Museums

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    NAME OF ORGANISATION
    Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

    OVERVIEW
    The Museums survey is an ad hoc survey that provides financial and activity type information. The scope of the survey for the 2003-04 collection includes all Museum operations that are:

      1. open to the general public; and
      2. collect, acquire, research, conserve, communicate and exhibit material evidence of people, their culture and environment for the purposes of study, education and enjoyment.

    PURPOSE
    The main purpose of this survey is to provide data in response to user needs for size and structure information (mainly financial), as well as selected activity measures of interest to external clients. Data for museums will also provide input into the Tourism Satellite account.

    ABS data on Cultural services is viewed as crucial in informing industry and government, particularly in relation to quantifying museum issues to government.

    The main external user of this data is the Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA). Other external users include industry bodies such as Museums Australia and the Council of Australian State Libraries.

    There are three broad DCITA requirements linked to policy:
      a) activity data on the number, nature and characteristics of artefacts (eg display, preservation),
      b) income profile of museums,
      c) value of artefact acquisitions by broad source.


    Internal clients include the NCCRS in Adelaide and National Accounts Branch (NAB). The NCCRS has been consulted as it has a strong understanding of the cultural issues needing to be addressed through links to major users and as a member of the Cultural Minister's Council Statistics Working Group (CMCSWG). NAB require sources of income for input into the Tourism Satellite Account.


    SCOPE
    The scope of the Museums survey was museum operations which: own a museum collection; and are open to the public during the reporting period.

    Botanic Gardens, Herbariums, Zoos, Aquariums, Observatories and Planetariums, and Science Centres were excluded from the scope of this collection.

    Public Libraries were in scope, however, they were excluded from selections for this survey. Public Libraries data for 2003-04 reference period was released in a separate publication - Public Libraries (ABS cat. 8561.0) on 29/04/05.

    DATA DETAIL

    Conceptual framework
    not applicable

    Main outputs
    Results from the survey will be published in catalogue 8565.0. The publication will contain the following tables at the national level, together with summary data at the state level:

      • Key Figures
      • sources of income
      • items of expenditure
      • characteristics of employment
      • state and territory comparisons
      • selected activity data
    Classifications

    Other concepts (summary)

      not applicable

    GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
    Australia
    New South Wales
    Victoria
    Queensland
    South Australia
    Western Australia
    Tasmania
    Northern Territory
    ACT

    Comments and/or Other Regions


    COLLECTION FREQUENCY
    Adhoc

    Frequency comments

    This is an Ad hoc survey. Any repeat will depend on other user demands from key government departments and user bodies for Service Industry Statistics.

    COLLECTION HISTORY
    Collection previously conducted in respect of 1996-1997, 1997-1998 (NCRRS - Adel.), and 1999-2000

    DATA AVAILABILITY
    Yes

    Data availability comments



    DATE OF LAST UPDATE FOR THIS DOCUMENT
    27/09/2005 12:48 PM