New research examines link between culture and inequalities

There is clear evidence that the kinds of culture Australians have access to depends on their social backgrounds, new research from Western Sydney University reveals.

The Western Sydney University (WSU) has published findings from a national survey of cultural tastes, in the publication Fields, Capitals, Habitus: Australian Culture, Inequalities and Social Divisions, which details Australians’ social patterns of engagement with sport, media, the visual arts, music, literature and heritage.

The key word here is ‘detail’. Lead editor and researcher, Professor Tony Bennett said that while this kind of research has been conducted sporadically over the last 60 years (he even pointed to an earlier study he produced with colleagues, Accounting for Tastes in 1999) this is the most comprehensive dive to date.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina