KAET-ASU Poll

Contact Dr. Bruce Merrill (480) 965-7051
Can be used after 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 25, 2002

VALLEY RESIDENTS SATISFIED WITH CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES

A new poll by KAET-TV/Channel 8 and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU found that voters in Maricopa County are satisfied with the cultural opportunities available to them in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The poll of 414 registered voters, conducted between April 18-21, 2002, found that 24% were "very satisfied" with the local cultural opportunities and another 60% were "satisfied." Ten percent (10%) were "somewhat dissatisfied" and only 2% "very dissatisfied." Four percent (4%) had no opinion.

White respondents appear to be more satisfied with the cultural opportunities in Phoenix than minority respondents (89% to 69%). Also, Republicans (92%) and voters registered as independents or "others" (88%) were more satisfied than Democrats (80%).

Fifteen percent (15%) of those interviewed said they attend cultural events in the Phoenix area frequently, 51% occasionally, 23% seldom, and 10% never. Seventy-seven (77%) of college graduates say they attend cultural events frequently (19%) or occasionally (58%), compared to 55% of those with less than a college education (10% frequently, 45% occasionally). Among older voters, almost one in five (17%) never attend cultural events. Among voters younger than 60, only 7% say they never attend cultural events.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of those interviewed said they had made a contribution to an arts or cultural organization within the past year. Fifty-nine percent (59%) had made no contributions, and 2% would not say or did not remember. Only respondents' education level appeared to be related to their contributions. Among those who gave an answer, 48% of college graduates had made a contribution, compared to 34% of those with some college or trade school, and 24% of those with high school or less.

Finally, 46% found that it is "very important" to have a strong arts or cultural community in the Phoenix area, 35% said it is "important," 14% "somewhat important," and 3% "not very important." Two percent (2%) had no opinion. Of those with an opinion, 91% of registered Democrats found a strong cultural community to be very important (59%) or important (32%). Seventy-seven (77%) of Republicans and 80% of "others/independents" found it very important or important. Similarly, self-described liberals (95%) placed more emphasis on the cultural community than did conservatives (77%) or those who said they were in between liberal and conservative (29%), finding it either very important or important.

This poll of 414 Maricopa County voters has a sampling error of 4.8%. Forty-eight percent (48%) were registered Republicans, 32% Democrats, and 20% "others." Fifty-two percent (52%) were female, 48% male.

Q1: Overall, how satisfied are you with the cultural opportunities available to you in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Would you say you are very satisfied, satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

Q2: Do you personally go to cultural events in the Phoenix area frequently, occasionally, seldom, or never?

Q3: Have you made a contribution to an arts or cultural organization within the past year or so?

Q4: How important do you feel it is to have a strong arts or cultural community in the Phoenix area? Would you say it is very important, important, somewhat important, or not very important?

Due to rounding error, some percentages may not total to 100%.

KAET-TV is a part of Arizona State University