Summary

Queenslanders believe the arts have big impacts

Queenslanders believe the arts have a ‘big’ or ‘very big’ impact on: 

• their ability to express themselves (64%)
• stimulating their minds (62%)
• child development (62%)
• their ability to think creatively and develop new ideas (60%)
• their understanding of other people and cultures (60%).

 

Queenslanders’ attitudes about the arts are positive

Queenslanders agree that:

• artists make an important contribution to Australian society (71%)
• the arts should be an important part of education (70%)
• the arts help to understand different perspectives (69%)
• the arts make for a richer and more meaningful life (66%)
• the arts allow usto connect with others (54%).

Access is a key factor for Queenslanders in prioritising investment in arts and creativity

The top three priorities for Queensland residents regarding investment in arts and creativity include: 

• ensuring children and young people have access to art and creative experiences to support learning and development (75% ranked this in their top three priorities); 
• ensuring free or low-cost events are available (72% ranked this in their top three priorities) and 
• ensuring art and creative experiences are available to support people’s health and wellbeing (53% ranked this in their top three priorities).

 

Arts attendance was high prior to COVID-19

Prior to COVID-19, live attendance at arts events was thriving in 2019. Almost 7 in 10 Queensland residents had attend a live arts event (68%).Almost half attend music (47%), around a third attend visual arts and craft (35%) and theatre (32%), 29% attend dance and 20% attend literary events.

Four in 10 Queenslanders attended festivals including music festivals (7%), multi-art form festivals (7%), visual art festivals or fairs (6%) and performing arts festivals (6%).  

 

Queenslanders are making and creating art

More than 4 in 10 Queensland residents create, produce or collaborate in the making of art (42%). Visual arts and craft remains the most popular art form in which Queenslanders actively participate (23%) followed by community arts (15%), creative writing (14%), music (13%), dance (7%) and theatre (4%).

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and attendance in First Nations arts is strong

More than 3 in 10 Queensland residents were attending First Nations arts (32%, up from 25% in 2016) and 4 in 10 were interested in First Nations arts (40%) prior to COVID-19.

Queensland residents agree First Nations arts are an important part of Australia’s culture (74%). However, just over half of those from Queensland believe First Nations arts are well represented (53%), showing there is still work to be done to build the representation and profile of First Nations arts.

 

Arts support Queenslanders to connect with their cultural background

A third of Queensland residents connect with, and share, their cultural background through arts and creativity (33%), including by attending arts events (28%).

Almost half of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) residents of Queensland attend arts events focused on their cultural background or community (49%).

 

Listening to recorded music and reading are popular

More than 9 in 10 Queensland residents listen to recorded music (92%). Almost 7 in 10 listen to music on radio or tv. Over half stream music online for free (e.g. YouTube) (56%) and 37% stream music through a paid subscription (e.g. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music).

Seven in 10 Queensland residents read for pleasure (69%). The most popular types of reading material are novels or short stories (46%), instructional non-fiction such as guidebooks or cookbooks (34%) and creative non-fiction such as biography or history (29%).

Print books remain the most popular format, read by two thirds of Queensland residents (67%). Over a third read e-books (37%) and over a quarter listen to audiobooks (27%).

 

Most Queenslanders are engaging with the arts online.

8 in 10 Queenslanders are engaging with the arts online, up from 77% in 2016. Listening to streamed music remains the most popular way to engage with arts online. (67%).

Almost 3 in 10 Queensland residents express themselves creatively on digital platforms (29%), including through image galleries like Instagram (9%), memes (8%) and music or songs (7%). 

More than 6 in 10 Queensland residents use digital platforms to engage with the arts (62%), including Facebook (38%), YouTube (37%) and Instagram (24%).