The survey for the City Council involved 500 face-to-face interviews earlier in the year. "It's the first time we've tried to measure arts participation in Christchurch," says Paul Cottam, the Council's leisure planning projects officer. "The findings will be useful in so many ways, from planning events to removing the barriers that some groups face in taking part in arts activities."

The CCC's Arts Policy and Strategy has "arts for all" as a goal. "To achieve this, we needed a more accurate picture of arts activity in Christchurch," Mr Cottam says. Virtually everyone (98 per cent) of those talked to by the outside survey organisation had taken part in an arts activity in the last year. On average, they had been involved in eight arts activities, with women (80%) more involved than men (49%).

Public art works and Council support for the arts received a big thumbs up, with 88% saying it was a good idea to have public artworks around the city, while 79% thought rates should be used to support the provision of arts activities. Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Judith Tizard says the survey is good news. "Looking after the cultural well being of communities is one of the new purposes of local government under the Local Government Act 2002, and I'm delighted that Christchurch City Council is taking this purpose seriously," she says.

"The findings of the study . . . give Christchurch and other cities a good indication of the importance of arts activities in the community. "Arts activities impact positively on many areas including employment, economic, regional and community development and I'm delighted that we are seeing a strong and confident cultural identity emerging through the regions.

The Arts Survey is on the web, at www.ccc.govt.nz/ArtsSurvey and from the Council's Civic Offices on Tuam Street and and suburban Service Centres