Proximity and Performing Arts Attendance

Does an audience’s distance from a performing arts venue affect whether or not they will attend a live event? And if distance is a factor, can organizations do anything to entice audiences from further away? 

This brief from The Wallace Foundation dives into those questions. It finds that yes, attendance is lower for audiences further from a venue. But factors like the size of an organization and popularity of a given production can break the distance barrier and attract audiences from further away. 

Traditionally, studies focused on arts attendance have concentrated on individuals’ social demographics. This brief, by Francie Ostrower, Ph.D. and C. Nathan Marti, Ph.D., seeks to counterbalance that work by better understanding if an audience’s distance from a performing arts venue has an impact on whether or not they will attend live events, and offers insights on what might encourage potential attendees to travel from further away.