A new report from Creative Australia has confirmed that while more Australians than ever are attending artistic and cultural events, cost is a growing barrier to the experience.
The report, titled Creative Transformations: Results of the National Arts Participation Survey, is the sixth study in the research series which explores Australians’ attitudes towards, and engagement with, arts and creativity.
Most notably, it outlines that 74% of Australians have attended at least one live arts event or festival in the past 12 months. Equivalent to 15.4 million people, it's the highest level of attendance which has been recorded since the survey began in 2009.
However, despite this impressive peak, there is growing concern thanks to the statistic that 60% of respondents have cited cost as the biggest barrier to attendance. 60% responded in this manner, a 5% increase since the 2022 survey. Further underlining the rising cost of living, 55% of respondents confirmed that they have missed events they wanted to attend but did not because of the cost.
“Australians continue to engage with arts and creativity in extraordinarily high numbers, even during a period of ongoing financial pressure,” said Creative Australia Executive Director Development and Partnerships, Lara Wolski.
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“What this research shows is that Australians still deeply value cultural participation and connection, but cost is increasingly shaping how people participate and what they can afford to attend.”
There are some more positive statistics in the mix though, noting that 98% of Australians are reported as engaging with the artists in some way, whether it be as simple as listening to music, reading, or creating art. Meanwhile, 93% of respondents hold a positive view of the arts, too.
Additionally, the survey also takes a look at the relationship between arts education and arts participation later in life. The main finding is that Australians who were taught an artform – such as visual arts, creative writing, dance or drama – during their school years were significantly more likely as adults to attend arts events, read books, create art and engage with culture online.
“A significant finding in this year’s survey is the relationship between arts education and lifelong participation," adds Creative Australia Director Research, Rebecca Mostyn.
"Those who had opportunities to learn an artform during their school years are significantly more likely to attend arts events, read books, create art and engage with culture, and to recognise the benefits of doing so later in life.”
Other findings in the report include details regarding Australians' relationship with topics such as AI, noting two in five Australians reported using AI tools to create art or generate ideas, while 82% said AI use in creative works should be disclosed.
Additionally, almost three quarters of respondents questioned whether AI-generated content could be considered “real” or authentic art.
The full Creative Transformations: Results of the National Arts Participation Survey can be read at the Creative Australia website.
