4147.4.55.001 - Culture and Recreation News, Jun 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 04/08/2000   
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Other activities

i) In April 2000 the ABS conducted a survey on children's participation in culture and leisure activities. The survey, which targeted children aged 5 to 14 years, requested details of sports undertaken outside of school hours particularly when they had been organised by schools, clubs or associations. Details were also obtained on children's involvement in other activities such as learning a musical instrument or taking singing or dancing lessons and their use of information technology. The data is currently being analysed. A publication which highlights the results of this survey will be released in December 2000.

ii) A questionnaire is currently being developed for the supplement to the April 2001 Monthly Population Survey which will capture information on people's involvement in culture and leisure activities. In particular, the survey will determine the number of people undertaking paid and unpaid work in organised sport, organised recreational physical activities and selected cultural activities in the 12 months prior to being interviewed. Data from this survey are expected to be available in November 2001.

iii) As part of its Service Industries Survey (SIS) program, the ABS will be conducting a series of surveys of cultural industries in August/September. The surveys will collect information on the activity of selected businesses including their employment, income and expenditure. Cultural industries targeted include: film and video production and distribution, motion picture exhibition, public libraries, museums, art galleries, botanic gardens, music and theatre production, performing arts venues and festivals.

iv) In 2001 the SIS program will collect data on sport and recreation industries. Preliminary planning is taking place and it is expected that over the course of the next few months industry consultation will occur to ensure the data to be collected are available and relevant.

v) The NCCRS is currently developing a questionnaire for a survey of book publishers to be conducted from September 2000 (with data available in 2001). The survey will collect data in respect of 1999-2000. Data include the value and volume of sales, expenditure and employment in the book publishing industry. Development of a complementary survey of book retailers is expected to follow.

vi) Work is continuing on updating the National Sport and Recreation Industry Database and Directory (NSRIDD). The latest CD ROM was released in March. NSRIDD is provided to each member of RSISG, and may be accessed by contacting the NSRIDD officer in each State or Territory Government office responsible for sport and recreation policy. More information and contact details may be found at:www.disr.gov.au/sport_tourism/SportRecreation/nsridd.html.