Visits to museums and galleries in England are at their highest levels with over half of all adults in England visiting a museum or art gallery in the last year according to official statistics, published today.  

On top of this 78 per cent of all adults had attended or participated in the arts during the period, a ‘significant increase’ since 2005/06.

The biggest increase in engagement with the arts was by those living in the North East, North West and the East Midlands.  

The number of adults in those areas saying they engaged with the Arts rose to 74.6 per cent in the North East, 76.5 per cent in the North West and 81.4 per cent in the East Midlands. 

Our national Heritage proved a firm favourite with 72 per cent of adults visiting a Heritage site in the previous year and more people, nearly a third of all adults, saying they now visited at least 3-4 times a year.