Recommendations are provided about a new data series that would serve as a measure of the extent and quality of participation of the U.S. population in arts and cultural activities. Eight chapters review and evaluate the state of social statistics and indicators of arts audiences. Chapter 1 defines "indicator,""culture," and "cultural indicator" by showing how these terms have come to be used in government reports and by the academic research community. Economic and social indicators are described in chapter 2. In chapter 3 papers are used to illustrate the several different meanings of the term "culture" as it is currently being used in formulating cultural indicators. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 explore measures of audience participation in arts and cultural activities which use time and money as the criteria. Subjective and preference measures are reviewed in chapter 7. In the concluding chapter, the products of artistic activity, including performances, recitals, paintings, constructions, fabrications, and written works, are considered. (RM)