Government funding for cultural activites

In the 2007-08 financial year, the three tiers of government in Australia provided over $6.3 billion for cultural activities.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the following is the breakdown by level of government:

  • Australian Government - $2.3 billion or 37 per cent
  • State and territory governments - $2.9 billion or 46 per cent
  • Local government authorities - $1.0 billion or 15 per cent.

Cultural funding by category and level of government, 2007-08

Level of government and category

Funding 2007–08 ($m)

Percentage of total

2007–08 (%)

Australian Government



Heritage

570.7

9.0

Arts

1,788.2

28.3

Total

2,358.9

37.4

State and territory governments



Heritage

2,263.3

35.9

Arts

685.8

10.9

Total

2,952.2

46.8

Local government authorities

 

1,000.3

 

15.8

Total

6,311.4

100.0

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cultural Funding by Government 2007–08.


Australian and state and territory government cultural funding by category, 2006-07

Category

Australian Government

2006–07 ($m)

State and territory governments

2006–07 ($m)

Heritage

Art museums

 47.2

 187.4

Other museums

 209.5

 310.7

Nature parks and reserves

 74.6

1,086.8

Zoological parks, aquariums and botanic gardens

 7.3

 141.5

Libraries and archives

 129.8

 385.7

Total heritage

 468.4

2,112.2

Arts

Literature and print media

 25.0

 6.5

Performing arts

Music

 91.9

 74.4

Drama

 15.6

 21.8

Dance

 10.9

 13.2

Music theatre and opera

 -

 16.5

Other performing arts

 5.5

 6.5

Total performing arts

 124.0

 132.4

Performing arts venues

-

 132.0

Visual arts and crafts

 29.3

 26.1

Broadcasting and film

1,168.4

 73.6

Community cultural centres and activities

 15.7

 19.9

Administration of culture

 33.5

 73.5

Other arts n.e.c.

 36.7

 52.7

Total arts

1,432.6

 516.7

Total

1,901.0

2,628.8

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
n.e.c.: Not elsewhere classified.
Source: Cultural Ministers Council Statistics Working Group, Cultural Funding in Australia Three Tiers of Government 2006–07.

Between 2002-03 and 2006-07, funding for culture and heritage by the Australian Government increased by $230.5 million or 13.8 per cent.

Over the same period, funding for culture and heritage by state and territory governments increased by $331.2 million or 14.4 per cent.

In 2006-07, the Australia Council administered $142.8m (7.5%) of Australian Government cultural funding.

 

Source

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cultural Funding by Government 2007-08 (cat. no. 4183.0)

Cultural Ministers Council Statistics Working Group, Cultural Funding in Australia Three Tiers of Government 2006-07.

Links

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Arts and Culture in Australia: A Statistical Overview, 2009 (cat. no. 4172.0).

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Government Finance Statistics, 2007-08 (cat. no. 5512.0).

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Generosity of Australian Businesses, 2000–01 (cat. no. 8157.0).

Australian Business Arts Foundation, Survey of Private Sector Support for the Arts 2009. Summary of Key Findings.

 

Author Australia Council for the Arts
Year 2008
ISBN/ISSN N/A
Hard copy available? No
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