Accredited official statistics

Taking Part 2019/20 - Museums

Analysis of the Museums questions in the Taking Part Survey

Applies to England

Documents

Museums

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Details

Data about who is visiting museums is important so that DCMS can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience and benefit from England’s museums.

The Taking Part survey asks adults (16+) whether they have visited a museum or gallery in the last 12 months.

Headline findings

  • 51% of respondents had visited a museum or gallery in the last 12 months, similar to 2018/19
  • 32% of respondents had used a museum or gallery website or app in the last 12 months, an increase from 2018/19
  • There were differences in the likelihood of respondents visiting a museum or gallery with the demographic categories of age, index of multiple deprivation, ethnicity, socio-economic status, tenure and employment status

Further data

  • DCMS publishes statistics on the number of visits to each of the museums and galleries that DCMS sponsors. Data collection methods differ from museum to museum. One person may visit a number of museums or galleries, or visit a particular museum or gallery more than once, and therefore can be counted more than once. Data is published quarterly and contains monthly breakdowns.

  • Annual performance indicators for DCMS sponsored-museums give demographic breakdowns for museum attendance

  • DCMS has also published experimental statistics on daily visitor numbers from 13th July 2020

Updates to this page

Published 16 September 2020

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