New U-MASS Poll Finds Citizens Overwhelmingly Support Arts, Arts Education Funding

April 10, 2003

CONTACT: Lou DiNatale

McCormack Institute of Public Affairs

508-314-4532 or 617-287-5550

(BOSTON) -- A new U-Mass Poll reveals overwhelming support for arts education and public funding for the arts, sciences and humanities in the Bay State.

* 94 percent of Massachusetts residents consider the arts to be as important a part of basic education as math and English.

* 92 percent favor state funding for arts programs in schools.

* 87 percent say nonprofit cultural organizations are important to the quality of life of their communities.

* 84 percent favor state funding to support public programs of cultural organizations.

"These numbers are off the charts," said Lou DiNatale, director of the U-Mass Poll, which conducted the poll in late February. "We expected the arts education figures to be strong, but not necessarily this strong. It was doubly impressive that 94 percent of the population ranks arts education right up there with science and math." Support for arts and culture was consistently high across all demographics, including age, race, and gender. The same held true for support of state arts funding, said DiNatale.

"All of our demographic and geographic breakouts were in the high 80s and 90s," DiNatale said. "It's just very rare to see numbers that high on any question."

The results come against a backdrop of major cuts in state cultural funding. The budget of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the state agency for the arts, sciences, and humanities was cut 62 percent this year.

Sample results of the poll:

1. How important do you think it is to include the arts as a part of a child's education in Massachusetts?

95 percent of respondents said it is very important (66 percent) or important (29 percent).

2. How about as part of a child's basic education, like English and math? How important do you think it is to include the arts as a part of a child's basic education in Massachusetts?

94 percent said they think it is very important (65 percent) or important (29 percent).

3. How strongly do you favor or oppose using state funds to support arts education programs in the public schools?

92 percent said they favor (50 percent) or strongly favor (42 percent) use of state funds to support arts education.

4. How important are cultural organizations to you or your family's quality of life?

85 percent said cultural organizations are very important (44 percent) or somewhat important (41 percent) to their quality of life.

5. How important are cultural organizations to the quality of life in your community?

87 percent said cultural organizations are somewhat important (51 percent) or very important (36 percent) to the quality of life in their communities.

6. How strongly do you favor or oppose using state funds to help cultural organizations deliver educational programs, after-school programs, or other community programs?

84 percent said they favor (55 percent) or strongly favor (29 percent) state funding for cultural organizations.

7. How important are cultural organizations in attracting businesses and employees to the state?

78 percent said they believe cultural organizations are somewhat important (46 percent) or very important (32 percent) in attracting companies and people to the area.

The UMass Poll was conducted on a sample group of 400 citizens across the state and included males and females 18 to over 65 years old, from African American, Asian American, Hispanic, European and mixed-race ethnic ancestry.