Australian arts and culture support falls by 11% during pandemic

Private sector cash sponsorship for the arts and cultural sector in Australia has risen by $26 million from $351 million to $377 million since the onset of the pandemic according to a new report from Creative Partnerships Australia.

However, the biennial report - covering the 2019 calendar and 2019/20 financial years - advises that overall support for arts and cultural was down 11%, according to a biennial report by Creative Partnerships Australia.

The Giving Attitude report showed the 11% decline in overall philanthropic sponsorships was largely made up of intangible support from private sector organisations.

Although cash sponsorship has increased, in-kind arrangements have decreased $40 million to $25 million, volunteer and pro bono support is down $56 million to $124 million while bequest contributions are down $32 million to $17 million.

The report goes on to say that less than 25% of private sector organisations surveyed have a dedicated fundraiser role and 25% of board members are active in fundraising activities’

The engagement of boards in philanthropic activities is identified by Creative Partnerships Australia as a “live and focus issue” for the coming years.

Giving Attitude is designed to track trends as well as provide arts organisations with a reference point to measure their own achievements in attracting and maintaining private sector-support.

Creative Partnerships Australia Chief Executive, Fiona Menzies advised “this edition of Giving Attitude includes research on the early impact the COVID-19 pandemic on private sector support for arts and culture in Australia, with our next edition to consolidate these results for organisations to measure.”

Creative Partnerships Australia has undertaken to release another report in early 2022 that will outline the impact of the pandemic across the 2020 calendar and 2020/21 financial years.

Click here to read the 2021 Giving Attitude report. 

New Chair and Board appointments at Creative Partnerships Australia
The Federal Government has recently named Dr Richard Dammery as the next Chair of the Board of Creative Partnerships Australia, replacing Catherine Walter.

Dr Dammery has been a Director on the Creative Partnerships Board since April 2020 and has extensive governance experience as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He also serves on a number of boards including WiseTech Global, Aussie Broadband, Doctor Care Anywhere PLC and Australia Post.

Other Board appointments see former North Melbourne Football Club Chief Executive Carl Dilena added for a three year term while Dan Rosen, President of Warner Music Australasia and member of the Federal Government’s Creative Economy Taskforce, has been reappointed to the Board for a three year term.