Arts and culture activity participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Abstract

There are higher rates of mental illness and chronic disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, compared to the general Australian population. The arts play a central role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's health and well-being. This investigation examined the participation patter of art activities among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Methods: In July 2012, 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, were recruited through a family festival to participate in a cross sectional survey. Participants completed a survey, which measured their monthly and annual participation of art activities. Findings demonstrate that approximately 86% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attended monthly at least one of the cultural venues and events surveyed. The areas where attendance rates were highest were: listening to music (86%), watching a movie (83%), reading (57%), reading to others (41.1%), telling stories (41.1%), and cooking (40.5%). The most popular cultural activities for Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander people to attend annually were attending the festival (83.7%), attending cinema (76.5% in the past year), attending concerts (52.3%), visiting museums (58.5%), watching plays, operas, dance performances or classical music concerts on TV (54.8%), and visiting historic sites (45.2%). In conclusion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a strong preference to attend arts and cultural activities and programs when these are related to listening music, movie watching, reading, reading to others, telling stories, and cooking for their daily life. On an annual participation level, they are more likely to attend festivals, cinema, concerts, museums, watch concert on TV, and visit historic sites.