608 The table compares the reasons why adults frequent art events over a 20 year period. Overall, there is a common theme noted where the want to see a particular artist remains the top reason for adult attendence. However, attendance so as to accompany children has become more popular over these years.
Amongst the data shown, 58% of adults 20 years ago indicated that their want to watch a specific performer for being the driving force to attend art events. This reason continues to be the most common until today, with 55% noted 10 years ago and 56% indicating so today. Work functions remain a weak motivator for attendance. Even though there has been a marginal increase from 6% 20 years ago to 11% today, the level of change is not significant.
Accompanying children has become a more common reason for attendance with an upward trend noted over the past 20 years. From being one of the lowest reasons at 9% 2 decades ago, this cause has increased steadily to 15% 10 years ago to 24% today. This has become the second most common cause today. Special occasions, however, have shown a steady decline. Despite being the second most reason 2 decades ago, the data shows that adults are no longer interested in attending art functions for special occasions. An initial 27% of surveyors had selected this as their main reason 20 years ago, but this had slightly reduced to 20% 10 years later, followed by a sharp decline to only 9% today.