Festivals (Performing Arts)

NAME OF ORGANISATION
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

OVERVIEW
The Festivals (Performing Arts) survey is an adhoc survey which collects financial, employment and some activity information about all organisations identified as part of the performing arts festivals population. The population is sourced from listings of performing arts festivals compiled by Commonwealth and State government agencies, festival associations and websites.

PURPOSE
The collection was undertaken in response to external user requirements for financial information and activity information about the festivals component of the performing arts sector, in order to understand their size and structure and their contribution to the Australian economy. The collection also examines how funds are generated and utilised, and other selected activity data of interest to external clients. The collection serves to inform key users and government in relation to measuring performance, facilitating comparisons and tracking the growth resulting from government funding initiatives.


SCOPE
Due to the small and variable nature of the population the collection is a national census of performing arts festivals with a predominant or significant performing arts component.

The survey scope included festivals:
a) with a predominant or significant performing arts focus (ie mainly music, dance or drama based); and
b) were open to the general public; and
c) operated for a duration of greater than 2 consecutive days.

Extensive consultation with major users has been undertaken to develop the scope of the collection.


DATA DETAIL

Conceptual framework

Main outputs
For Performing Arts Fetsivals the following tables will be released at the national level together with summary data at the state level:

• summary of operations by type of festival
• sources of income
• items of expenditure
• characteristics of employment
• states and territories comparisons
• summary of operations by duration of festivals (including performances and attendances)

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
Not applicable

COLLECTION FREQUENCY
Adhoc

Frequency comments
Collection is irregular and will be run approximately 3 yearly (subject to review)

COLLECTION HISTORY
The Performing arts festivals survey was previously conducted as a component of the Performing Arts Surveys and is a subset of the Cultural Industries Surveys (Collection ID 465). The Performing arts festivals survey was first conducted in 1999-2000 financial year. Results from that collection can also be found in Cat. No. 8697.0 - Performing Arts Industries, Australia.

The Performing Arts publication for 2002-03 will comprise results from the Performing Arts Festivals survey and the Music and Theatre Production survey. Contrary to previous years collections, the collections in 2002-03 will not include the Performing arts venues industry (ANZSIC Class 9252) or the Services to the arts industry (ANZSIC 9259).

DATA AVAILABILITY
Yes