This report summarizes the results of a research project to examine arts participation patterns in 12 diverse communities across the United States. The research involved two major components: (1) the administration of an arts participation survey to randomly selected households in each area, and (2) research into the supply of local arts programs and facilities. Survey results for each site were analyzed in the context of local arts activity levels, uncovering a rich and varied texture behind the statistics. The 12 local surveys were undertaken to build a better understanding of variations in arts participation patterns between different communities and to provide local sponsors with valuable information about their areas. Each local survey consisted of three components: (1) a core questionnaire, common to all 12 sites, including arts participation and demographic information identical to a 1992 national survey; (2) a set of questions common to all sites but not included in the 1992 survey, concerning facilities where arts participation occurred, reasons for not attending more often, and sources of information about arts events; and (3) community-specific modules, developed by the local partners to address specific information needs in each community. Some results of the survey show that of the eight core disciplines studied, art museums and galleries attracted the highest participation at every site. Musicals attracted the broadest audiences among the performing arts disciplines studied. Both classical music and plays had average participation rates of 20 per cent, while opera and ballet had lower participation rates across all sites. (DK)