CULTURAL PARTICIPATION

This report uses data from the first Cultural Participation survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to present an overview of people aged 15 years and over living in Northern Territory and their interaction with the cultural sector via participation in a selection of cultural activities.

Conducted in 2010-11 as part of the ABS Multipurpose Household Survey (MPHS), the survey collected data from individuals about their participation in fourteen selected cultural activities in the 12 months prior to interview. Broadly speaking, the list of cultural activities included performing arts, singing or playing a musical instrument, dancing, writing, visual art activities and craft activities. More detail regarding the types of cultural activities included in the survey can be found in the Glossary of the publication listed below. Information was also collected about the characteristics of participants, and the number of selected cultural activities in which people participated and whether payments were received for their involvement.

The data contained in this report, including additional demographic data pertaining to cultural participation in Northern Territory, is available in the data cubes attached to Participation in Selected Cultural Activities, Australia, 2010–11 (cat. no. 4921.0) on the ABS website.

PARTICIPATION IN SELECTED CULTURAL ACTIVITIES BY ACTIVITY TYPE

More than a quarter (27% or 34,900 people) of the population aged 15 years and over living in the Northern Territory participated in at least one cultural activity in the 12 months prior to interview. The rate of participation for the Northern Territory was consistent with the national rate.

The majority of participants (19,600 people or 56%) participated in one activity while 6,900 people (20%) participated in two activities and 4,700 (14%) participated in three activities.

With a participation rate of 9%, sculpting, painting, drawing or cartooning, including digital pieces was the most popular cultural activity in the Northern Territory attracting 11,100 participants. By comparison, 7% participated in textile crafts, jewellery making, paper crafts or wood crafts and 6% participated in singing or playing a musical instrument.

Rates of participation in the Northern Territory were similar to those at the national level across the majority of cultural activities.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPANTS

Age and sex

Survey results show that women in the Northern Territory participated in cultural activities at a rate of 30% while men participated at a rate of 24%. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the difference between the rates of participation for women and for men is statistically significant.

People aged 55-64 years (31%) were more likely to have participated in cultural activities in the 12 months prior to interview than those aged 65 years and over (17%). Survey results show that people aged 15-24 years and those aged 25-34 years had a similar rate of participation in cultural activities (30%).

Men aged 15-24 years had a participation rate of 34% compared with the participation rate for women (26%). In the rest of the age groups, women reported higher rates of participation than men. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the differences in the participation rates for women and men across all age groups are statistically significant.


Country of birth and area of usual residence

Of the 34,900 participants in cultural activities in the Northern Territory, those born in Australia participated at a rate of 29% while those born overseas had a participation rate of 26%. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the differences between the participation rates of born in Australia and those born overseas are statistically significant.

The reported rate of participation for people born overseas did vary based on the type of country in which they were born. People born in main English speaking countries participated in cultural activities at a rate of 35% and those born in other than main English speaking countries participated at a rate of 26%. There is not enough evidence to conclude that the difference in participation rates for those born in main English speaking countries and those born in other than main English speaking countries are statistically significant. For a list of main English speaking countries please refer to the Glossary of the publication listed at the beginning of this report.

People residing in the capital city of Darwin participated in cultural activities at a rate of 28% while the participation rate for those residing elsewhere in the territory was 24%. There is not enough evidence to conclude that the difference in the participation rates is statistically significant.

Labour Force Status

Of the 96,300 people employed in the Northern Territory in the week prior to interview, 28% (27,400 people) participated in a cultural activity. People who were employed in a part-time capacity had a participation rate in cultural activities of 30% while those employed in a full-time capacity had a participation rate of 28%.

People who were unemployed had a higher participation rate of 29% than those not in the labour force (22%). However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the differences between participation rates for those employed, those unemployed and those not in the labour force are statistically significant.

Household composition and income

Single parents with dependent children (36%) were more likely to participate in cultural activities than people living alone (24%).

Survey results show that couples had participated in cultural activities at a rate of 34% compared with couples with children (25%). However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the participation rate of couples is statistically different from the rate of couples with children.

People from households with income in the highest quintile (34%) were more likely to participate in cultural activities than those with income in any other quintile. Survey results showed participation generally decreased as income decreased with people from households with income in the lowest quintile reporting the lowest participation rate of 16%. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the participation rate of households with income in the highest quintile is statistically different from households with income in the second, third or fourth quintile.

Highest educational attainment

People holding a Postgraduate degree (66%) were more likely to participate in cultural activities than all other levels of educational attainment. Those who had completed a Bachelor’s degree (45%) had a higher rate of participation compared with those who had completed Certificate III or IV (17%) and the qualification levels below Certificate III or IV. There is not enough evidence to conclude that the difference between the participation rates for people holding a Bachelor’s degree and those who had completed Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate (33%) is statistically significant.

People who had completed Year 11 (25%) or Year 12 (24%) participated in cultural activities at a similar rate while those who completed Year 10 or below participated at a rate of 18%. There is not enough evidence to conclude that the participation rate of people who had finished high school at a level of Year 10 or below is statistically different from people who had completed Year 11 or Year 12.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPATION

Payment status

An estimated 16% of people in the Northern Territory who participate in a cultural activity (5,600 people) received some form of payment for their participation.

A higher proportion of men (17%) than women (15%) were paid for their participation.