Participating in the arts

What does it mean to participate in the arts?  I've been struggling with this question for some time now and I have yet to find a complete answer.  The current definition of arts participation only coincides with fine arts activities such as attending the opera or ballet or going to a museum or art gallery.  It's understandable why these activities are focused upon as they are easier to track and the context in which these activities are put don't change often.  However, the fact is, most people do not participate in the arts by going to the Opera or visiting a museum or gallery.  The role of the arts has changed in this era of extensive world-wide communication and easy access to information.  We no longer have to rely on institutions to keep our cultural fabric alive.  While there will always be a place for the works of past masters, the internet revolution has sparked an artistic movement that transcends formal education.