Statewide survey shows most Marylanders engaged with the arts

Continued...
In announcing the findings, the governor said, “What we learned from this inaugural survey is essential to understanding the role of the arts in peoples’ hearts, lives and livelihoods,” adding, “for the first time, we have independent data illustrating that Marylanders universally value the arts and strongly believe that artistic expression and cultural attractions make our state a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Commissioned as part of Imagine Maryland, a comprehensive planning process underway by the MSAC, the survey was conducted by OpinionWorks, a full-service opinion research firm based in Annapolis. A total of 805 telephone interviews were conducted Sept. 3-9, yielding a margin of sampling error of ±3.5 percent at the 95-percent confidence level.

According to Steve Raabe, OpinionWorks’ president and principal researcher, “It is remarkable to see these levels of engagement by the public with the arts. Maryland is clearly a place that appreciates and fosters creativity, in all corners of the state, and among all types of residents.”

One-quarter of Marylanders (23 percent) consider themselves to be either active or aspiring artists, “engaged as a creator or performer of art, music, dance, theater, film, writing or something similar.” About one-quarter of those are making some or all of their living through art. As a discipline, musical expression tops the list, followed by painting or drawing, writing, and performance of theater or dance. When the 77 percent of Marylanders who do not consider themselves artists are asked about activities in their spare time, it turns out that a large majority of them are drawing, painting, taking photographs as a hobby, working on crafts, dancing or singing, working with textiles, writing creatively, woodworking, making jewelry or pottery, or participating in community theater or re-enactments.