The latest Audience Outlook Monitor survey commissioned by the Australia Council reveals that rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures are impacting audiences for the performing arts across Australia.

The survey, based on data from 1,318 past attendees, reports that around 4 in 10 (42%) of those interviewed said they were ‘worse off’ financially compared to one year ago. Approximately half reported their financial situation was in line with the same period in the previous year. Only 7% reported feeling ‘better off’ than 12 months ago.

Older audiences were the most likely to say their financial situation was the same or had improved (58%), while parents were the most likely to say that they were ‘worse off’ (57%). Young audiences under 35 were the most negative about their economic prospects.

Reflecting on the most recent performing arts event they had attended, 4 in 10 audiences said that price influenced them ‘more than usual’ (39%). Average spending levels are decreasing, with 6 in 10 (59%) of those attending in the past fortnight spending over $50 or more, down from the Audience Outlook figures reported in August (63%) and October 2022 (63%).