PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVALS
PURPOSE
To collect economic data about the operation of performing arts festivals.
DESCRIPTION
The Performing Arts Festivals collection was conducted by mail-out questionnaire as part of Service Industries Surveys in respect of the financial year 2002-03. Its scope is all festivals with a significant performing arts focus, which are open to the public and are of more than two consecutive days duration. These include festivals operated by organisations which are listed on the ABS business register with ANZSIC Class 9259 Services to the arts n.e.c. because performing arts festival operation is their main activity. The remainder of the survey population is made up of performing arts festivals operated by organisations for which some other activity predominates. The data provided by these organisations are for their festival operations only.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Irregular
DATA ITEMS
Number of festivals
The number of festivals held during the reference period.
Type of festival
Records the main focus of the festival. The types of festival are:
Multi-faceted performing arts
Music and music theatre
Drama
Comedy and dance
Number of persons working
The number of employees and volunteers working for the festival.
Worker status
Indicates whether persons working are employees or volunteers.
Employment category
Records the employment category of employees. The categories are:
Full-time permanent
Part-time permanent
Casual
Workforce period
Records the time period during which persons were working for the festival. The periods are:
The last pay period ending within the reference period (employees only)
The period during which the festival was held
Volunteer hours
The number of hours worked by volunteers during the conduct of the festival.
Income
The items which make up the income of performing arts festivals are:
Income from ticket sales
Income from advertising
Concession income from food, beverage and merchandise outlets
Other rent, leasing and hiring income
Royalties income
Other sales
Other operating income
Fundraising income
Government funding
Interest
Other non-operating income
Government funding
The government funding of performing arts festivals is classified by the level of government:
Federal government
State/Territory government
Local government
Foreign government
Fundraising income
The items which make up the fundraising income of performing arts festivals are:
Financial sponsorships
In-kind sponsorships
Donations
Bequests
Other
Expenses
The items which make up the expenses of performing arts festivals include:
Wages and salaries
Employer contributions to superannuation funds
Workers' compensation costs
Fringe benefits tax
Payroll tax
Contract payments to Australian performing artists and artistic support
Contract payments to overseas performing artists and artistic support
Royalties expenses
Rent, leasing and hiring expenses
Advertising, marketing and promotional expenses
Travelling, accommodation and entertainment expenses
Purchases of goods for resale
Permit fees paid to government authorities
Other expense items
Rent, leasing and hiring expenses
The items which make up the rent, leasing and hiring expenses of performing arts festivals are:
Venue hire
Motor vehicle rental
Hire of staging, sound and other equipment
Other
Number of performances
The number of performances of performing arts productions which were presented during the festival.
Free performance status
Indicates whether performances of performing arts productions were presented free of charge to the general public.
Origin of performing artists status
Indicates whether performances were by Australian or overseas artists.
Type of performing arts performance
Records the category of performing arts to which performances belong. The categories are:
Music
Music theatre (including opera)
Dance
Drama
Comedy
Other
Type of music performance
Records the category of music to which performances belong. The categories are:
Rock and popular
Jazz and blues
Country
Folk
Other (including symphony, chamber, choral)
Number of attendances
The number of attendances at performances of performing arts productions which were presented during the festival.
Attendance status
Indicates whether attendances at performances of performing arts productions were paid or free.
Duration of festival
The number of days over which the performing arts festival was held. Festival durations can be grouped into day ranges such as:
3-4 days
5-7
8-14
15 and more
Geographic area
Data are available for Australia, while some data (including performance and attendance data) are also available for States and Territories.
HISTORICAL DATA
The collection was previously conducted in respect of 1999-2000. However, the data is not comparable with the results of the 2002-03 survey because of significant differences in scope. For further information see paragraphs 23-25 of the Explanatory Notes to the publication for 2002-03.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, Performing Arts Industries, Australia, 2002-03, Cat. no. 8697.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $23.00. Also available for 1999-2000.
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Manager
Service Industries Surveys
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Locked Bag 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Telephone: Canberra 02 6252 5633
Facsimile: Canberra 02 6252 7004
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au