ATTENDANCE AT SELECTED CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS
In 1991, the ABS conducted its first Survey of Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events. The survey has been repeated several times with the most recent results published in ABS (2010a) Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0).
In 2009-10, 67% of adult Australians (i.e. those aged 15 years and over) attended the Cinema at least once in the 12 months prior to interview, making the Cinema the most popular cultural venue.
Other commonly attended venues included Zoological parks and aquariums (an attendance rate of 37%), Botanic gardens (35%) and Libraries (34%).
The survey also included the following cultural venues and events: Art galleries, Museums, Archives, Classical music concerts, Popular music concerts, Theatre performances, Dance performances, Musicals and operas, and Other performing arts. Of these activities, Popular music concerts had the highest attendance rate, with 30% of Australians aged 15 years and over attending at least one concert in the 12 month period.
1.2 PERSONS ATTENDING SELECTED VENUES AND EVENTS (a) - 2009-10 |
|
 | Number of people attending | Attendance rate(b) |
| Venue or event | '000 | % |
|
| Art galleries | 4 524.4 | 25.9 |
| Museums | 4 464.3 | 25.5 |
| Zoological parks and aquariums | 6 424.2 | 36.8 |
| Botanic gardens | 6 153.8 | 35.2 |
| Libraries | 5 857.3 | 33.5 |
| Archives | 611.9 | 3.5 |
| Classical music concerts | 1 554.2 | 8.9 |
| Popular music concerts | 5 297.9 | 30.3 |
| Theatre performances | 2 847.0 | 16.3 |
| Dance performances | 1 768.4 | 10.1 |
| Musicals and operas | 2 849.1 | 16.3 |
| Other performing arts | 2 934.9 | 16.8 |
| Cinemas | 11 712.8 | 67.0 |
|
| (a) In the 12 months prior to interview. |
| (b) Number attending as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and over. |
| Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0). |
Characteristics of attendees
Female attendance rates were higher than males at all selected cultural venues and events. The difference was most apparent for Libraries (41% of females compared with 26% of males) and Musicals and operas (21% compared with 12%).
1.3 PERSONS ATTENDING SELECTED CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS(a), By sex
- 2009-10
Attendance patterns at cultural venues and events varied considerably for different age groups. People aged 15-17 years were those most likely to attend the Cinema (93%), while people aged 35-44 years were those most likely to visit Zoological parks and aquariums (51%). By comparison, people aged 45-54 years and 55-64 years were more likely to attend Musicals and operas (19% and 20% respectively) while those aged 55-64 years and 65-74 years were those most likely to attend Classical music concerts (13% and 14% respectively).
1.4 ATTENDANCE AT SELECTED CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS, By age - 2009-10 |
|
| Age group (years) |
| 15-17 | 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75 and over | Total |
Attendance rate (%)(a) |
|
| Art galleries | 27.3 | 22.3 | 23.4 | 25.7 | 29.3 | 30.3 | 26.9 | 19.1 | 25.9 |
| Museums | 29.4 | 18.4 | 26.2 | 32.0 | 28.0 | 26.6 | 22.2 | 13.5 | 25.5 |
| Zoological parks and aquariums | 39.4 | 36.9 | 46.2 | 50.5 | 33.3 | 30.2 | 24.7 | 12.7 | 36.8 |
| Botanic gardens | 28.8 | 27.6 | 38.6 | 37.1 | 38.0 | 38.5 | 35.8 | 25.3 | 35.2 |
| Libraries | 40.1 | 30.8 | 32.1 | 36.4 | 33.4 | 32.9 | 32.6 | 32.7 | 33.5 |
| Archives | *3.4 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 3.5 |
| Classical music concerts | 7.0 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 10.2 | 13.3 | 13.6 | 10.5 | 8.9 |
| Popular music concerts | 38.1 | 44.6 | 40.2 | 31.5 | 28.8 | 23.3 | 15.0 | 8.5 | 30.3 |
| Theatre performances | 19.0 | 13.6 | 14.0 | 16.3 | 19.4 | 19.4 | 17.0 | 9.8 | 16.3 |
| Dance performances | 16.3 | 9.0 | 8.1 | 12.8 | 12.2 | 9.3 | 8.9 | 4.0 | 10.1 |
| Musicals and operas | 16.5 | 12.0 | 15.0 | 16.1 | 19.0 | 20.0 | 17.9 | 11.2 | 16.3 |
| Other performing arts | 17.1 | 15.3 | 20.3 | 20.5 | 17.1 | 14.6 | 13.7 | 8.4 | 16.8 |
| Cinemas | 92.8 | 85.3 | 75.8 | 71.2 | 66.6 | 56.9 | 45.8 | 31.7 | 67.0 |
|
| * estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
| (a) Number attending in the 12 months prior to interview as a proportion of the population in the relevant age group. |
| Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0). |
Frequency of attendance
Some cultural venues and events were more likely to attract repeat visitors than others. Over two-thirds (70%) of Library attendees reported visiting at least five times during the 12 month period prior to interview. Similarly, Cinemas were popular with over half (53%) the patrons having attended at least five times in the preceding 12 months.
The venues or events where the majority of people attending had been only once in the 12 month period were Other performing arts (with an attendance rate of 64%), Dance performances (56%), Musicals and operas (55%) and Museums (52%).
1.5 ATTENDANCE AT SELECTED CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS, By Frequency(a) - 2009-10 |
|
| Frequency of Attendance | Total |
| Once only | 2-4 times | 5 times or more | % | 000's |
|
| Art galleries | 40.4 | 44.7 | 14.9 | 100.0 | 4 524.4 |
| Museums | 51.8 | 38.0 | 10.2 | 100.0 | 4 464.3 |
| Zoological parks and aquariums | 47.5 | 42.9 | 9.6 | 100.0 | 6 424.2 |
| Botanic gardens | 37.3 | 43.9 | 18.8 | 100.0 | 6 153.8 |
| Local, state and national libraries | 5.2 | 24.5 | 70.3 | 100.0 | 5 857.3 |
| Popular music concerts | 36.4 | 44.7 | 18.9 | 100.0 | 5 297.9 |
| Classical music concerts | 41.5 | 42.2 | 16.3 | 100.0 | 1 554.2 |
| Theatre performances | 45.8 | 42.0 | 12.2 | 100.0 | 2 847.0 |
| Dance performances | 55.8 | 36.2 | 8.0 | 100.0 | 1 768.4 |
| Musicals and operas | 54.5 | 40.0 | 5.5 | 100.0 | 2 849.1 |
| Other performing arts | 63.6 | 30.0 | 6.4 | 100.0 | 2 934.9 |
| Cinemas | 9.8 | 37.5 | 52.7 | 100.0 | 11 712.8 |
|
| (a) In the 12 months prior to interview |
| Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0) |
Table 1.6 shows attendance rates from the last three surveys. Due to changes in survey collection methods that have occurred over time, care should be taken when making comparisons between the years. Attendance rates in 2009-10 were found to be similar to those of previous years with statistically significant differences between 2005-06 and 2009-10 marked.
1.6 ATTENDANCE AT SELECTED CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS(a) - 1999, 2005-06 and 2009-10 |
|
| 1999 | 2005-06 | 2009-10(b) |
| % | % | % |
|
| Art galleries | 21.2 | 22.7 | (c)25.9 |
| Museums | 19.9 | 22.6 | (c)25.5 |
| Zoological parks and aquariums | 33.9 | 35.6 | 36.8 |
| Botanic gardens | 36.1 | 33.7 | (c)35.2 |
| Libraries | 38.1 | 34.1 | 33.5 |
| Archives | na | na | 3.5 |
| Classical music concerts | 8.8 | 9.4 | 8.9 |
| Popular music concerts | 25.4 | 25.2 | 30.3 |
| Theatre performances | 16.5 | 17.0 | 16.3 |
| Dance performances | 9.0 | 10.2 | 10.1 |
| Musicals and operas | 16.3 | 16.3 | 16.3 |
| Other performing arts events | 17.8 | 16.6 | 16.8 |
| Cinemas | 67.0 | 65.2 | (c)67.0 |
|
| na not available |
| (a) In the 12 months prior to interview. |
| (b) Care should be taken when interpreting the data presented in this table as most of the changes between the years are not statistically significant. |
| (c) The difference between the 2009-10 attendance rate and the 2005-06 attendance rate is statistically significant. |
| Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0). |
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