Some Findings on Culture Consumption and Happiness

All modern nations have a professional ‘arts’ sector that provides aesthetic experiences. Among the products of this industry are: drama, dance, music, fiction, poetry, paintings and design. As outlets are theatres, concert halls, museums, galleries and bookstores. This trade is also known as the ‘Cultural sector’ (with capital C). In The Netherlands this sector employs about 2% of the working force and its size equals about 1% of the Gross national Product (Poort et al. 2006). The products of this cultural sector are highly valued and for this reason many developed nations support its production financially and encourage cultural consumption. Involvement in arts is typically seen as part of living a civilized way of life. It is for this reason arts education is in the curriculum of most schools, in particular in schools that aim at ‘Bildung’. This practice has been contested.