CULTURAL PARTICIPATION

This report uses data from the first Cultural Participation survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to present an overview of people aged 15 years and over living in Western Australia and their interaction with the cultural sector via participation in a selection of cultural activities.

Conducted in respect of the 2010-11 year as part of the ABS Multipurpose Household Survey (MPHS), the survey collected data from individuals about their participation in fourteen selected cultural activities in the 12 months prior to interview. Broadly speaking, the list of cultural activities included performing arts, singing or playing a musical instrument, dancing, writing, visual art activities and craft activities. More detail regarding the types of cultural activities included in the survey can be found in the Glossary of the publication listed below. Information was also collected about the characteristics of participants, the number of selected cultural activities in which people participated and whether payments were received for their involvement.

The data contained in this report, including additional demographic data pertaining to cultural participation in Western Australia, is available in the data cubes attached to Participation in Selected Cultural Activities, Australia, 2010–11 (cat. no. 4921.0) on the ABS website.


PARTICIPATION IN SELECTED CULTURAL ACTIVITIES BY ACTIVITY TYPE

More than a quarter (26% or 459,600 people) of the population aged 15 years and over living in Western Australia participated in at least one cultural activity in the 12 months prior to interview. The rate of participation in Western Australia is consistent with the national rate.

The majority of participants (267,900 people or 58%) participated in one activity while 102,600 people (22%) participated in two activities and only 44,400 people (10%) participated in three activities.

With participation rate of 9%, textile crafts, jewellery making, paper crafts or wood crafts was the most popular activity in Western Australia attracting 156,400 participants. By comparison, 8% participated in sculpting, painting, drawing or cartooning (including digital pieces), whilst 5% were involved in singing and playing a musical instrument and photography, film-making or editing (apart from recording personal events).

Rates of participation in Western Australia were similar to those at the national levels across the majority of cultural activities.
 

CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPANTS

Age and sex

In Western Australia, people aged 15-24 years (31%) were more likely to have participated in cultural activities in the 12 months prior to interview, than those aged 35-44 years (23%), 55-64 years (23%) and 65 years and over (22%). There was not enough evidence to suggest that the differences between the participation rates of those in other age groups are statistically significant.

Overall, women had a higher participation rate (30%) than men (21%) with the survey results showing that women were more likely to participate in cultural activities at a higher rate than men across all age groups. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the differences between the participation rates of women and men aged 15-24 years, 25-34 years and 35-44 years are statistically significant.



Country of birth and area of usual residence

The participation rate for people who were born in Australia (26%) was similar to that of those born overseas (25%). However, people born in main English speaking countries (29%) had a higher rate of participation in cultural activities than those born in other than main English speaking countries (20%). For a list of main English speaking countries please refer to the Glossary of the publication listed at the beginning of this report.

Although people residing in the capital city of Perth participated in cultural activities at a slightly higher rate (26%) than that of residents living in elsewhere in the state (24%), there is not enough evidence to conclude that the difference in the rates is statistically significant.

Labour Force Status

Of the 1.2 million people employed in Western Australia, 25% (309,600 people) participated in a cultural activity. People employed in a part-time capacity had a higher participation rate in cultural activities (29%) than those employed full-time (24%). People who were unemployed had a participation rate of 37% while those not in the labour force had a participation rate in cultural activities of 25%. There is not enough evidence to conclude that the difference in the rates of participation for people who were employed (25%) and those who were unemployed (37%) is statistically significant.

Household composition and income

Survey results show that couples with dependent children (26%) and couple only household (25%) participated in cultural activities at similar rates.

People from households with income in the highest quintile were more likely to participate in cultural activities (28%) than those with income in the lowest quintile (22%). Survey results showed participation generally decreased as income decreased.

Highest educational attainment

People holding a Postgraduate degree (43%) were more likely to participate in cultural activities than those with Certificate III or IV or a high school qualification.

Those who had completed a Bachelor degree had a higher participation rate (32%) in cultural activities compared with those who had completed Certificate III or IV (25%) and those who had attained Year 10 or below (16%).

Whether or not a person had completed high school also had an impact on their cultural participation with those holding a Year 12 qualification (27%) having a higher rate of participation compared with those who had finished high school at a level of Year 10 or below (16%).


CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPANTS

Payment status

An estimated 12% of people in Western Australia who participated in a cultural activity (54,100 people) received some form of payment for their participation.

A higher proportion of men (14%) than women (10%) were paid for their participation.