• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

In 2004-05, government funding for cultural activities totalled $5,014.9m, with state and territory governments providing almost half (47% or $2,356.3m), the Australian Government contributing 35% ($1,760.9m), and local government making up the balance of 18% ($897.7m).

Funding for capital expenditure accounted for 10% of cultural funding by all levels of government, while recurrent expenditure accounted for the remaining 90%.

Apart from direct funding, the Australian Government also provides assistance through tax concessions such as the Cultural Gifts Program, which offers tax deductions to encourage the donation of items of cultural significance to public art galleries, museums and libraries.

According to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) Annual Report for 2004-05, 652 donations were made to the program in that year with a total value of $47.3m.

4.1 Cultural funding by level of government - 2004-05
			Value of funding	Percentage of total
			$m	%
Australian Government
	Heritage
		Art museums and galleries	46.3	0.9
		Other museums	182.1	3.6
		Nature parks and reserves	73.3	1.5
		Zoological parks, aquaria and botanic gardens	9.6	0.2
		Libraries and archives	120.1	2.4
		Total	431.5	8.6
	Arts
		Literature and print media	27.6	0.6
		Performing arts	100.7	2.0
		Performing arts venues	0.1	-
		Visual arts and crafts	16.1	0.3
		Broadcasting and film	1 096.5	21.9
		Community cultural centres and activities	11.8	0.2
		Administration of culture	31.3	0.6
		Other arts n.e.c.	45.4	0.9
		Total	1 329.4	26.5
	Total		1 760.9	35.1
State and territory governments
	Heritage
		Art museums and galleries	170.7	3.4
		Other museums	301.7	6.0
		Nature parks and reserves	935.6	18.7
		Zoological parks, aquaria and botanic gardens	136.9	2.7
		Libraries and archives	395.3	7.9
		Total	1 940.2	38.7
	Arts
		Literature and print media	4.7	0.1
		Performing arts	75.1	1.5
		Performing arts venues	162.9	3.2
		Visual arts and crafts	16.4	0.3
		Broadcasting and film	70.6	1.4
		Community cultural centres and activities	9.3	0.2
		Administration of culture	36.7	0.7
		Other arts n.e.c.	40.4	0.8
		Total	416.1	8.3
	Total		2 356.3	47.0
Local government			897.7	17.9
Total funding by all levels of government			5 014.9	100.0
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
ABS, Cultural Funding by Government, 2004-05 (cat. no. 4183.0)

In 2004-05, the majority of Australian Government cultural funding supported Arts activities ($1,329.4m or 76% of total Australian Government funding). Broadcasting and film was the main beneficiary receiving over half of the total funding provided ($1096.5m or 62%).

In contrast, state and territory governments directed the majority of their funding to Heritage activities ($1,940.2m or 82%) in 2004-05. Nature parks and reserves received $935.6m representing 40% of the total state and territory government funding for cultural activities.

The Australian Government and state and territory governments increased their funding of cultural activities over the period 2001-02 to 2004-05, Australian Government funding increased by 8.7% and state and territory government funding increased by 6.7%. Local government funding of cultural activities reduced by 5% over the period 2003-04 to 2004-05.

4.2 Cultural funding, 2001-02 to 2004-05