Quit èt&-Itbwr/EAGLETON POLL

FOR REMt SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1989 CONTACT: JANICE BALLOU ORRE.EPbSC SL/EP 23-5 (EP 73-5) 808 CARTER

REIEASE INFORMATIONA story based on the survey findings presented in this release and background memo willappear in Sunday’s Star-Ledger. Other newspapers may also use this information in theirSunday editions. Electronic media may release after 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 15. We askusers to properly attribute this copyrighted information to the “Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll.”

NEW JERSEY EXPERIENCING SURGE IN THE ARTS:

MORE RESIDENTS FEEL THE STATE SHOULD BACK ThE ARTS;MORE AflENI) CULTURAL EVENTS

In the past eight years, the number of New Jerseyans who feel the state shouldsupport the arts has grown. The latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll shows a 10 point increase inthe number of state residents who feel that beyond running the government the state shouldsupport the arts and try to enrich peoples’ lives.

The survey, conducted by telephone with 800 New Jersey adults between March 6 and15, also found that the three most popular cultural events are: crafts fairs and artists’ shows orfestiv.s; art galleries, exhibits, or museums; and outdoor concerts. Compared to a September1981 survey, participation in these three types of events has increased by 7 points or more.

Attendance at crafts fairs and artists shows or festivals in the past twelve months was51 percent compared to 42 percent in 1981; visits to art galleries, exhibits, or museums increasedfrom 42 percent in 1981 to 49 percent; outdoor concert attendance grew from 40 percent in 1981to 47 percent.

Although in general fewer residents attend ballets or classical concerts, there was alsoan increase in the number of New Jerseyans going to these events. Nineteen percent in 1989compared to 14 percent in 1981 went to classical music performances; 20 percent compared to16 percent saw ballet or other dance performances.

Live theater attendance has stayed about the same in the past eight years at 41percent.

fl -more—‘ ATTENTION RADIO STATIONS:

Audio is available after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, from (201) 932-3605 (Rutgers Feature Phone).* StATE flSSTV Cf NEW V

I1JTtIER.S Eagleton Institute of Politics • New Brunswick • New Jersey 08901 • 201/828.2210

P73-5 (SL/EP23-5) Page 2

New Jersey—not New York or Philadelphia--is the only place where about seven in

ten state residents went to crafts fairs, artists’ shows or festivals (72%) and popular musical Cevents (67%). More residents also attended ballet and other dance performances (44%),

classical music events (39%), and live theatre (39%) in New Jersey than in other places. The

percentage of state residents who went to art galleries, exhibits, or museums (24%) only in New

Jersey is about the same as the percentage who only participated in these activities in New York.

‘The increase in cultural activity reported by New Jersey residents underscores the

interest in the arts they demonstrated when they approved the 1987 bond issue that included

funding for cultural centers,” commented Poll Director Janice Ballou.

The percentage of New Jerseyans who feel the state should support the arts increased

from 58 percent in 1981 to 68 percent in 1989. Those opposed to state support for the arts

declined from 29 percent in 1981 to 25 percent in this latest survey. More than six in ten

residents say that compared to other activities and services the state spends money for, the arts

are “very” (18%) or “somewhat” (46%) important. However, seven in ten residents do not know

that the arts are supported by tax dollars.

Residents are also not familiar with the proposal to build a $66 million dollar

performing arts theater that will be paid for equally by the state and private sources in Newark.

Just 28 percent had read or heard something about the proposed center, while 71 percent had

not. When the project was described to them, a majority of state residents (54%) said they feel

that the project will be a major benefit for the city of Newark. An additional 25 percent say it

will be a minor benefit. More than a third of the states residents view the Newark center as a

major benefit for the state (37%) and the state residents (35%). An additional four in ten say it

will be a minor benefit for the state and its residents. Few state residents--less than one in five--

say the center will not be a benefit to Newark, the state, or residents of New Jersey.

-3°. CCopyright: April 16, 1989, The Eagleton Institute and Newark Star-Ledger.

([he (ar-ICbgCF/EAGLETON POLLBACKGROUND MEMO - RELEASE SLIEP 23-5 (EP 73-5). SUNDAY. APRIL 16. 1989

The latest Star.LarfEagleton Poll was conducted between March 6 and 15, 1989, when a random sampleof New Jerseyans, (18 years and older) was interviewed by telephone. Figures presented for the total sampleof 800 have a sampling error of 3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence intervaL Sampling error is theprobable difference in results between interviewing everyone in a population versus a scientific sample takenfrom that popuiation. Sampling error does not take into account other possible sources of error inherent inany study of public opinion. The questions and figures referred to in this release are as follows:About how many times if any have you been to (READ FIRST ITEM) in the last 12 months?”

NUMBER OFTIMES A’rrENDED WHERE A1TENDEI)

Otherie or NJ & CaitinaNone More TotaL fl NJ NY PhiL Others tions Other TotaL LiiiA crafts fair,artists show orartists festivaL

--March 1989 49% 51% 100% (800) 72% 7% 3% 13% 2% 3% 100% (453)--Septeiter 1981 58 42 100 (1007)

An art gaLLery,exhibit or nuseule

--March 1959 51 49 100 (800) 24 27 13 21 6 8 99 (465)--Septenter 1981 58 42 100 (1007)

Sa,e other rzisicatevent such as anoutdoor concert

--March 1989 53 7 100 (800) 67 8 10 13 -- 3 101 (408)- -Septetiter 1981 60 40 100 (1007)

A performance ofLive theater

-

--March 1989 59 41 100 (800) 39 34 5 16 3 3 100 (386)--Septenter 1981 60 41 101 (1007)

The baLlet, orsane other dart.pert

--March 1989 80 20 100 (800) 44 32 10 9 1 5 101 (193)--Septeiter 1981 83 16 99 (1007)

A performance ofcLassicaL nsf:,such as the operaor siohony

--March 1989 81 19 100 (800) 39 33 8 14 2 3 99 (208)--Septenter 1981 86 4 100 (1007)

* Different question wording for September 1981 surmy n the last year ha* vu affeno’ed (READ LIST STARTiNG AT DESIGNATEDPOWIt.? (FOR EACH YES, PROBE: About how many times hai you been in the last 12 months?’HE STATE LWPSTV OF NEW £?V

I.1_J1x:EI.S Eaglelon Institute ci Politics • New Brunswick • New Jersey 08901 • 201/828-2210

EP73.-S (SL/EP23-5)- 2-

“Do you think that the arts in New Jersey are, or are flj supported by any tax dollars, or don’t you know?”

Are Not Don’t Know—

March 1989 22% 8% 70% 100% (800)September 1981 5 72 100 (1007)

Some people feel the state should support the arts in New Jersey, saying that beyond running the government thestate should try to enrich peoples’ lives.

Others feel the state should give no support to the arts, saying this is not something the state should or needs to beinvolved in. Which iew comes closest to your own?”

State Should No State SupportSupport the Arts for the Arts Depends Don’t Know ]gjj

March 1989 68% 25% 2% 5% 100% (800)September 1981 58 29 4 10 101 (1007)

“Compared to all the other activities and services the state spends money on, would you say that support of the arts isvery important, somewhat important, or not very important?”

Very Somewhat Not Very State Should NoImportant Important Important Not Support Opinion Inii mi (JMarch 1989 18% 46% 8% 25% 3% 101% (800)September 1981 19 42 9 29 2 101 (1007)

“Have you read or heard anything about a proposal to build a performing arts center in Newark? (IF YES, ASK:How much--a lot, some, or just a little?)”

Don’tYes—A Lot Yes--Some Yes--A Little No--Not Heard of Know IiiiTOTAL 3% 9% 16% 71% 1% 100% (800)

“The first phase of this project would involve building a $66 million dollar performing arts theater to be paid forequally by the state and private sources.

In your opinion, do you think this would be a major benefit, a minor benefit, or no benefit at alL.(REA]) EACHITEM STARTING AT DESIGNATED POINT)”

Major Minor No Don’tBenefit Benefit Benefit Depends Know

For the state of New Jersey 37% 40% 18% 2% 3% 100% (800)For residents of New Jersey 35 42 15 2 5 99% (800)ForthedryofNewark 54 25 13 1 7 100 (800)