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other cultural relations and phenomena, which can undermine traditional cultural practices at
home. Cultural participation surveys can register the impacts of migration flows on the
transmission of traditional cultural practices in countries of origin and possibly indicate trends
(if repeated regularly). Temporary or seasonal migration flows may represent a particular
problem in survey sampling.
Migration patterns are also linked to the globalisation of cultural practices. Often migrants
bring their own cultural practices to their new communities. In other cases, most notably the
United States, migrants become strongly absorbed into the cultural identity of their new
country while retaining a certain cultural practices of their country of origin. Similar patterns of
assimilation or continuing cultural distinction can be found as a result of movement within
countries, for example when rural people move to cities. Cultural participation surveys often
concentrate on cultural distinctions which are dominant in local areas or neighbourhoods, but
monitoring the absorption of cultural distinctions is crucial to determining service needs and
the risk of extinction of minority practices. This may also be an appropriate point to mention
that not all cultural practices are good, for example traditional medicines may help but they
cannot always replace modern medicine.
Most countries “create, share and perpetuate more than one culture” (SPC, 2010), as in the
cases, for instance, of New Zealand and India. What is crucial for cultural participation
surveys is that ethnic affiliation can be a potential independent variable in explanatory
models of cultural participation deeply intertwined as it is with notions of identity and cultural
diversity which have a unique impact on the definition and understanding of culture itself.
In general, from a methodological point of view, it is important to involve different sub-groups
of populations in the design of a survey to ensure that it truly reflects the structure of their
culture and beliefs, rather than reflecting the majority population’s received interpretation of
minority belief systems. In this sense, cultural participation surveys have much to learn from
anthropological approaches to this issue.
2.2.6 Social cohesion
As stated in the UNESCO FCS, the social dimension of culture is “related to its symbolic
value and to its role in giving a sense of identity, shared value and belonging, in preventing
exclusion and for building social cohesion and stability” (UNESCO-UIS, 2009). The presence
of opportunities and support for cultural participation is an element of the cultural vitality of
communities, so it is “valuable on its own terms and also integral to everyday life, community
dynamics, and community conditions” (Jackson et al., 2006). “Arts and culture contribute to
the overall health and welfare of communities by stimulating civic participation, building social
and human capital, and serving as assets that contribute to local economies and support
other community-building processes” (NEA, 2011). Instead, “without the right to participate in
cultural life, individuals fail to develop the social and cultural connections that are important
to maintaining satisfactory conditions of equality” (Laaksonen, 2010).
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