Private Sector Contributes $171 million to the Arts

Local arts and cultural organisations have received over $171 million in income from the private sector in 2006/07 according to new survey data from the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF).

In its first Survey of Private Sector Support for the Arts, the AbaF surveyed 708 arts and cultural organisations, including organisations that receive funding from federal, state and territory governments. Asking how much they received in the last financial year in sponsorships (cash and in-kind) and donations, the survey showed:

• Australian arts and cultural organisations earned $171.1 million income from the private sector in 2006-7.
• Overall, 7.4% of the total income of arts and cultural organisations is derived from the private sector.
• Private sector income is divided almost equally between donations (50.7%) and sponsorships (49.3%).
• New South Wales ($66.7 million) and Victoria (54.7 million) receive the lion's share of private sector income 71% of the national total.
• The sector that receives the most private sector support is Museums and Galleries ($61.3 million) followed by Performing Arts ($54.8 million).
• Donations greatly outweigh sponsorship in museums and galleries, and donations are slightly more than sponsorships for state libraries.
• Sponsorships significantly outweigh donations in performing arts, festivals, and other arts.
• Smaller arts organisations derive a higher percentage of their income from private sector support than do larger organisations, although larger organisations receive more dollars.

Introducing the survey, AbaF Chief Executive Jane Haley, stated "the private sector is making an important contribution to the health of the arts and cultural sector through sponsorships and donations.

"This survey is the first statistically valid, comprehensive national study of private sector support for the arts. We plan to repeat it annually. Building on this survey year by year we will be able to analyse trends in the sector."