2022 key findings

Attendance and participation

• Almost half of WA residents attended live music (48%, consistent with 48% in 2019)
• 41% WA residents attended arts festivals (up from 39% in 2019), including music festivals (24%), performing arts festivals (15%) and visual art festivals or fairs (15%)
• almost 2 in 5 WA residents attended visual arts and crafts events (38%, consistent with 36% in 2019)
• one third of WA residents attended theatre performances (33%, consistent with 34% in 2019)
• 3 in 10 WA residents attended First Nations arts or festivals (28%, consistent with 30% in 2019) and dance events (28%, consistent with 28% in 2019)
• 1 in 5 WA residents attended literary events (18%, consistent with 20% in 2019).
• 1 in 4 WA residents created visual arts and craft, including to engage with their own cultural background (25%, consistent with 25% in 2019).
• 1 in 6 WA residents created music, including to engage with their own cultural background (15%, consistent with 17% in 2019) and participated in community choir or community theatre (15%, consistent with 13% in 2019).
• 1 in 7 WA residents produced creative writing, including to engage with their own cultural background (14%, consistent with 16% in 2019).
• 1 in 10 WA residents were involved in community arts and cultural development (9%, consistent with 11% in 2019) and creatively participated in dance, including to engage with their own cultural background (9%, consistent with 9% in 2019). 
• 6% of WA residents creatively participated in theatre, including to engage with their own cultural background (similar to 2019 at 7%). 

1. ensuring free or low-cost events are available (71% ranked in top 3)
2. ensuring children and young people have access to art and creative experiences to support learning and development (67% ranked in top 3)
3. ensuring art and creative experiences are available to support people’s health and wellbeing (47% ranked in top 3). 
4. funding art in public spaces (37% ranked in top 3).
5. investing in the making of art so it can be widely shared and experienced (34% ranked in top 3)
6. ensuring there is more access to creative activities and experiences online (23% ranked in top 3)
7. supporting art that pushes boundaries and drives innovation (21% ranked in top 3).

Graph: WA residents' overall engagement in creative and artistic activities and events in 2022 

Attitudes towards First Nations arts 

• In 2022, there was widespread agreement among WA residents that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts are an important part of Australia’s culture, with 72% agreeing. Agreement has decreased since 2019 (76%). 
• However, less than half of Australians living in WA believe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts are well represented in Australia (47%). This is slightly down from 50% in 2019. 
• In 2022, 37% of Western Australians were interested in First Nations arts (consistent with 36% in 2019). Among those interested, 46% reported a growing interest in First Nations arts in 2022 (up from 39% in 2019). 

Cultural diversity and arts engagement 

• In 2022, 3 in 10 of WA residents engaged with their own cultural background, language group or community by attending events or festivals, or creating art (30%, down from 33% 2019).
• In 2022, 1 in 4 Western Australians attended cultural and artistic events focused on their own cultural background, language group or community (25%). This is a slight decrease from 29% in 2019. Music is the main form of arts event attended (14%), followed by visual arts and craft and festivals or celebrations (both 9%).    

About

The 2022 National Arts Participation Survey was conducted in September to October 2022 and the results are based on a nationally representative sample of 9396 people. The survey sample included 1310 WA residents.