ATTENDANCE
According to the 2005-06 ABS survey of Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events a total of 7.2 million people aged 15 years and over (45% of the population) visited Art galleries or Other museums in the 12 months before being interviewed. Females recorded higher attendance rates than males for both types of institution.
8.1 ATTENDANCE AT MUSEUMS, In previous 12 months - By selected characteristics - 2005-06 |
| |
| | Number | Attendance rate | |
| | Art galleries | Other museums | Total(a) | Art galleries | Other museums | Total(a) | |
| | '000 | '000 | '000 | % | % | % | |
| |
Sex | | | | | | | |
| Males | 1 570.6 | 1 713.6 | 3 284.2 | 19.9 | 21.7 | 41.6 | |
| Females | 2 060.2 | 1 898.3 | 3 958.5 | 25.4 | 23.4 | 48.8 | |
Age group (years) | | | | | | | |
| 15-17 | 188.9 | 206.5 | 395.4 | 23.1 | 25.2 | 48.3 | |
| 18-24 | 340.2 | 303.9 | 644.1 | 17.6 | 15.7 | 33.3 | |
| 25-34 | 624.2 | 656.2 | 1 280.4 | 22.5 | 23.6 | 46.1 | |
| 35-44 | 691.1 | 804.7 | 1 495.8 | 23.4 | 27.2 | 50.6 | |
| 45-54 | 740.5 | 698.1 | 1 438.6 | 26.6 | 25.1 | 51.7 | |
| 55-64 | 572.4 | 552.3 | 1 124.7 | 25.8 | 24.9 | 50.7 | |
| 65-74 | 297.6 | 265.6 | 563.2 | 21.5 | 19.2 | 40.7 | |
| 75 and over | 175.8 | 124.7 | 300.5 | 15.6 | 11.0 | 26.6 | |
State or Territory | | | | | | | |
| New South Wales | 1 118.6 | 1 145.0 | 2 263.6 | 20.8 | 21.3 | 42.1 | |
| Victoria | 963.9 | 841.8 | 1 805.7 | 23.9 | 20.9 | 44.8 | |
| Queensland | 677.7 | 670.2 | 1 347.9 | 22.0 | 21.7 | 43.7 | |
| South Australia | 293.7 | 329.0 | 622.7 | 24.0 | 26.9 | 50.9 | |
| Western Australia | 355.8 | 345.7 | 701.5 | 22.8 | 22.2 | 45.0 | |
| Tasmania | 91.7 | 117.9 | 209.6 | 24.0 | 30.8 | 54.8 | |
| Northern Territory | 28.8 | 42.4 | 71.2 | 25.9 | 38.2 | 64.1 | |
| Australian Capital Territory | 100.6 | 120.0 | 220.6 | 39.7 | 47.3 | 87.0 | |
Total | 3 630.7 | 3 611.9 | 7 242.6 | 22.7 | 22.6 | 45.3 | |
| |
(a) The total is less than the sum of the components as some people visited both types of museums. |
Source: ABS, Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4114.0). |
Most people (63%) who attended art galleries had been there once or twice in the 12 months before interview, as had about three-quarters (75%) of those who visited other museums.
8.2 FREQUENCY OF ATTENDANCE AT MUSEUMS, In previous 12 months - 2005-06 |
| |
| NUMBER | ATTENDANCE RATE | |
| Art galleries | Other museums | Art galleries | Other museums | |
| '000 | '000 | % | % | |
| |
Once | 1 325.5 | 1 820.2 | 36.5 | 50.4 | |
Twice | 973.4 | 892.7 | 26.8 | 24.7 | |
3 times | 441.3 | 344.0 | 12.2 | 9.5 | |
4 times | 258.0 | 170.6 | 7.1 | 4.7 | |
5 times | 128.3 | 87.0 | 3.5 | 2.4 | |
6-10 times | 291.4 | 203.8 | 8.0 | 5.6 | |
11-20 times | 153.3 | 53.0 | 4.2 | 1.5 | |
21 times or more | 59.6 | 40.7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | |
Total | 3 630.7 | 3 611.9 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |
| |
Source: ABS, Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4114.0). |
While the survey of Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events provides information on the type of people who attend museums and how often they go, it is unable to give a figure for the total number of admissions.
As the survey only obtained information about Australian residents aged 15 years or over, some groups were excluded from the data collection such as tourists from overseas and younger age groups.
Further, as respondents were asked to indicate their frequency of attendance from a set of ranges, for example, 6-10 times, 11-20 times, 21 times or more etc. it is not possible to accurately calculate the exact number of visits.
However, the 2003-04 survey of Museums collected this information and found that there were an estimated 31.2 million admissions during the year, of which about two thirds (66%) were free of charge. Art galleries accounted for almost two fifths (37%) of all admissions.
8.3 MUSEUM ADMISSIONS, During the year ended 30 June 2004 |
| |
| | OTHER MUSEUMS | | |
| Art galleries | Social history museums | Historic properties/sites | Natural, science and other museums | Total | |
| '000 | '000 | '000 | '000 | '000 | |
| |
Paid | 1 546.3 | 4 025.5 | 2 798.9 | 2 188.9 | 10 559.5 | |
Free | *9 934.6 | 5 801.0 | *1 988.3 | *2 906.7 | 20 630.6 | |
Total | *11 480.9 | 9 826.5 | 4 787.1 | 5 095.6 | 31 190.1 | |
| |
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
Source: ABS, Museums, Australia, 2003-04 (cat. no. 8560.0). |