Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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Government funding

Total government funding for heritage and arts activities was $4,933.1m in 2002-03. Of this, the Australian Government contributed $1,670.5m (34%), state and territory governments contributed $2,238.1m (45%) and local governments provided $1,024.5m (21%).

Total government funding for heritage and arts activities, facilities and services increased by $250.1m (5%) in 2002-03. The higher funding was mainly from local governments which increased their contribution by $182.6m (22%) compared with the previous year. Funding by the Australian Government, and state and territory governments also increased, by $50.1m (3.1%) and $17.4m (0.8%) respectively. A similar 5% ($237.1m) increase in overall government funding was reported between 2000-01 and 2001-02 (table 12.15).

12.15 GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR HERITAGE AND ARTS, By level of government
		2000-01	2001-02	2002-03
Category of funding		$m	$m	$m
Australian
	Heritage	502.3	471.1	461.1
	Arts	1,146.6	1,149.3	1,209.4
	Total	1,648.9	1,620.4	1,670.5
State and territory
	Heritage	1,632.0	1,806.6	1,891.3
	Arts	292.6	414.0	346.9
	Total	1,924.6	2,220.7	2,238.1
Local		872.4	841.9	1,024.5
Total		4,445.9	4,683.0	4,933.1
Source: Cultural Funding by Government, Australia, 2002-03 (4183.0).

In 2002-03 total funding of over $1b was allocated to both nature parks and reserves ($1,071.5m) and broadcasting and film activities ($1,065.6m) by the Australian, state and territory governments. The other major recipients of government funding from Australian, and state and territory governments were 'other museums' (which consists of museums other than art museums) ($490.9m), and libraries and archives ($471.2m) (table 12.16). It is not possible to determine the contribution of local governments to these activities as comprehensive funding details for local governments are not available for 2002-03.

Local governments are significant providers of library services to the community. For 2000-01, when more details of local government funding were available, libraries and archives received more than half of the heritage and arts funding provided by local governments ($458.7m out of a total of $872.4m). This was 55% of the total funding provided to libraries and archives by all three levels of government.

12.16 GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR HERITAGE AND ARTS - 2002-03
		Level of government
		Australian	State and territory	Local
Category of funding		$m	$m	$m
Heritage
	Art museums	52.0	144.2	n.a.
	Other museums	204.6	286.3	n.a.
	Nature parks and reserves	83.7	987.8	n.a.
	Zoological parks, aquaria and botanic gardens	7.9	114.6	n.a.
	Libraries and archives	112.8	358.4	n.a.
	Total	461.1	1,891.3	n.a.
Arts
	Literature and print media	25.4	4.3	n.a.
	Performing arts	99.9	72.6	n.a.
	Performing arts venues	0.5	91.3	n.a.
	Visual arts and crafts	13.2	13.3	n.a.
	Broadcasting and film	979.6	86.0	n.a.
	Community cultural centres and activities	13.4	15.4	n.a.
	Administration of culture	37.8	24.3	n.a.
	Other arts n.e.c.	39.5	39.7	n.a.
	Total	1,209.4	346.9	n.a.
Total		1,670.5	2,238.1	1,024.5
Source: Cultural Funding by Government, Australia, 2002-03 (4183.0).

Business funding

The ABS conducted the Business Generosity Survey in respect of 2000-01. During that period businesses gave $1,447m to organisations or individuals, of which 'arts and culture activities' (namely the performing arts; the creative arts; museum, art gallery and library activities; and zoological or botanical parks and gardens operation) received $70m. This comprised $40m of sponsorship, $23m of donations and over $6m of 'business to community projects' funding. Sport and recreation activities received 43% of the total given by businesses to organisations or individuals. For additional information see Funding for sport and recreation. Other activities covered by the survey were community service and welfare, health, education and training, and environmental activities.

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