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# Survey says... Santa Monica loves the arts
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/survey-says-santa-monica-loves-the-arts/
- Published: 2006-10-25T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T21:47:54.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Events, Pier, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

CITYWIDE — When it comes to plays, art exhibits or concerts on the pier, Santa Monicans’ thirst is insatiable.

Nearly every adult in Santa Monica participates in the arts, making the city home to one of the most vibrant cultural communities in the nation, according to an independent survey released last week.

From Aug. 6 through Aug. 30, Goodwin Simon Victoria Research — one of Southern California’s leading research firms — conducted telephone interviews with 492 residents, asking each a series of questions on their participation in the arts. The survey, which has a 4.4 percent margin of error, revealed that Santa Monicans attend concerts (82 percent), visit art galleries (83 percent), go to museums (61 percent), see plays (69 percent) and participate in festivals (69 percent) far more than the average American.

In fact, Santa Monica has a higher percentage of the population actually working in the arts for all or part of their living (43 percent) than San Francisco, Chicago or New York City.

“Santa Monica’s residents not only have an intensive relationship with the arts and culture, they also have a sophisticated perspective on their role and value in the community,” said Jessica Cusick, manager of City Hall’s Cultural Affairs Division.

Consultant David Plettner agrees. “The percentage of community members with a strong connection to the arts is off the charts in comparison to any of the communities I have worked in,” Plettner said.

The survey is part of a seven-month-long research effort by City Hall to gather community input around a new comprehensive, cultural master plan entitled “Creative Capital,” which is intended to guide the development of the city’s cultural life for the next decade.

Consultant Cultural + Planning Group, which is leading the way, has identified three broad areas of focus. ■ Access and participation: identifying community priorities and defining ways to increase arts and cultural activities in Santa Monica, as well as participation by residents and visitors. ■ Cultural facilities: building upon existing studies, assess community cultural facility needs and recommend options. ■ Cultural funding: assessing current public funding mechanisms and identify innovative models for future support, public and private, monetary and non-monetary.

In addition to the telephone survey, City Hall this week will announce the results of a separate study analyzing Santa Monica’s creative sector, including a comparison of the city’s creative workforce to the 20 cities in the nation that are most strongly identified as arts and cultural centers. According to the survey, 57 percent of residents believe arts are important to the city’s economy.

On Nov. 8, City Hall will host a community workshop to present the cultural plan recommendations. The event will be held at the Main Library. In the meantime, city staff will be making presentations to neighborhood organizations and other community groups, Cusick said.

The final plan is expected to go before the City Council in early 2007.

Santa Monica has a long history of cultural planning. The first comprehensive cultural plan was developed in 1992, and updated four years later.

A recent analysis of both the plan and update showed that a majority of the recommendations had been addressed, at least in a preliminary form, prompting the latest overhaul.

In addition, the city commissioned a report on the economic impact of the arts in 1997, developed a cultural facilities inventory in 1999, and in 2000, completed a study on artist live/work space in Santa Monica. Last year,the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District adopted a comprehensive 10-year plan for reintegrating the arts in the schools.

While a large number of residents partake in City Hall’s cultural offerings, such as the Twilight Dance Series (48 percent), concerts at the Civic Auditorium (43 percent), Bergamot Station (45 percent), the Santa Monica Museum of Art (36 percent) and local live theaters (35 percent), the survey shows residents crave more opportunities.

Some suggested larger venues for theater performances and concerts, while others favored more public art and cultural festivals. Others asked for smaller, more intimate music venues and theaters, a major art museum and more galleries.

Santa Monica is already home to 36 nonprofit cultural organizations and 17 different theater groups.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 25, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/102506.pdf?ref=smdp.com)