This report identifies broad patterns of arts participation and arts education among American public and investigates the effects of arts education on arts participation as they apply to all Americans. The focus is on the following questions:

• Do people become more actively involved in music, dance, writing, acting, and visual arts as a consequence of arts education?
• How does arts education make a contribution (or reduce the differences) to arts participation among people of different socioeconomic status, gender, racial, and ethnic groups?
• Do any of the answers to the above questions differ when distinguishing between arts education the is based in K-12 schools and that which is based in the private sector community outside of school?
• Which is more important to increasing active participation-arts education or general education?

This report identifies broad patterns of arts participation and arts education among American public and investigates the effects of arts education on arts participation as they apply to all Americans.