1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/01/2006   
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PERFORMING ARTS

The performing arts include music performances, acting, dance performances, opera and musicals, circuses and puppet shows.

ATTENDANCE AT THE PERFORMING ARTS

Attendance at the performing arts is a significant aspect of the cultural life of many Australians. Table 12.14 shows that, in the 12 months prior to interview in 2002, 26.4% of the Australian population aged 18 years and over (3.8 million people) attended at least one popular music concert, 18.7% (2.7 million people) attended at least one musical or opera, and 18.0% (2.6 million people) attended at least one theatre performance. Attendance rates at most of the performing arts were generally similar to or slightly higher than those recorded in a survey conducted in 1999.


12.14 ATTENDANCE AT THE PERFORMING ARTS(a) - 2002

Attendance rate(b)

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

Males
26.6
7.7
8.4
15.1
15.3
19.2
Females
26.2
10.2
13.4
22.1
20.6
21.5
Persons
26.4
9.0
10.9
18.7
18.0
20.4
Age group (years)
18-24
43.8
6.3
10.5
16.0
19.8
23.3
25-34
33.2
6.6
10.3
17.9
17.7
24.0
35-44
25.9
8.1
14.0
17.1
19.4
20.9
45-54
24.9
10.9
12.1
21.6
19.9
20.6
55-64
20.3
13.2
10.7
23.2
17.6
19.5
65 and over
10.4
9.7
6.9
16.6
13.0
12.9
Birthplace
Australia
27.8
8.1
10.5
19.8
18.9
20.5
Main English-speaking countries
28.5
11.5
12.6
20.5
21.3
23.5
Other countries
19.5
10.8
11.6
12.7
12.1
17.9

(a) Attendance at least once in the 12 months prior to interview in 2002.
(b) The number of people who attended, expressed as a percentage of the number of people in that population group.

Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia, 2002 (4114.0).

PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRIES

At the end of June 2003 there were 865 businesses mainly involved in music and theatre production (table 12.15). This was an increase of 23% over the number recorded at the end of June 2000. During 2002-03 these businesses put on 53,241 paid performances which attracted 14.2 million paid attendances. The highest numbers of paid attendances were for popular music performances (4.0 million attendances) and musical theatre productions (3.2 million attendances). The total income generated from music and theatre production activities was $622.1m, with box office takings accounting for 53% ($331.6m) of this figure. Government funding provided 22% ($134.4m) of total income. Operating profit before tax for 2002-03 was $46.5m, which was $18.7m more than for 1999-2000. A total of 7,842 persons were employed by music and theatre production businesses at the end of June 2003 and a further 2,548 were volunteers. The number of volunteers was down 16% from the number recorded at the end of June 2000 (3,034).

There were 176 performing arts festivals (of greater than two days duration) conducted during the year ended June 2003. There were 29,707 performances at these festivals - 23,138 paid and 6,569 free - which altogether attracted 7.5 million attendances. Of these, 80% (6.0 million) were free of charge. Performing arts festivals generated $88.5m in income of which 31% ($27.2m) came from ticket sales. The total operating profit was $5.7m. The bulk of the workforce utilised by these festivals consisted of 15,728 volunteers.


12.15 PERFORMING ARTS - 2002-03

Units
Music and
theatre production
Performing
arts festivals(a)

Organisations at the end of June
no.
865
. .
Number of festivals
no.
. .
176
Employment(b)
no.
7,842
1,272
Volunteers(b)
no.
2,548
15,728
Income
Box office takings/ticket sales
$m
331.6
27.2
Government funding
$m
134.4
27.0
Other
$m
156.0
34.3
Total
$m
622.1
88.5
Total expenses
$m
575.6
82.8
Operating profit before tax
$m
46.5
5.7
Operating profit margin
%
10.7
15.6
Productions with:
Paid performances(c)
no.
53,241
23,138
Paid attendances(d)
'000
14,230
1,508

(a) Of greater than 2 days duration.
(b) Measured at the end of June for Music and theatre production, and during the conduct of performing arts festivals.
(c) Productions relate to headline acts only, support acts are excluded. Includes overseas performances. Caution should be exercised in using this data - some music and theatre organisations did not keep records of the number of paid performances (because these were likely to be kept by the venues) and hence could only provide estimates.
(d) Includes overseas attendances.

Source: Performing Arts, Australia, 2002-03 (8697.0).


Information about many of the performing arts companies in Australia is available under the headings 'Music' and 'Performing Arts' in the Australian Government's Culture and Recreation Portal at <http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au>. The Australia Dancing portal, hosted by the NLA, provides an information and directory database relating to dance in Australia and can be accessed at <http://www.australiadancing.org>. Prominent Australian companies, such as Symphony Australia, Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet and Musica Viva publish annual reports on their web sites (see Bibliography) which provide information about employment and attendances.



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