Attempts to stimulate cultural participation are an important element of cultural policy. In order to achieve such goals, governments can go either with a democratization of culture approach or with a model referred to as cultural democracy. In this contribution, these approaches to cultural policy will be discussed focusing on the diversity in the cultural preferences of audiences. What does the picture that emerges tell us about the likely success of different policy options? Sociologists have long argued that cultural preferences are contingent on social background. But does that mean that those with less cultural capital need to be taught about the canon so they can benefit from the blessings of ‘highbrow’ culture, or should this diversity be more reflected in the cultural supply to make the arts speak to different groups in a language they value and understand? How different are class-based aesthetic dispositions really and what does research into cultural omnivorousness tell us about the cultural boundaries that policymakers need to take into account? Thus, existing patterns in tastes and participation will be evaluated in light of what they can teach us about the likely success of cultural policy approaches.