More Australians are attending live arts performances than ever recorded before, but more than half of Australians have had to sit out of an event due to costs, Creative Australia’s latest National Arts Participation Survey, Creative Transformations, has found.

Photo © Hoàng Tiến Việt /Pexels

The survey, conducted since 2009 and last published in 2022, has found that almost all Australians (98%) engage with the arts in some capacity – whether through music, reading, festivals, creating art, digital engagement or live attendance – and more Australians are recognising the positive impact of the arts on the economy and ourselves. At the same time, 60% of Australians cited cost as the biggest barrier to attendance, with fewer Australians giving their time and money to the arts than in 2019 (down from 26% to 23%).

Attendance and behaviour

The results reveal a record 74% of Australians attended at least one live arts event over the last year, with attendance up for all art forms. Attendance for music and dance has now bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, but hasn’t yet for literature, theatre, visual arts and craft.