Museum and gallery attendance in England 2021-2022, by age
A survey conducted by the United Kingdom's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from October 2021 to March 2022 analyzed the share of adults who visited a museum o gallery in England in the previous 12 months. While 28 percent of respondents aged 35 to 39 reported having attended a museum or gallery, 21 percent of respondents aged 50 to 54 did the same.
In England, national museums supported by the governments’ Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) offer free entry for all. Free museum admissions are a central part of the DCMS’s cultural policy, with the aim of increasing social inclusion and participation in the country’s cultural offerings. Since the initiative was reintroduced in 2001, visitor numbers have generally increased. However demographically speaking, attendance still tends to be higher among those in upper socio-economic groups and wealthier areas, where the impact of fees is considered to be less of a barrier.
Compared to young adults, children’s visits to museums and galleries are also notably higher. In 2019/20 the average share of 11 to 15 year olds visiting museums was over 11 percent higher than of 16 to 24 year olds.
In England, national museums supported by the governments’ Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) offer free entry for all. Free museum admissions are a central part of the DCMS’s cultural policy, with the aim of increasing social inclusion and participation in the country’s cultural offerings. Since the initiative was reintroduced in 2001, visitor numbers have generally increased. However demographically speaking, attendance still tends to be higher among those in upper socio-economic groups and wealthier areas, where the impact of fees is considered to be less of a barrier.
Compared to young adults, children’s visits to museums and galleries are also notably higher. In 2019/20 the average share of 11 to 15 year olds visiting museums was over 11 percent higher than of 16 to 24 year olds.
