Overview

The Arts and Cultural Profile gives us insights into the financial and demographic characteristics of the arts and cultural sector in Australia.

The Giving Attitude 2.5 survey results indicated that 70% of arts and cultural organisations in Australia have a turnover of less than $250,000. Of the organisations that participated in the survey, 26.5% of organisations are based in New South Wales and 21.1% in Victoria which reflects the concentration of the sector in these states.

 

Arts and cultural organisations are multidisciplinary, with 59% having secondary art forms in addition to their primary art form. There are also more organisations reporting that they have paid staff, 54% compared to 53% in Giving Attitude 2.

 

For Giving Attitude 2.5, 39% of the sample that completed the full survey reported on calendar year 2020 while 61% reported on financial year 2020/21. Both years had pandemic-related effects on arts and cultural organisations, albeit to varying extents.

Image: Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Comedy Kiki 2020. Photo: Zoë Coombs Marr.

70% of organisations have a turnover of less than $250,000

Of these 44% are micro-organisations with turnover that is less than $50,000, and 26% are small organisations with turnover between $50,000 and $249,000.

Size of arts and cultural organisations based on income

A comparison of the ACNC’s Annual Information (AIS) for 2017 and 2019 shows no significant changes in the turnover composition of the industry for organisations whose main activity was either cultural or artistic.

Organisation size

Image: A Monkey Baa Theatre Company Production, EDWARD THE EMU. Photo: Lisa Maree Williams.

  • 26.5 %

    of organisations are based in New South Wales

  • 21.1 %

    of organisations are based in Victoria

  • 9.4 %

    of organisations are based in Tasmania, ACT, and Northern Territory combined

Primary cultural area or art form activities undertaken

The dominant primary cultural area or art form activity in the sample is the performing arts (61%), followed by visual arts (31%), and Museums and Galleries (23%).

Primary focus of organisation

Image: Tarnanthi and Vitalstatistix, APRON-SORROW / SOVEREIGN-TEA. Photo: Sam Roberts Photography.

  • 23 %

    are singular artform (only one cultural area or art form)

  • 59 %

    have a primary artform, and additional cultural or art form activities

  • 18 %

    are cross-artform (more than one primary cultural area or art form)

Years in Operation

The sample shows that majority of arts and cultural organisations have been operating for over 10 years (73%).

Number of years organisation has been in operation

Ten Days on the Island_Agrarian Kitchen Long Lunch, Festival 2021.photo by Jacob Collings

54% of organisations have paid staff

There are more organisations reporting that they have paid staff, 54% compared to 53% in Giving Attitude 2 and 38% in Giving Attitude 1.

Board type

The sample shows that Giving Attitude 2.5 captured a trend in unpaid board type structures.

Is organisation board paid or unpaid

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations

Since Giving Attitude 2 there was a 4% decrease in Aboriginal and Torress Strait Island organisations participating in the survey.

Is organisation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Private sector support comprises 20% of turnover for large organisations

Giving Attitude 2.5 found that the larger the arts and cultural organisation, the more private sector support they received.

Income Analysis

A financial breakdown of private sector support for the arts and cultural sector for the 2020 calendar year and 2020/ 2021 financial year.

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Explore Giving Attitude data

Explore the data from Giving Attitude 2.5 to compare across surveys, analyse trends, and share your insights using our interactive Giving Attitude dashboard.

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Take Giving Attitude offline

Read a detailed presentation and analysis of the survey results by downloading the Giving Attitude 2.5 PDF Report.

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