ATTENDANCE AT SELECTED CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS
In 1991, the ABS conducted its first survey on Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events (cat. no. 4114.0). The survey has been repeated several times since then, most recently in 2005-06.
In 2005-06, 65% of adult Australians attended the Cinema at least once in the 12 months before their survey interview, making the Cinema the most popular cultural venue.
Other popular venues included Zoological parks and aquariums (an attendance rate of 36%), Local, state and national libraries (34%) and Botanic gardens (34%).
The survey also included the following cultural events: Popular music concerts, Classical music concerts, Theatre performances, Dance performances, Musicals and operas, and Other performing arts. Of these activities, Popular music concerts had the highest attendance rate, with 25% of Australians aged 15 years or more attending at least one concert in the 12-month period.
1.2 PERSONS ATTENDING SELECTED CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS(a) - 2005-06 |
|
 | Number of people attending | Attendance rate(b) |
| Venue or activity | '000 | % |
|
| Art galleries | 3 630.7 | 22.7 |
| Museums | 3 611.9 | 22.6 |
| Zoological parks and aquariums | 5 699.8 | 35.6 |
| Botanic gardens | 5 390.9 | 33.7 |
| Local, state and national libraries | 5 454.5 | 34.1 |
| Popular music concerts | 4 035.9 | 25.2 |
| Classical music concerts | 1 508.1 | 9.4 |
| Theatre performances | 2 723.2 | 17.0 |
| Dance performances | 1 625.0 | 10.2 |
| Musicals and operas | 2 613.9 | 16.3 |
| Other performing arts | 2 655.0 | 16.6 |
| Cinema | 10 431.4 | 65.2 |
|
| (a) In the 12 months before interview. |
| (b) Number attending as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and over. |
| Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4114.0). |
Characteristics of attendees
Apart from Popular music concerts, a higher proportion of females than males attended each venue or event. The difference was most apparent for Local, state and national libraries (41% of females compared with 27% of males) and Musicals and operas (21% compared with 12%).
1.3 Persons attending selected cultural venues and events(a), By sex
- 2005-06
Attendance patterns at cultural venues and events varied considerably for different age groups.
People aged 15-24 years were those most likely to attend Popular music concerts and the Cinema, while people aged 25-44 years were those most likely to visit Zoological parks and aquariums. By comparison, people aged 45-64 years were those most likely to attend Classical music concerts and Musicals and operas.
1.4 ATTENDANCE RATES(a), By age - 2005-06 |
|
| AGE GROUP (YEARS) |
| 15-17 | 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75 and over | Total |
| % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
ATTENDANCE RATE |
|
| Art galleries | 23.1 | 17.6 | 22.5 | 23.4 | 26.6 | 25.8 | 21.5 | 15.6 | 22.7 |
| Museums | 25.2 | 15.7 | 23.6 | 27.2 | 25.1 | 24.9 | 19.2 | 11.0 | 22.6 |
| Zoological parks and aquariums | 42.0 | 35.4 | 46.5 | 46.0 | 32.0 | 31.0 | 22.7 | 11.0 | 35.6 |
| Botanic gardens | 21.0 | 28.7 | 37.6 | 35.9 | 35.2 | 37.4 | 34.9 | 23.5 | 33.7 |
| Local, state and national libraries | 45.8 | 33.9 | 32.7 | 37.3 | 33.6 | 30.3 | 33.6 | 29.9 | 34.1 |
| Popular music concerts | 31.2 | 40.0 | 30.9 | 25.1 | 26.5 | 18.7 | 12.9 | 6.5 | 25.2 |
| Classical music concerts | 6.4 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 12.4 | 12.8 | 11.8 | 9.6 | 9.4 |
| Theatre performances | 24.5 | 15.8 | 15.4 | 15.5 | 20.3 | 20.1 | 16.8 | 7.6 | 17.0 |
| Dance performances | 18.9 | 8.2 | 9.4 | 12.3 | 12.8 | 8.5 | 6.7 | 4.3 | 10.2 |
| Musicals and operas | 18.1 | 13.7 | 13.6 | 17.0 | 19.0 | 19.9 | 16.0 | 11.5 | 16.3 |
| Other performing arts | 20.0 | 16.1 | 19.0 | 19.3 | 17.3 | 15.9 | 11.7 | 7.1 | 16.6 |
| Cinema | 93.1 | 84.5 | 75.7 | 68.6 | 62.7 | 55.6 | 44.8 | 26.7 | 65.2 |
|
| (a) Number attending in the 12 months before interview as a percentage of the population in the relevant age group. |
| Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4114.0). |
Frequency of attendance
Some venues and events were more likely to attract repeat visitors than others. More than two-thirds (71%) of Local, state and national library attendees reported visiting at least five times during the 12-month period before being interviewed. Similarly, Cinemas were popular with over half (54%) the patrons having attended at least five times in 12 months.
The venues or events where the majority of people attending had been only once in the 12-month period were Other performing arts, Musicals and operas, Dance performances and Museums.
1.5 FREQUENCY OF ATTENDANCE AT CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS - 2005-06 |
|
| FREQUENCY OF ATTENDANCE(a) | | |
| Once only | 2-4 times | 5 times or more | Total |
| % | % | % | % | '000 |
|
| Art galleries | 36.5 | 46.1 | *17.3 | 100.0 | 3 630.7 |
| Museums | 50.4 | 38.9 | **10.6 | 100.0 | 3 611.9 |
| Zoological parks and aquariums | 47.9 | 43.4 | **8.7 | 100.0 | 5 699.8 |
| Botanic gardens | 37.7 | 45.1 | *17.1 | 100.0 | 5 390.9 |
| Local, state and national libraries | 4.9 | 24.1 | 71.0 | 100.0 | 5 454.5 |
| Popular music concerts | 34.7 | 46.8 | *18.5 | 100.0 | 4 035.9 |
| Classical music concerts | 42.1 | *42.0 | **15.8 | 100.0 | 1 508.1 |
| Theatre performances | 46.6 | 41.9 | **11.5 | 100.0 | 2 723.2 |
| Dance performances | 54.4 | *37.0 | **8.6 | 100.0 | 1 625.0 |
| Musicals and operas | 54.6 | 39.0 | **6.3 | 100.0 | 2 613.9 |
| Other performing arts | 63.8 | *29.4 | **6.9 | 100.0 | 2 655.0 |
| Cinema | 9.5 | 36.4 | 54.1 | 100.0 | 10 431.4 |
|
| * 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). |
Table 1.6 shows attendance rates recorded in 2005-06, compared with attendance rates from previous ABS surveys conducted in 1995 and 1999. Attendance rates in 2005-06 were similar to the earlier years. It is important to note that some changes in survey collection methods have occurred across the years and this may affect the validity of comparisons.
1.6 ATTENDANCE AT SELECTED CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS(a) - 1995, 1999 and 2005-06 |
|
| 1995 | 1999 | 2005-06 |
ATTENDANCE RATE (%) |
|
| Art galleries | 22.3 | 21.2 | 22.7 |
| Museums | 27.8 | 19.9 | 22.6 |
| Zoological parks and aquariums | 35.3 | 33.9 | 35.6 |
| Botanic gardens | 38.5 | 36.1 | 33.7 |
| Local, state and national libraries | 38.4 | 38.1 | 34.1 |
| Popular music concerts | 26.9 | 25.4 | 25.2 |
| Classical music concerts | 7.7 | 8.8 | 9.4 |
| Theatre performances | 16.6 | 16.5 | 17.0 |
| Dance performances | 10.0 | 9.0 | 10.2 |
| Musicals and operas | 19.3 | 16.3 | 16.3 |
| Other performing arts | 18.7 | 17.8 | 16.6 |
| Cinema | 62.1 | 67.0 | 65.2 |
|
| (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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