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 Victoria 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, 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 Victoria 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 1.2 million people) of the population aged 15 years and over living in Victoria participated in at least one cultural activity in the 12 months prior to interview. The rate of participation for Victoria was consistent with the national rate.

The majority of participants (648,900 people or 53%) participated in one activity while 278,900 people (23%) participated in two activities and 131,200 (11%) participated in three activities.

With a participation rate of 11%, textile crafts, jewellery making, paper crafts or wood crafts was the most popular cultural activity in Victoria attracting 476,100 participants. By comparison, 9% participated in sculpting, painting, drawing or cartooning (including digital pieces), whilst 6% were involved in singing or playing a musical instrument.

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

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPANTS

Age and sex

In Victoria, 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 (35%). Participation rates generally declined with age.

Overall women had a higher participation rate (31%) than men (23%) with survey results showing women were more likely to participate in cultural activities at a higher rate across 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 and 25-34 years are statistically significant.


Country of birth and area of usual residence

Of the 1.2 million participants in cultural activities in Victoria, those born in Australia participated at a higher rate (30%) than those born overseas (21%).

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 (16%) than those born in main English speaking countries (34%). 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 Melbourne participated in cultural activities at a rate similar to that of residents living elsewhere in the state (27% and 29% respectively).

Labour Force Status

Of the 2.9 million people employed in Victoria in the week prior to interview, 28% (804,800 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 (26%). People who were unemployed had a higher participation rate in cultural activities (37%) than those who were employed (28%) and those not in the labour force (26%).

Household composition and income

Almost one third (31%) of single parents with dependent children participated in cultural activities according to survey results. Generally speaking, participation rates were similar across all household compositions.

People from households with income in the highest quintile (34%) were more likely to participate in cultural activities than those in almost all other quintile groups. There is not enough evidence to conclude that the difference between participation rates for those with income in the top two quintiles is statistically significant. Survey results showed participation generally decreased as income decreased.

Highest educational attainment

People holding a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate qualification (41%) were more likely to participate in cultural activities than people with no formal post school qualifications. Whether or not a person had completed high school also had an impact on their cultural participation with those holding a year 12 qualification (28%) 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 14% of people in Victoria who participate in a cultural activity (171,000 people) received some form of payment for their participation.

A higher proportion of men (20%) than women (10%) were paid for their participation.