Government funding
In Australia, all three levels of government provide funding for cultural activities, facilities and services.
Total government funding for cultural activities was $4,676.8m in 2001-02. Of this, the Australian Government contributed $1,619.6m (35%), state and territory governments contributed $2,215.2m (47%) and local governments provided $841.9m (18%).
Total government funding for cultural activities, facilities and services increased by $238.8m (5%) in 2001-02. While funding from the state and territory governments increased by 16%, funding from the Australian Government and local governments fell by 2% and 4% respectively. There was a greater increase in total government funding in 2000-01 ($376.8m or 9%) when compared with funding in 1999-2000, with increases reported for all levels of government.
In 2001-02, funding of almost $1b ($988.9m or 21% of total cultural funding) was allocated to broadcasting and film activities by the Australian Government, and state and territory governments. While local governments may also have provided funds to these activities, it is not possible to determine their contribution as comprehensive funding details for local governments are not available for 2001-02. The other major recipients of government funding were nature parks and reserves ($977.4m), 'other museums' (which consists of museums other than art museums) ($493.7m), and libraries and archives ($466.7m) (table 12.26).
Local governments are significant providers of library services to the community. For 2000-01, when more details of local government funding were available, libraries and archives received more than half of the cultural funding provided by local governments ($458.7m out of a total of $872.4m). This was 55% of the total funding provided to libraries and archives by all three levels of government.
12.26 CULTURAL FUNDING, By government - 2001-02
|
 | | Level of government |
| |
|
| | Australian | State/territory | Local |
| | $m | $m | $m |
|
| Heritage | | | |
| Art museums | 47.9 | 176.5 | n.a. |
| Other museums | 227.4 | 266.3 | n.a. |
| Nature parks and reserves | 76.7 | 900.7 | n.a. |
| Zoological parks, aquaria and botanic gardens | 6.9 | 102.4 | n.a. |
| Libraries and archives | 111.4 | 355.3 | n.a. |
| Total | 470.3 | 1,801.1 | n.a. |
| Arts | | | |
| Literature and print media | 21.9 | 3.6 | n.a. |
| Performing arts | 92.7 | 88.7 | n.a. |
| Performing arts venues | 3.0 | 161.7 | n.a. |
| Public halls and civic centres | - | 0.6 | n.a. |
| Visual arts and crafts | 13.5 | 10.8 | n.a. |
| Broadcasting and film | 914.0 | 74.9 | n.a. |
| Community cultural activities | 24.7 | 21.8 | n.a. |
| Administration of culture | 35.2 | 37.5 | n.a. |
| Other arts n.e.c. | 44.5 | 14.4 | n.a. |
| Total | 1,149.3 | 414.1 | n.a. |
| Total | 1,619.6 | 2,215.2 | 841.9 |
|
| Source: Cultural Funding by Government, Australia, 2001-02 (4183.0). |
Business funding
The ABS conducted a Business Generosity Survey in respect of 2000-01. During that period, businesses gave $1,447m to organisations or individuals, of which arts and culture activities (namely the performing arts; the creative arts; museum, art gallery and library activities; and zoological or botanical parks and gardens operation) received $70m. This comprised $40m of sponsorship, $23m of donations and over $6m of 'business to community projects' funding. Sport and recreation activities received 43% of the total given by businesses to organisations or individuals. For additional information see the section Funding for sport and recreation. Other activities covered by the survey were community service and welfare, health, education and training, and environmental activities.
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