The paper analyses surveys of cultural participation and discusses how they convey certain concepts of users and culture. The paper aims to develop a more nuanced and contemporary picture of cultural participation and notions on non-user. The paper shows a shift in how the user is constructed through the surveys over the years from 1964 up until today. This movement spans from a citizen to a customer perspective. Furthermore the paper addresses the problem that the new concept of participatory culture, does not necessarily take place within the institutions which is measured in surveys on cultural participation. The concept of participation conveys different meanings, therefore culturally active and contributing citizens may count as non-users in the surveys. The paper concludes that it might be worth considering measuring leisure time activities as it was done in the 60s and 70s instead of the focus on attendance which is measured today.