4172.0 - Arts and Culture in Australia: A Statistical Overview, 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/10/2009   
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Contents >> Performing Arts >> ATTENDANCE

ATTENDANCE

According to the ABS survey of Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events 2005-06, 50% of the population aged 15 years and over attended at least one type of performing arts performance in the 12 month period prior to interview in 2005-06. One quarter (25%) of the population had attended Popular music concerts, while under one-fifth had seen Theatre performances (17%) and Musicals and operas (16%).

12.1 ATTENDANCE RATES FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS(a) - 2005-06
Graph: 12.1 Attendance rates for the performing arts(a)—2005–06


The attendance rates for females exceeded those of males for most events, apart from popular music concerts where there was no significant difference. For most events, attendance was correlated with age. The best example of this is Popular music concerts, where attendance peaked with the 18-24 year age group (40%) and dropped almost progressively with each older age group, to less than 7% for those aged 75 years and over. Conversely, the highest attendance rates for Classical music concerts were in the 55-64 year and 45-54 year age groups with 13% and 12% respectively.

12.2 ATTENDANCE AT PERFORMING ARTS VENUES AND EVENTS(a), By selected characteristics - 2005-06

Classical music concerts
Popular music concerts
Theatre performances
Dance performances
Musicals and operas
Other performing arts

NUMBER ('000)

Males
643.8
1 955.1
1 033.1
546.5
944.7
1 166.1
Females
864.3
2 080.8
1 690.1
1 078.5
1 669.2
1 488.8
15-17 years
52.0
255.1
200.3
154.2
148.1
163.4
18-24 years
116.7
774.8
306.4
159.4
266.3
312.8
25-34 years
193.4
860.2
428.1
262.1
378.1
529.3
35-44 years
244.7
742.0
459.7
362.9
502.1
572.2
45-54 years
345.3
737.8
565.3
355.8
527.1
482.2
55-64 years
284.8
413.7
445.2
188.8
440.7
353.1
65-74 years
163.1
179.4
232.7
93.4
221.7
162.1
75 years and over
108.1
72.9
85.4
48.3
130.0
79.9
Six state capital cities
1 067.9
2 591.5
1 797.4
1 031.4
1 845.9
1 724.9
Rest of Australia
440.1
1 444.4
925.8
593.5
768.0
930.1
NSW
518.8
1 280.2
904.3
584.9
890.3
822.4
Vic.
373.1
949.3
721.7
400.0
740.7
670.8
Qld
251.4
794.1
467.3
269.5
475.9
505.3
SA
118.6
321.2
215.7
137.0
159.4
250.7
WA
168.2
479.9
261.6
152.1
230.4
274.7
Tas.
35.4
92.0
74.3
28.8
58.5
64.5
NT
*8.8
32.8
13.5
*10.7
10.4
16.4
ACT
33.7
86.3
64.8
42.1
48.4
50.0
Total
1 508.1
4 035.9
2 723.2
1 625.0
2 613.9
2 655.0

ATTENDANCE RATE (%)

Males
8.2
24.8
13.1
6.9
12.0
14.8
Females
10.6
25.6
20.8
13.3
20.6
18.3
15-17 years
6.4
31.2
24.5
18.9
18.1
20.0
18-24 years
6.0
40.0
15.8
8.2
13.7
16.1
25-34 years
7.0
30.9
15.4
9.4
13.6
19.0
35-44 years
8.3
25.1
15.5
12.3
17.0
19.3
45-54 years
12.4
26.5
20.3
12.8
19.0
17.3
55-64 years
12.8
18.7
20.1
8.5
19.9
15.9
65-74 years
11.8
12.9
16.8
6.7
16.0
11.7
75 years and over
9.6
6.5
7.6
4.3
11.5
7.1
Six state capital cities
10.6
25.8
17.9
10.3
18.4
17.2
Rest of Australia
7.4
24.2
15.5
10.0
12.9
15.6
NSW
9.7
23.9
16.9
10.9
16.6
15.3
Vic.
9.3
23.6
17.9
9.9
18.4
16.7
Qld
8.2
25.8
15.2
8.7
15.4
16.4
SA
9.7
26.2
17.6
11.2
13.0
20.5
WA
10.8
30.8
16.8
9.7
14.8
17.6
Tas.
9.3
24.1
19.5
7.5
15.3
16.9
NT
*7.9
29.5
12.1
*9.6
9.4
14.8
ACT
13.3
34.1
25.5
16.6
19.1
19.7
Total
9.4
25.2
17.0
10.2
16.3
16.6

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
(a) In the 12 months before interview.
Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4114.0).


Popular music concerts and Classical music concerts were the events most likely to attract multiple visits within a 12 month period (65% and 58% respectively). More than a third (39%) of people attended Popular music concerts more than twice in a 12 month period. During the same time period, 34% attended Classical music concerts more than twice. Popular music concerts attracted 26% of people more than 3 times in a 12 month period, while Classical music concerts attracted 22% (more than 3 times in the same period).

12.3 FREQUENCY OF ATTENDANCE AT PERFORMING ARTS VENUES AND EVENTS(a) - 2005-06

Classical music concerts
Popular music concerts
Theatre performances
Dance performances
Musicals and operas
Other performing arts

NUMBER ('000)

Once
634.3
1 399.5
1 269.3
883.6
1 428.3
1 692.8
Twice
357.5
1 051.7
730.0
401.4
647.5
524.0
3 times
181.3
528.6
267.1
121.6
256.5
183.1
4 times
95.4
308.6
143.8
78.5
115.5
73.3
5 times
56.0
195.3
80.7
40.3
65.5
46.6
6-10 times
119.4
338.5
171.2
57.2
80.2
93.7
11 times or more
**64.1
213.8
*61.2
**42.4
**20.4
*41.4
Total
1 508.1
4 035.9
2 723.2
1 625.0
2 613.9
2 655.0

ATTENDANCE RATE (%)

Once
42.1
34.7
46.6
54.4
54.6
63.8
Twice
23.7
26.1
26.8
24.7
24.8
19.7
3 times
12.0
13.1
9.8
7.5
9.8
6.9
4 times
6.3
7.6
5.3
4.8
4.4
2.8
5 times
3.7
4.8
3.0
2.5
2.5
1.8
6-10 times
7.9
8.4
6.3
3.5
3.1
3.5
11 times or more
**4.2
5.3
*2.2
**2.6
**0.7
*1.6
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use
(a) In the 12 months before interview.
Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4114.0).








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