Arts participation
Search within the Research hub
Attendance at performing arts events
According to a 2005-06 survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 38 per cent of people aged 15 years and over attended a performing arts event in the previous 12 months. This includes theatre, dance performances, musicals, operas and other performing arts events.
About 1.5 million people aged 15 years and over attended classical music concerts in the 12 months prior to interview, according to a 2005-06 survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Growth in cultural centres and theatres
It is not always possible to have up-to-date or current data for statistical purposes. Some Australian Bureau of Statistics surveys are conducted on a regular basis: monthly, annually or every few years. Other major data collections such as the Census of Population and Housing are of a great scale and are only conducted every five years.
In 2003, there were 3.4 million people in Australia aged 60 years and over. Of the 3.2 million living in households, 61 per cent had attended a cultural event or venue.
About 2.1 million people in Australia were involved in art and craft only as a hobby, during a 12-month period. A further 356,900 people were involved in writing as a hobby only, and 265,000 people had a musical hobby only.
Reading is a favourite activity for about 61 per cent of Australians aged 15 years and over, according to a 2006 survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
About 207,200 volunteers for arts and heritage organisations provided over 30.6 million hours of work in the 12 months before interview, according to the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics General Social Survey.
Attendance at public art galleries
According to a 2005-06 survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 23 per cent of people aged 15 years and over -about 3.6 million people - visited an art gallery in the 12 months before interview.
Children - Arts involvement outside school
About one-third of Australian school children take part in organised cultural activities outside of school hours, according to a survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2006.
Children - Informal arts participation
About three-quarters of all Australian children read for pleasure, according to two surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Children - Attendance at cultural venues
Over 70 per cent of Australian children visit a public library, museum or art gallery, or attend a performing arts event outside school hours, according to a recent survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
What's my plan? A guide to developing arts marketing plans
This step-by-step guide provides useful information on how to develop arts marketing plans.
Who's my market? A guide to researching audiences and visitors in the arts
This guide contains information about the fundamentals of research, how and when to conduct your own research, how to brief and work with a research consultant for more complex needs, case studies, example questionnaires and resources.
Marketing strategies for arts organisations
A step-by-step guide to developing effective marketing strategies.
Examines the demographic, cultural and attitudinal characteristics of non-visitors to museums and galleries.
The world is your audience: case studies in audience development and cultural diversity
Focussing specifically on the development of audiences of a culturally diverse nature and of non-English speaking background, The world is your audience follows the path from planning through to development, marketing and presentation so the reader can refer to specific topics or use it as a step-by-step guide.
Who goes there? National multicultural arts audience case studies
Our cultural diversity has gained increasing relevance for arts and cultural organisations both as a management and marketing issue. Who goes there? Multicultural arts audience case studies provides the first national market research into audiences for multicultural arts product undertaken in Australia.
The great indoors: developing audiences for contemporary art and craft in Australia
A national study on existing and potential audiences for contemporary art and craft. It also examines audience-related services provided by a wide range of exhibiting institutions, indoors and out.
Audience research made easy provides organisations with guidance and advice on how to conduct effective audience research and better understand audiences.
Full house: turning data into audiences
This manual provides advice for arts organisations in building closer relationships with their audiences, drawing on information gleaned at crucial points in the transaction process - from website to box office and ultimately to concert hall or gallery.
Selling the performing arts: identifying and expanding audiences for music, dance and theatre
Identifies attendance patterns for music, theatre and dance and recommends strategies to expand existing audiences.
Young Australians reading: from keen to reluctant readers
A national research report on the reading experience of 10-18 year olds.
Miles ahead: marketing that works in regional Australia
A collection of over 40 innovative arts marketing case studies across regional Australia.
Access all areas: guidelines for marketing the arts to people with disabilities
For most people, the decision to be exposed to the experience of an arts event is a simple one. You go, because you choose to go. Providing that choice to people with disabilities is the issue of Access all areas. This guide is intended to be practical, covering actions which are within reach of arts organisations, especially marketing officers and their departments. How to identify this audience, how to reach them and how to provide what they want is the key advice contained in Access all areas.
H2W2: how to do an arts project, where to get help
A toolkit providing the absolute lowdown on getting projects up and running. It has advice on everything from the initial flash of inspiration to taking the final bow and all tricky bits in between.
