Intergenerational arts and culture: Lessons across middle Australia

Middle Australians have a broad definition of arts and culture, and see it as essential to being human.

They report arts and culture to be embedded in and inseparable from daily life, and as having a positive impact on their ability to stay healthy, understand others, accept differences, connect with community, learn new skills and have new ideas.

The purpose of this Analysis Paper is to summarise attitudes on arts, culture and creativity among cohorts of middle Australians aged 18 to 75, drawing on ANA’s middle Australia Insight Report series. This paper’s recommendations – informed by the rich discussions among middle Australians and ANA’s wide-ranging research and engagement program – tie in with various government priorities and the national model of Australia’s growing, ageing and diversifying population.

See also our Insight Reports:

A View from Middle Australia: Perceptions of Arts, Culture and Creativity

Lifelong: Perceptions of Arts and Culture among Baby Boomer Middle Australians

The Next Generation of Voters: Young middle Australians talk Arts, Culture and Creativity

Common themes across the middle Australia series 

Essential to being human

Middle Australians have a broad definition of arts and culture, and see it as essential to being human. They recognise its benefits in everyday life and think governments should help make these benefits accessible.

Drivers of wellbeing and productivity

Middle Australians note the role of arts and culture in driving wellbeing and productivity-related skills, including in the workplace and through education. In short, arts and culture connects various government portfolios through its impacts.

Fostering innovation, imagination and expression

Middle Australians have high hopes for arts and culture’s impact on innovative thinking, collective imagination and creative expression. These impacts support middle Australians’ calls for participation through greater access and a range of formats for cultural and creative experiences.

The building blocks of community and place

Middle Australians believe that cultural and creative engagement helps build a sense of belonging and connection at individual, community and national identity levels. The benefits of arts and culture as the ‘building blocks of place’ emerged through valued local activities, jobs and tourism.

Unique to each generation 

Young (ages 18-29)

• do not distinguish between high arts and other cultural activities
• view digital and in-person formats as equally enjoyable and important

Middle-aged (aged 35–60)

• make some distinction between high arts and other cultural activities
• are moderately interested in digital participation, but recognised and generally respected that younger generations valued digital culture

Baby Boomer (aged 58–75)

• think arts and culture provide opportunities for intergenerational dialogue and connection, including with their children and grandchildren
• say that cultural experiences create lifelong memories and help them ‘stay young’

This paper is the third in our Analysis Paper series, which involves short investigations of a specific idea or area of interest.

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