Science proves: art mostly brings happiness to the less educated

One of the strongest arguments of the opponents of art subsidies is that the common man has no use for art. That argument has now been refuted by scientific research. 'Happiness professor' Ruut Veenhoven presented a study this week showing that less educated people in particular become happier from art. It even makes them happier than sports, both passive and active, or simply going out to the cinema, disco or pub.

Veenhoven conducted the research on behalf of a team that is part of the 'Leadership in Culture' project (LinC). As part of their training in better leadership in the arts sector, they started this project in the hope of coming up with a campaign. Now that it has actually been shown that happiness is increased by visiting a theatre, concert or museum, the campaign can start.

Out on the streets

'We take to the streets,' say the initiators, 'and ask ourselves what culture means to us. What does culture contribute to your well-being and happiness? The answer to this question, from everyone who is asked it or who wants to answer it, is recorded and digitally collected on a website, among other things. And so what we should have known implicitly for a long time becomes explicit. That culture is a rich breeding ground for our identity, for our well-being and happiness.'

The connection between happiness and art has not been studied very often, Veenhoven explained at the presentation. He eventually found a number of scientific studies in the 'World Database of Happines' that referred to that connection. That, and a 2008 study by Stefan Oosterhof, a master's student at Erasmus University Rotterdam at the time, provided the link. The author of the study did not have a direct explanation at the time: 'Perhaps the aspect that applies in the case of social participation also plays a role here. At theatres and cultural institutions, one can also feel part of a collective.'

1 per cent

The happiness effect of art involves a positive relationship of 0.1 points on a scale of 10, meaning that someone who occasionally participates in art is 1 per cent happier than someone who does not. 'That seems little,' Veenhoven explained, 'but when you consider that marriage only determines 5 per cent of your happiness, it's quite a lot.'

Participation in sports (passive or active), working in a kitchen garden and having lots of free time, by the way, are all things that do not usually make people happier. And people lower on the social ladder are happier with art than those with a university education. Conclusions that also excited Veenhoven.