FOR MEDIA
1
OCTOBER 2009
NSW leads states in arts sponsorships and donations
New South Wales leads Australia in business sponsorships of the arts and donations to the
arts, according to the second annual AbaF Survey of Private Sector Support for the Arts,
released on 1 October by the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF).
New South Wales ($72.1 million) and Victoria (64.1 million) received the lion’s share of
private sector income – 68 per cent of the national total of $202 million. Queensland moved
into third place with $18.7 million (9 per cent).
Western Australian arts organisations received $18.1 million, South Australia $13 million, the
ACT $8.8 million, and Northern Territory $3.8 million and Tasmania $3.6 million.
AbaF’s survey incorporates financial data from 276 arts organisations across the country.
AbaF asked how much they received in the 2007-8 financial year in sponsorships (cash and
in-kind) and donations. Based on these figures AbaF calculated a total for the whole
Australian arts sector.
The sector that received the most private sector support was performing arts ($77.8M)
followed by art galleries ($50.7M).
The AbaF survey is the only comprehensive national study of private sector support for the
arts. A summary of the findings is available from 1 October on the AbaF website
Key findings include:
Australian arts and cultural organisations earned $202 million income from the
private sector in 2007-8. This was an increase of 18 per cent from the previous year.
Donations increased by 22 per cent, while business sponsorship increased by 14 per
cent.
Overall, 8.8 per cent of the total income of arts and cultural organisations was
derived from the private sector – up from 7.8 per cent the previous year.
Private sector income was divided almost equally between donations (52 per cent)
and sponsorships (48 per cent). This represented a slight tilt towards donations since
the previous year.
Jane Haley, AbaF CEO said: “The results demonstrate an impressive return on the
investment that arts and cultural organisations have made in developing their strategies to
increase private sector support. The economic downturn will inevitably have an impact on
income for the arts from the private sector but many arts and cultural organisations have
established solid foundations which should stand them in good stead for the future.”
Media contact: For more information or to arrange an interview contact Nick Gadd,
AbaF communications manager 03 9616 0308 / 0425 862 119.
AbaF is a national organisation that promotes private sector support for the arts.
NEWS 
