Research projects
The Research and Strategic Analysis team conducts research into issues of importance for the arts
The Research and Strategic Analysis team works with leading academics and research suppliers to conduct primary and secondary research on issues of importance for the arts.
Current projects
Longitudinal study of young and emerging artists
Aim: A four year tracking study, starting in 2010, of young and emerging artists looking at the key factors that influence the development of their careers.
Outcome: Improved understanding of the role that arts grants play in the careers of emerging artists.
- For more information, see the Arts RiPPA entry for this project
Community relevance
Aim: Demonstrate the relevance of the performing arts to today's communities.
Outcome: Practical tools to support arts organisations to reflect on their connections with communities, and consider how they can engage with communities in new ways.
- For more information, head to the Community relevance section of Hot Topics
Completed projects
Connecting:// arts audiences online
June 2011
Aim: The study published by the Council in 2010, More than Bums on Seats: Australian’s Engagement with the Arts contained the finding that there are a significant number of Australians with positive attitudes towards the arts, but who were not attending as often as their attitude suggested. It also pointed to the growing number of Australians who are using online media to engage with the arts and facilitate their attendance.
This study consists of two parts; an online survey of 2,500 people who attended an art event in the previous year and a review of the online presence of all the regularly funded organisations supported by the Council.
Outcome: Information about how audiences currently engage with arts organisations online, and how they would like to engage in future. Practical tips and tricks to assist arts organisations to apply the research findings.
- For more information, visit Connecting:// arts audiences online or see the Arts RiPPA entry for this project
Artistic vibrancy audience impact survey
May 2011
Aim: To develop and pilot a survey tool that allows companies to explore the intrinsic impact of performances on audiences. The audience impact survey measures impacts such as captivation, emotional resonance, intellectual stimulation, social bonding and aesthetic enrichment.
Outcomes: Arts organisations are equipped to reflect on their audience engagement, and understand the impacts of their work at a deeper level.
- For more information, explore the Artistic Reflection Kit or see the Arts RiPPA entry for this project
More than bums on seats: Australian participation in the arts
March 2010
"More than bums on seats: Australian participation in the arts" study was conducted for the Council's Research & Strategic Analysis section by instinct and reason. It paints a comprehensive picture of how Australians participate in the arts today.
This research will help arts organisations to better understand their audiences and make their art even more accessible. For policy makers, this study identifies the key factors which will impact Australians’ future participation in the arts. It also identifies barriers and incentives which impact participation.
This research aims to provide insights into the attitudes and values that influence our creative participation (where we make something ourselves) and our receptive participation (when we attend a live event, an exhibition or read literature).
Artist careers
August 2010
Two pieces of research commissioned by the Australia Council for the Arts offer a comprehensive picture of the working lives of Australian artists.
Do you really expect to get paid? An economic study of professional artists in Australia (‘the artist survey’). This study is the fifth in a series commissioned by the Australia Council and conducted independently by Professor David Throsby from Macquarie University. Anita Zednik was the co-author of this study.
What’s your other job? A census analysis of arts employment in Australia (‘the census study’) analyses data from the past three Australian Population Censuses. This study was undertaken by Peter Higgs of the Centre for Creative Industries and Innovation at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) under the leadership of Professor Stuart Cunningham.
Arts and creative industries
March 2011
The report, funded by the Australia Council for the Arts and prepared by Professor Justin O’Connor of the Creative Industries Faculty at Queensland University of Technology, looks at ways in which the policy relationship between these often polarised sectors of arts and creative industries might be re-thought and approached more productively.
The report is in two parts, commencing with An Australian conversation, in which Professor O’Connor, with Stuart Cunningham and Luke Jaaniste, document a series of in depth interviews with 18 leading practitioners across the creative industries. They discuss their perceptions of the similarities, differences and connections between the arts and creative industries. The interviews frequently returned to the fundamental question of what was meant by ‘art’ and ‘creative industries’.
The second, larger part of Arts and creative industries, addresses this question through an extensive review of the discussions of art and its relation to society and culture over the last few centuries. A historical overview highlights the importance that art has had in developing our comprehension of the modern world. It also examines the enthusiasm for the creative industries over the last 15 years or so and the impact this has had on creative policy-making.
Arts and creative industries suggests there is no dividing line between publicly-funded arts, popular culture and the blossoming businesses of the creative sector – and national policy should reflect this.
This study was commissioned by the Australia Council as part of a long-running and productive relationship between the council and the ARC Centre of Excellence on Creative Industries and Innovation at the Queensland University of Technology.
Arts and business: partnerships that work
July 2010
A joint research project of the Australia Council for the Arts and the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) provides a 2010 update on arts partnerships and the corporate processes behind arts-business relationships.
This qualitative study conducted by Repucom International for the Australia Council and AbaF examines the perceptions and preferences of partnership decision-makers at 36 businesses around Australia. It includes both businesses that currently support the arts and businesses that support other sectors.
Artistic vibrancy resources
December 2009
The Australia Council for the Arts has become one of the world’s first funding agencies to tackle the issue of how to measure the artistic vibrancy of the companies it funds.
The research team has an ongoing program of work around artistic vibrancy. There are a suite of published resources on meaningful ways to evaluate artistic impact, which go beyond box ticking. These include:
- Defining artistic vibrancy: a discussion paper
- 'Tell me honestly…': good practice case studies of artistic self-assessment in performing arts organisations
- Artistic Reflection Kit: a guide to assist organisations to reflect on artistic vibrancy
- Meaningful measurement: a review of the literature about measuring artistic vibrancy.
A case for literature: the effectiveness of subsidies to Australian publishers 1995-2005
October 2010
The research project sought to establish the extent to which the Literature Board’s publishing subsidy program has been effective in maintaining quality and creating value in its support of the publication of Australian literary titles.
It assessed the contribution that the publishing subsidy program made, in the period 1995-2005, to Australian literary culture, in its support of particular genres, its assistance to the publication of individual titles and its role in establishing and maintaining the literary careers and reputations of Australian authors. The research undertaken combined the methodologies of interview, case study and statistical analysis.
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