A Statistical Overview: Arts and Culture in Victoria
11. MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES
Museums and art galleries are involved in the collection, display, storage, preservation
and research of museum objects and artwork, for the education and enjoyment of the
general public and/or specialists.
ATTENDANCE AT MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES
Of the 4.4 million people in Victoria aged 15 years or over, the attendance rate for art
galleries and museums was consistent with the national rate (26% for both).
Of those who attended art galleries in the 12-month period, almost half (48%) attended
2–4 times. Of those who visited museums, more than half (54%) attended once during
the 12-month period and 36% attended 2–4 times.
11.1 Frequency of attendance at Museums and Art Galleries(a)(b), Victoria, 200910
%
60
Visited art gallery
Visited museum
50
40
30
20
10
0
Once
2–4 times
5 or more times
Art galleries
Museums
Once
35.6%
53.6%
2-4 times
47.5%
36.2%
5 or more times
16.9%
10.2%
(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
(b) In the 12-months before interview.
Source: ABS data available on request, Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2009–10.
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A Statistical Overview: Arts and Culture in Victoria
ADMISSIONS, EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL DATA
The 2007-08 Museums Survey shows that at the end of June 2008, there were 333
museums and art galleries operating in Victoria, which was 23% of the Australian total.
At the end of June 2008, museums and art galleries employed 2,070 people in
Victoria. There were 4,713 people in Victoria who volunteered at museums and art
galleries during the month of June 2008.
There were 9.3m admissions to museums and art galleries in Victoria during 2007–08.
Free admissions accounted for 72% of all admissions, while paid admissions
accounted for 28%. Income from paid admissions was $29.7 million. Note that the
admissions data include children under the age of 15 years who were excluded from
the 2005–06 Survey of Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events.
In 2007–08, museums and art galleries in Victoria received total income of $239.3
million with $64.3 million coming from admissions and fundraising. Expenses totalled
$234.6 million, of which 39% ($91.6 million) was labour costs.
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A Statistical Overview: Arts and Culture in Victoria
11.2 Museums and Art Galleries, Selected characteristics, Victoria and Australia,
2007-08
Victoria
Australia
Percentage
in Vic.(a) %
Number of locations at end June
no.
333
1 456
22.9%
Employment at end June
no.
2 070
7 856
26.3%
20.1%
Volunteers during the month of June
Museum objects/artworks at end June
Special exhibitions(b)
no.
4 713
23 426
‘000
20 108.1
52 485.3
38.3%
no.
^927
^3 970
^23.4%
Admissions
Paid
‘000
2 576.4
9 803.2
26.3%
Free
‘000
*6 735.0
^20 914.3
*32.2%
Total
‘000
^9 311.4
30 717.5
^30.3%
Income
Government funding
$m
np
657.8
na
Admissions income
$m
29.7
75.6
39.3%
Income from fundraising
$m
^34.6
106.0
32.6%
Other
$m
np
159.0
na
Total
$m
239.3
998.4
24.0%
Expenses
Labour costs
$m
91.6
380.7
24.1%
Other expenses
$m
143.0
479.4
29.8%
Total
$m
234.6
860.1
27.3%
na not available
np not available for publication
^ estimate has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
(a) According to the 2006 Census of Population and Housing, 25% of Australia’s population lived in Victoria in August
2006.
(b) Temporary exhibitions on display for less than three months, and include special exhibits curated or developed inhouse, touring exhibitions curated or developed in Australia and imported overseas exhibitions.
Source: Museums, Australia, 2007–08 (cat. no. 8560.0).
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