{"id":2442499,"date":"2026-06-03T01:14:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T01:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2442499"},"modified":"2026-06-03T01:14:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T01:14:21","slug":"creative-australia-survey-why-australians-are-flocking-to-live-music-arts-and-festivals-despite-economic-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/creative-australia-survey-why-australians-are-flocking-to-live-music-arts-and-festivals-despite-economic-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Australia survey: Why Australians are flocking to live music, arts and festivals despite economic pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<header class=\"sc-ad76bc40-0 fNDZoQ\">\n<div class=\"sc-5cbbddda-0 hjlPcO\">\n<div data-testid=\"article-author\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-1 hPBdKJ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-0 efdRpd noPrint\" data-testid=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-1 iddmiW\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 kskMyR sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button aria-label=\"Set font size to normal\" aria-pressed=\"true\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 yiNod\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to larger\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqtnv\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to very large\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqrHP\">A<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<aside class=\"sc-6f94ac39-6 esmrVF\"\/>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>Australians are rising from their couches and attending live blockbusters, arts events, concerts and festivals like never before, even in the face of an economic downturn.<\/p>\n<p>Fear of missing out and a desire for shared experiences are driving this boom, according to a landmark survey of 9000 Australians by Creative Australia. The research also found that dance and book lovers are among the most enthusiastic consumers of cultural entertainment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.107%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_7\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/887d17ab488cd5590a8279d091afd276f6aa5215, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.107%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_7\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/887d17ab488cd5590a8279d091afd276f6aa5215 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.107%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_7\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/887d17ab488cd5590a8279d091afd276f6aa5215, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.107%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_7\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/887d17ab488cd5590a8279d091afd276f6aa5215 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Australia wants to rock at any price. \" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.107%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_7\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/887d17ab488cd5590a8279d091afd276f6aa5215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.107%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_7\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/887d17ab488cd5590a8279d091afd276f6aa5215, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.107%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_7\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/887d17ab488cd5590a8279d091afd276f6aa5215 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Australia wants to rock at any price. <\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Steven Siewert<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However, active interest in First Nations art is declining \u2014 falling from 40 per cent to 37 per cent in three years \u2014 and audiences remain highly anxious about artificial intelligence in the arts and its impact on authentic experiences.<\/p>\n<p>Conducted since 2009, the National Arts Participation Survey serves as a crucial barometer for the sector\u2019s health, informing federal policy, including its <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/culture\/art-and-design\/100-ticket-vouchers-for-teens-urged-as-australia-lags-peers-in-arts-spending-20260421-p5zpru.html\">cultural review, <i data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"348\">Revive<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>Seventy-four per cent of Australians (15.4 million) reported attending an arts event or festival in the past year, up from 68 per cent in 2022. This represents an influx of 1.2 million new attendees since 2022, marking the highest attendance in the survey\u2019s 17-year history.<\/p>\n<p>Music remains the most popular art form, with notable upswings in musical theatre, cabaret, and classical music. More Australians are listening to recorded music (up to 94 per cent) and streaming (up to 77 per cent), though fewer are purchasing it (down from 26 per cent to 20 per cent).<\/p>\n<p>More Australians report cost as a barrier \u2013 60 per cent in 2025 compared to 55 per cent in 2022 \u2013 but audiences are still willing to break the bank for major shared cultural moments, eagerly buying tickets for massive touring acts such as <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/entertainment\/lost-perths-acdc-memories-3-hours-straight-and-angus-was-cranking-20151130-glbh7k.html\">AC\/DC<\/a>, Metallica, and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/culture\/live-reviews\/oasis-sydney-review-triumphant-gallaghers-serve-fans-a-near-perfect-set-20251108-p5n8p0.html\">Oasis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAttending a live music event can sometimes be about more than just the music. It can also be about sharing historic moments,\u201d the report said. \u201cFor many, it is not simply a personal connection to the artist that creates a desire to attend the live music event. It is also about participating in a larger phenomenon that is trending in real time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor example, Oasis\u2019s 2025 world tour, their first performance in Australia since 2005, offered more than just music \u2013 it provided an opportunity to be part of a rare moment in history, engendering nostalgia for \u201990s rock as well as feelings of belonging and a sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p><iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/interactive\/modules\/graphic-embed\/?resizable=true&amp;v=950&amp;configUrl=https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/interactive\/hub\/configs\/graphic-embed\/57992.json&amp;v=0.160093171123603\" class=\"sc-a37c8537-0 sc-d102cce5-1 inzSmD wbXDd\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Dance attendees are among the most loyal, with 31 per cent attending events at an impressive average of 14.5 times per year. \u201cThere appears to be a strong sense of connection that keeps them coming back,\u201d said Rebecca Mostyn, Creative Australia\u2019s research director, noting that dance audiences are also highly diverse. Across all art forms, audiences skew toward women, city dwellers, and those exposed to the arts in school.<\/p>\n<p>James Cook University researcher Dr Amanda Krause said live entertainment\u2019s resilience made sense: \u201cThere is something about that in-person, unfolding in real-time excitement. If we go back a few years when there were these concerns around music piracy, [it] was predicted to be the end of purchasing albums, but people still bought the music, they still bought tickets to shows, so I think people will always value engagement in the arts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt might mean having to spend more money or saving money, and maybe you aren\u2019t going to go to as many shows, but you will prioritise the music you want to see. There\u2019s actually some cool research that shows audience members at a music concert, their hearts beats in synch as one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A striking 93 per cent of Australians harbour concerns about artificial intelligence in the arts, with 73 per cent questioning whether AI-generated works can even be considered \u201creal\u201d or authentic art.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>Despite state and federal cultural policies giving weight and funding to First Nations arts, the survey also reveals a downward trend in interest across most demographics including Millennials, alongside a reported rise in active disinterest (22 per cent, up from 18 per cent in 2022).<\/p>\n<p><iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/interactive\/modules\/datawrapper-embed\/index.html?resizable=true&amp;dataSrc=https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/UCpdg\/1\/&amp;dwTitle=Barriers%2520to%2520attendance%2520by%2520year&amp;ariaLabel=Grouped%2520Bars&amp;height=661&amp;v=1780360784120\" class=\"sc-a37c8537-0 sc-d102cce5-1 inzSmD wbXDd\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Mostyn noted that these attitudes are highly sensitive to public discussion and belied an uptick in attendance at such events. The survey followed the<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/politics\/federal\/voice-referendum-results-live-updates-australia-rejects-constitutional-change-pm-says-government-will-accept-result-20231014-p5ec9o.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> 2023 Voice to parliament referendum.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cNotably, most Australians [7 in 10] think First Nations arts and culture are important to our country, whether they personally engage or not,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h3>Want more Australian arts? We\u2019ve got you.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"article-footer\" class=\"sc-780f6c39-0 fWnQtB\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-1 bhFzjY noPrint\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-2 ksUUFP\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga sc-780f6c39-3 fMMhlQ\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 yEdFV sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sc-3dbe4134-0 iIZygf sc-df8e6ee0-0 noPrint noPrint\" data-an-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-group=\"everything\" data-an-cu-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-position=\"4\" data-testid=\"from-our-partners-strap\">\n<header class=\"sc-84567ec1-0 hpMljf\">\n<h2 data-pb-type=\"hi\" class=\"sc-84567ec1-1 weWOF\"><span>From our partners<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.smh.com.au \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. AAA Australians are rising from their couches and attending live blockbusters, arts events, concerts and festivals like never before, even in the face of an economic downturn. Fear of missing out and a desire for shared [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2442500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2442499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Creative-Australia-survey-Why-Australians-are-flocking-to-live-music.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2442499"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2442501,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442499\/revisions\/2442501"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2442500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2442499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2442499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2442499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}