Crossing the line - John Harland

Research shows that young people's attendance at places such as theatres, concert halls, galleries and museums declines as they progress through their teens. They may, indeed, experience only a fleeting acquaintance with cultural venues of this kind and then cease to visit them altogether - not necessarily because of a dislike of particular art forms but because these cultural venues and what they have to offer do not appear to be relevant to them. As a result of such assumptions and subsequent lack of involvement, young people may be denied the possibility of informed choice. How can venues, schools and others help young people to consider a wider spectrum of cultural experiences? 'Crossing the Line' has been commissioned by the Gulbenkian Foundation and Arts Council England to consider this problem.;It reviews the evidence and includes important new research which asks young people what they think; looks at different types of initiatives concerned with this issue and highlights the questions that the various sectors may wish to ask themselves - for example, how cultural venues can make themselves more accessible to teenagers and the possibility of some young people serving as 'cultural mentors' to their peers.