4114.0 - Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia, 2009-10 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/12/2010   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All
MEDIA RELEASE
21 December, 2010
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
164/2010

Silver screen devotees: cinema still Australians' favourite cultural activity

Figures released today show going to the movies is still Australians' most popular cultural activity. Over two thirds (67%) of Australians aged 15 years and over attended the cinema at least once in the last 12 months, an increase from 2005-06 when 65% of people attended the movies.

Attending the movies was a favourite activity amongst young people, with most 15-17 year olds (93%) going at least once in 2009-10, compared with 71% of 35-44 year olds and 32% of people aged 75 and over. Other interesting facts about cinema attendance include:
  • females were more likely to attend the cinema than males;
  • residents of the Australian Capital Territory had the highest cinema attendance rates nationally;
  • employed people attended a cinema at similar rates as unemployed people;
  • almost half the people who attended the movies went at least six times in the previous twelve months.

Apart from cinemas, other cultural venues attracting large attendances were zoos and aquariums (37% of the population 15 years and over), botanic gardens (35%) and libraries (34%). Of those who attended libraries, 26% attended 21 times or more in the previous year.

Attendance rates for females were higher than for males at all cultural venues and events, with the exception of visits to archives where attendance rates were similar.

Nationally, 86% of people had attended at least one venue or event in the previous twelve months. People aged 15-17 years were most likely to attend at least one venue or event, with an attendance rate of 97%.

Popular music concerts recorded the largest jump in attendance rate from the previous survey in 2005-06, from 25% to 30%. Other venues and events to record an increase were art galleries and museums, both rising from 23% to 26%.

The survey covered attendance at a range of venues and events, including theatre and dance performances, classical and popular music concerts, zoos, botanic gardens, art galleries, libraries, archives, museums and cinemas.

Further information is available in Attendance at selected cultural venues and events, Australia 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0).

Media note:
When citing our statistics, Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.