The Stage

Quarter of UK children have never been to a theatre

Published Wednesday 22 February 2012 at 14:03 by Natalie Woolman

A quarter of British children have never been to the theatre, according to a new study of “culture-starved” young people.

Researchers surveyed 2,000 parents of children aged between five and 12 from across the UK for the study, which was commissioned by Visit Birmingham.

It also showed that 60% of children had never heard or been to a classical music concert and 40% had never been into an art gallery.

Half of the parents surveyed said they made little effort to educate their children on culture or history, with a third saying they that expected schools to take responsibility for sight-seeing trips and educational visits to local attractions.

Emma Gray, director of marketing services for Marketing Birmingham, said: “Culture can take many forms and it’s essential our children are encouraged to get involved with this at an early age - whether that be attending a pantomime, visiting something like the Staffordshire Hoard or getting involved in dance.

“There’s no doubt that cultural activity enriches day-to-day life and it’s important that children embrace our history and culture now, to ensure that it is passed on through the generations.”

A fifth of parents surveyed said that their children would not be interested in culture. A further 26% of parents said they could not afford to visit attractions, while 28% said they did not have time to travel around the UK for visits.