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 New South Wales 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 New South Wales, 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 1.5 million people) of the population aged 15 years and over living in New South Wales participated in at least one cultural activity in the 12 months prior to interview. The rate of participation for New South Wales was consistent with the national rate.

The majority of participants (829,600 people or 54%) participated in one activity while 334,700 people (22%) participated in two activities and 175,300 (11%) participated in three activities.

With a participation rate of 9%, textile crafts, jewellery making, paper crafts or wood crafts was the most popular cultural activity in New South Wales attracting 530,400 participants. By comparison, 8% participated in sculpting, painting, drawing or cartooning (including digital pieces), whilst 6% were involved in singing or playing a musical instrument and photography, film-making or editing (apart from recording personal events).

Rates of participation in New South Wales were similar to those at the national level across the majority of cultural activities.

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPANTS

Age and sex

In New South Wales, people aged 15-24 years were more likely to have participated in cultural activities in the 12 months prior to interview than those in any other age group (37%). Participation rates generally declined with age.

Overall, women had a higher participation rate (30%) than men (23%) with survey results showing women were more likely to participate in cultural activities at a higher rate across almost all age groups. However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the differences between the participation rates of women and men aged 15-24 years, 25-34 years and 35-44 years are statistically significant.



Country of birth and area of usual residence

Of the 1.5 million participants in cultural activities in New South Wales, those born in Australia participated at a higher rate (29%) than those born overseas (22%).

The rate of participation for people born overseas did vary based on the type of country in which they were born. People born in other than main English speaking countries had a lower rate of participation in cultural activities (19%) than those born in main English speaking countries (32%). 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 Sydney participated in cultural activities at a rate similar to that of residents living elsewhere in the state (both 27%),

Labour Force Status

Of the 3.7 million people employed in New South Wales in the week prior to interview, 27% (983,700 people) participated in a cultural activity. People employed in a part-time capacity had a higher participation rate in cultural activities (32%) than those employed full-time (25%). People who were unemployed had a participation rate of 33% while those not in the labour force had a participation rate in cultural activities of 26%. There is not enough evidence to conclude that the differences between those employed and those unemployed or not in the labour force are statistically significant.

Household composition and income

Survey results show that couples (25%) and couples with children (27%) participated in cultural activities at a similar rate.

People living alone (28%) were more likely to participate in cultural activities than single parents with dependent children (23%). However, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the participation rate of those from lone person households is statistically different from the rates of the remaining (or other) household types.

People from households with income in the highest quintile were more likely to participate in cultural activities than those with income in any other quintile (33%). Survey results showed participation generally decreased as income decreased with people from households in the lowest income quintile having a participation rate of 23%.

Highest educational attainment

People holding a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate qualification (52%) were more likely to participate in cultural activities than all other levels of educational attainments. Those who had completed a Bachelor’s degree (33%) had a higher rate of participation compared with people who had completed a Certificate III or IV qualification (24%). Whether or not a person had completed high school also had an impact on their cultural participation with those holding a Year 12 qualification (27%) having a higher rate of participation compared with those who had finished high school at a level of Year 10 or below (19%).

CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPATION

Payment status

An estimated 15% of people in New South Wales who participate in a cultural activity (226,200 people) received some form of payment for their participation.

A higher proportion of men (18%) than women (12%) were paid for their participation.