Maine and the arts

Portland Press Herald

• 57.9 percent of adults in Maine attended a visual or performance art event in 2017, slightly higher than the national average of 54.3 percent. But Maine’s figure is more than 10 percentage points lower than both New Hampshire’s at 69.2 percent and Vermont’s at 68.3 percent. For the national survey, visual and performance art events included fairs or festivals that featured crafts, visual arts or performing artists such as musicians, singers, dancers or actors; an art exhibition of paintings, sculpture, pottery, photography or digital art; a live music performance; a live play or musical; a live dance performance; an event featuring a poet or writer; and other performance, including improv, comedy and the circus arts.

• 46.1 percent of Maine adults read novels, short stories, poems, or plays, compared to 44.2 percent nationally. Maine fared slightly higher than New Hampshire (44.6 percent) and slightly lower than Vermont (49.7 percent).

• 38.6 percent of Maine adults performed or created art. The national average was 33.4 percent. Both Vermont at 50.4 percent and New Hampshire at 43.2 percent rated higher.

• 81 percent of adults Mainers consumed their art on TV, radio or the internet, including streaming music and TV. The number for the country is 73.1 percent. In New Hampshire, the percentage was 82 and in Vermont it was 69.2.