Research and data are fundamental for evidence-based policy development, informed decision-making, effective planning, and the efficient use of resources for service delivery. Research and data are also important for advocacy reasons, in terms of promoting and understanding the value and impact of the arts.
Measuring success
artsACT is working with capital city councils and the Cultural Development Network on an outcome framework to enable measurement of outcomes of cultural engagement. This outcomes framework includes a set of measurable cultural outcomes, as well as outcomes across the social, civic, environmental and economic domains.
These outcomes include:
- Creative expression stimulated:
The degree to which the activity stimulates creative expression among participants and enables them to create work on their own - Aesthetic enrichment experienced:
The degree to which the activity offers participants an aesthetic experience that results in a feeling of having participated in something special and beyond the everyday - New knowledge, ideas and insights gained:
The degree to which the activity is a catalyst for the generation and sharing of different perspectives, new knowledge, ideas and insights - Cultural diversity appreciated:
The degree to which the activity increases appreciation of different forms of cultural expression - Connection to shared heritage experienced:
The degree to which the activity creates a sense of connection or belonging to a shared past, present and future.
You can learn more about this schema by visiting the Cultural Development Network 
website.
Our measures
The following statistics give a brief overview of the ACT arts ecology. Note that data will be added and updated when available.
Participation in and access to the arts
- 492,767 people attended programs delivered by artsACT-funded organisations in 2018 (Source: artsACT SmartyGrants).
- There were 87 targeted programs for people with disability in artsACT-funded organisations in 2018 (Source: artsACT SmartyGrants).
- The ACT has the highest attendance rate at cultural venues and events (92.5%) than any other jurisdiction in Australia (Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events 2017-18, Australian Bureau of Statistics).
- The ACT has the highest cultural participation rate (45%) than any other jurisdiction in Australia (Source: Participation in Selected Cultural Activities 2017-18, Australian Bureau of Statistics).
Great art and great artists
- 14 artsACT-funded arts activities were presented nationally and three artsACT-funded arts activities were presented internationally in 2015 (Source: artsACT SmartyGrants).
- Nearly 243,000 international tourists visited the ACT in 2017, 69% of those were international arts tourists (Source: International Arts Tourism, Australia Council for the Arts).
- Arts and culture is the biggest driver of visitation to the ACT (Source: Visitor Perceptions of the ACT, Tourism Research Australia and Visit Canberra contracted BDA Marketing Planning, 2014).
Vitality of the Canberra Region arts ecology
- There were 37 full-time staff, 104 part-time staff and 332 casual employees at artsACT-funded organisations in 2018 (Source: artsACT SmartyGrants).
- There were 770 volunteers at artsACT-funded organisations, who worked for 38,618 hours in 2018 (Source: artsACT SmartyGrants).
- artsACT-funded organisations produced 525 new works in 2018 (Source: artsACT SmartyGrants).
- In 2018, the ACT live performance industry generated total revenue of $27,848,747 through ticket sales (up 12% from 2017) and issued 405,899 tickets (up 13% from 2017) (Source: Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey, Live Performance Australia).
- There were 11,864 persons employed in the cultural and creative sector as their main job in the ACT in 2016 (Source: Census, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016).
- As of June 2018, the ACT had nearly 2,862 active businesses in the cultural industries (Source: Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits June 2018, Australian Bureau of Statistics).
- Canberrans spend approximately $71 per week on arts and culture, which is a higher per capita level than other capital cities (Source: Household Expenditure Survey 2015-16, Australian Bureau of Statistics).
Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures
- There were 33 targeted programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in artsACT-funded organisations in 2018 (Source: artsACT SmartyGrants).
- 87% of ACT residents believe that First Nations arts are an important part of Australia’s culture (Source: National Arts Participation Survey 2016, Australia Council for the Arts).
- There were 118 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons employed in cultural and creative industries for their main job in the ACT in 2016 (Source: Census, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016).
- More than half (68.2%) of Indigenous people living in the ACT are involved in selected cultural events, ceremonies or organisations (Source: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2014-15, Australian Bureau of Statistics).
Australia Council's National Arts Participation Survey
The ACT findings are below. The full reports are available on the Australia Council for the Arts website
Impacts of the arts
More Australians now recognise the many positive impacts the arts have on our daily lives and in our communities, including on our wellbeing and happiness, and ability to think creatively and develop new ideas.
In 2016, the majority of ACT residents felt the arts have a ‘big’ or ‘very big’ impact on:
- their understanding of other people and cultures; and child development (both 74%)
- stimulating their minds (72%)
- their ability to express themselves (71%)
- their ability to think creatively and develop new ideas (70%)
- their sense of wellbeing and happiness (66%).
Attitudes about the arts
Australians believe that the arts reflect and contribute to society, to identity and to Australia’s international reputation. The arts give life meaning and Australians are proud of their artists.
Almost nine in ten ACT residents agree that:
- First Nations arts are an important part of Australia’s culture (87%)
- the arts make for a richer and more meaningful life (85%).
Around eight in ten ACT residents agree that:
- the arts should be an important part of the education of every Australian (84%)
- artists make an important contribution to Australian society (81%)
- the arts in Australia reflect the diversity of cultures present in Australia (77%)
- the arts are an important way to get different perspectives on a topic or issue (75%).
Around seven in ten ACT residents agree that:
- the arts should receive public funding (71%)
- artists should have total freedom of expression (68%)
- the arts allow them to connect to others (65%).
Giving to the arts
The high value that Australians place on the arts is reflected in the time and money they give to support artists, arts organisations and arts projects.
One in three ACT residents give time or money to the arts (34%).
- In 2016, 17% of ACT residents volunteered for the arts or helped artists or community groups with arts activities;
- 15% donated money;
- 13% joined an arts organisations membership program; and
- 13% donated to a crowdfunding campaign.
The arts and cultural diversity
For the first time in 2016, the National Arts Participation Survey collected data on engagement with the arts as part of Australians’ cultural backgrounds.
One in three ACT residents engage with their cultural background through the arts (31%). In 2016, visual arts and craft was the most common way ACT residents engaged (22%); followed by music or theatre (both 19%); creative writing (10%); and dance (8%).
More Australians are attending First Nations arts across art forms, reflecting the high quality work of First Nations artists and initiatives to build audiences for First Nations arts. One in three ACT residents attend First Nations arts (34%). In 2016, 24% of ACT residents attended First Nations visual arts and craft; 18% attended dance; 17% attended music; 15% attended First Nations storytelling; and 12% attended First Nations theatre.
Data available for the first time shows that the community arts and cultural development (CACD) sector is a leader in the use of the arts to support social cohesion, enabling diverse voices to be heard and connected through creating art. In 2016, 17% of ACT residents were involved in CACD activities that actively engaged community members in decision making and creation of art in collaboration with professional artists.
Arts attendance
Attending arts experiences in person enables Australians to come together as audiences and connect with artists in unmediated ways.
Four in five ACT residents attend the arts (78%). In 2016, almost two thirds of ACT residents attended theatre (63%); more than half attended visual arts (56%) or live music (52%); more than a third attended dance (37%); and one quarter attended literature events (25%).
Data available for the first time show that two in five ACT residents attend arts festivals (39%). In 2016, more than a quarter of ACT residents attended multi-art form festivals (27%) or music festivals (26%); 18% attended theatre or dance festivals; 16% attended visual arts festivals; 10% attended literature festivals; and 9% attended First Nations festivals.
Creative participation in the arts
Despite our busy lives, Australia remains a creative nation.
Almost half of ACT residents creatively participate in the arts (47%). ACT residents are more likely to attend theatre (63%) than other Australians (41%). In 2016, three in ten created visual arts and craft (29%); and around two in ten participated in creative writing (21%), music (16%) or theatre (15%).
Listening and reading
Listening to music and reading are vital, accessible and popular ways that Australians engage with the arts.
Almost all ACT residents intentionally listen to recorded music (98%). In 2016, 92% listened to music they owned; 88% listened via the radio/television; and 77% listened through paid or free online streaming services.
More than nine in ten ACT residents read creative writing (93%). In 2016, 76% of ACT residents read novels; 60% read creative non-fiction; 39% read short stories; 12% read graphic novels or comics; and 12% read poetry.
Online engagement
Across Australia, online engagement with the arts is booming. Online activity is creating new opportunities to collaborate and share, and connecting artists and audiences.
More than four in five ACT residents engage with the arts online (83%). In 2016, 77% listened to music online; 44% researched or reviewed the arts or artists; 30% viewed visual arts, music, dance, theatre or creative writing online; and 9% created, learned to create or sold art online.
More than one in three ACT residents use Facebook to connect with and learn about the arts or artists (36%); 29% use YouTube (29%; and 28% use the website of an artist or arts organisation.
Image: ACT infographic courtesy of the Australia Council.
Australia Council's International Arts Tourism report
Arts experiences play an important and growing role in international tourism to Australia. They engage international visitors with the uniqueness, depth and diversity of Australian culture, support local economies and share Australian stories and perspectives with the world.
This research brings together data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) with additional resources to gain insights into international arts tourism in Australia.
In the ACT during 2017:
- Nearly 243,000 international tourists visited the ACT, and 69% of those were international arts tourists.
- The ACT has remained largely stable in the proportion of arts tourists visiting the state since 2008. With proportions ranging between 62% and 73% over the past 10 years, the trend has been increasing since 2014.
- China was the largest market into the ACT in 2017, with 1 in 5 arts tourists being from China (20%), followed by the United Kingdom (11%) and the USA (11%). These three markets have remained the largest over the past decade. However, since 2008, China has overtaken both the UK and the USA to become the largest group among the three.
The full report is available on the Australia Council for the Arts website
Australia Council's Domestic Arts Tourism report
Domestic tourism provides an opportunity for Australians to immerse themselves in exceptional cultural experiences, and many Australians are travelling to experience the arts: at concerts, in galleries, on stages, or through more niche opportunities across the country.
The following data is from the Australia Council for the Arts Domestic Arts Tourism: Connecting the Country report.
Daytrips
- In 2018 there were 2.2 million daytrips taken to the ACT, an increase of 24% since 2014. 270,000 of these daytrips included an arts activity (12%, double the national average of 6%).
- Daytrip activities that have seen the biggest increase in attendance in the ACT since 2014 were dining out (+46%) and visiting friends and relatives (+25%).
Residents of the ACT
- 8% of all daytrips taken by residents of the ACT in 2018 included an arts activity, more than the national average of 6%.
Overnight trips
- In 2018 there were 2.8 million trips that included an overnight stopover in the ACT, an increase of 23% since 2014. 860,000 of those stopovers included an arts activity (31%, more than double the national average).
- Trips including overnight arts stopovers in the ACT increased 34% since 2014, increasing at a greater rate than overall overnight stopovers in the ACT and total overnight arts stopovers anywhere in Australia over the same time period (+20%).
- Trips including overnight arts stopovers in the ACT increased at the highest rate of all states and territories.
- The overnight stopover activities that saw the biggest increase in attendance in the ACT since 2014 were visiting museums and art galleries (+43%), dining out (+42%) and sightseeing (+42%).
Residents of the ACT
- The most popular destination regions for overnight arts tourists from the ACT were Sydney (37%), Melbourne (17%) and the South Coast of NSW(12%).
- 14% of all overnight stopovers taken by residents of the ACT included an arts activity, meaning they are more likely to engage with the arts than overnight tourists overall (13%).
The full report is available on the Australia Council for the Arts website
Links to other sources of useful data
Cultural Data Online provides access to a broad range of research relating to arts and culture in Australia, including publications and external web links to data on employment, funding, participation and attendance at cultural venues and events, and cultural tourism.
Arts Nation is the home for the Australia Council’s research and knowledge management.
Fact Finders is Screen Australia's comprehensive statistics on the production and release of feature films, TV drama, documentary and other screen content in Australia.