Man cannot live on bread alone : cultural participation and life satisfaction in Malta

Abstract

A general presumption for government investment in cultural participation is that this kind of activity improves socio-economic well-being. This study profiles participation in cultural activities in Malta and examines the relationship between this phenomenon and life-satisfaction. At the time of the study, Malta was set to invest considerable funds in the run-up to hosting the European Capital of Culture (ECoC). Using multiple secondary data sets, the study first examines the extent to which the Maltese participate in cultural activities, placing this in the context of European Union (EU) trends. It then investigates the significance of cultural participation on lifesatisfaction in Malta, employing original survey-based data and formally modelling the determinants of lifesatisfaction (including socio-economic status, health, social life and environmental quality) and focusing on the net effect of cultural participation being. The study finds that in the run up to the ECoC, cultural participation in Malta was generally lower than in other EU countries. There is evidence of higher levels of life-satisfaction among Maltese people with higher cultural participation. These findings may guide government and sponsors of cultural activities and serve as a basis to assess the impact of interventions such as hosting the ECoC on participation and on well-being in Malta.