forms of cultural consumption. In fact, they rather exhibit, on average, better cultural habits than non-players. In particular, they have higher frequencies of reading, museum and performing arts attendance, and are more likely to be involved in active music participation. The exception exists for the category of reflex game players; this could be driven by age effects, since reflex games are the most popular among (males) under 40.

How do Cultural Activities Influence Happiness? The Relation between Self-Reported Well-Being and Leisure

Well-being, measured as self-reported happiness has many determinants, which range from gender to income and political affiliation. When it comes to more or less active ways of participating in cultural activities, leisure has a significant impact in the levels of reported happiness, which is in line with the proposed ideas of Stiglitz et al (2009). We also quantify the likelihood of being more or less happy in relation to different types of leisure activities. Our approach has the advantage that all these cultural activities can be considered at the same time, accounting for the individual impact of each on individual happiness levels.

Measuring Participation in the Arts in Spain

This chapter provides an overview of the primary sources of statistical information available on cultural participation as well as some research over the last two decades. We start by presenting alternative sources of information: official statistics provided by the Spanish National Statistics Office and by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (or by the former Ministry of Culture), and international, national public opinion surveys, and regional statistics. We proceed reviewing research using the aforementioned information. We also identify some areas that deserve future attention, and conclude with a discussion of comparative issues and policy recommendations.