4172.0 - Arts and Culture in Australia: A Statistical Overview, 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/10/2009   
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Contents >> Museums >> ATTENDANCE

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: 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: 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 2007-08 ABS Survey of Museums collected this information and found that there were an estimated 30.7 million admissions during the year, of which about two thirds (68%) were free of charge. Art galleries accounted for just over two fifths (42%) of all admissions.

8.3 MUSEUM ADMISSIONS - 2007-08
Other museums
Art museums/galleries
Social history museums
Historic properties/sites
Natural, science and other museums
Total
Admissions
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
Paid
2 177.7
^2 890.2
2 574.1
2 161.2
9 803.2
Free
^10 771.9
^5 888.5
1 154.0
3 099.9
^20 914.3
Total
^12 949.6
^8 778.7
3 728.1
5 261.1
30 717.5
^ estimate has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution
Source: Museums, Australia, 2007-08 (cat. no. 8560.0)








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