Performing arts most popular with sponsors: AbaF survey

New South Wales leads Australia in business sponsorships of the arts and donations to the arts, according to the second annual AbaF Survey of Private Sector Support for the Arts, released today by the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF).

And performing arts are the sector of the arts community most attractive to sponsors.

New South Wales ($72.1 million) and Victoria ($64.1 million) received the lionâs share of private sector income - 68% of the national total of $202 million. Queensland moved into third place with $18.7 million (9%).

Western Australian arts organisations received $18.1 million, South Australia $13 million, the ACT $8.8 million, and Northern Territory $3.8 million and Tasmania $3.6 million.

The sector that received the most private sector support was performing arts ($77.8 million) followed by art galleries ($50.7 million).

AbaF's survey incorporates financial data from 276 arts organisations across the country. AbaF asked how much they received in the 2007/08 financial year in sponsorships (cash and in-kind) and donations. Based on these figures AbaF calculated a total for the whole Australian arts sector.

The AbaF survey is the only comprehensive national study of private sector support for the arts.

Key findings from the survey include:

• Australian arts and cultural organisations earned $202 million income from the private sector in 2007/08. This was an increase of 18% from the previous year.
• Donations increased by 22%, while business sponsorship increased by 14%.
• Overall, 8.8% of the total income of arts and cultural organisations was derived from the private sector â up from 7.8% the previous year.
• Private sector income was divided almost equally between donations (52%) and sponsorships (48%). This represented a slight tilt towards donations since the previous year.

AbaF Chief Executive Jane Haley explains, "the results demonstrate an impressive return on the investment that arts and cultural organisations have made in developing their strategies to increase private sector support. The economic downturn will inevitably have an impact on income for the arts from the private sector but many arts and cultural organisations have established solid foundations which should stand them in good stead for the future."

For more information go to www.abaf.org.au/index.php?newsID=2073 

10th July 2009 - PERFORMING ARTS FUNDING SET TO DECLINE?

12th August 2009 - WA ARTS BRACED FOR TOUGH TIMES