Arts Participation by the Baby Boomers.

Based on 1982 and 1992 surveys sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, this report examines participation in seven core art forms by baby boomers, individuals born between 1946 and 1965. Art forms investigated were: classical music concerts; jazz concerts; operas; musicals; ballet performances; theatre; and museums. Findings indicate that baby boomers participate in the seven core areas less than their elders. Suggestions for increasing participation include charging a blanket admission for access to several simultaneous performances, and presenting program cross-overs from fields of popular music and dance. Addressing the tastes of the broader audience would increase debate about the nature and quality of the art participatory experience. This implies a need for a reconceptualization of the arts to increase participation of baby boomers, the largest segment of the population, if the fine arts are to survive. (NP)