In 2020-21, 38 performing arts organisations were funded by Creative Victoria, reporting on employment, volunteering, income and expenditure and attendance and programming. 33 of these are located within metropolitan Melbourne.
18 of these are located within regional Victoria.
Definition of performing arts organisations are organisations that develop, create and present performance works, facilitating exchanges between audiences and creative practitioners.
Finance
Creative Victoria provided $18 million to performing arts organisations; 13% of their total income. Total income for all performing arts organisations was $134 million.
Every $1 provided by Creative Victoria leveraged a further $6.67 income to this sector.
Sources of income
- Earned income was 13% of total income.
- Creative Victoria funding was 13%.
- Other Government funding was 74% of total income, almost all of which was local Government.
- Private support was 1% of total income.
- $3 million in cash sponsorship
- $1 million through in-kind sponsorship
- $20 million in donations
- $114 thousand through fundraising
- $3 million from foundations (incl. philanthropy)
- $459 thousand in bequests
Local Government support represented 72% of the total income at $17 million.
Earned income | $18m | 13% |
Creative Victoria | $18m | 13% |
Other Government | $61m | 45% |
Private support | $28m | 21% |
Other | $10m | 8% |

Expenditure
- 56% of sector expenditure went towards production costs
- 27% on administration costs
- 11% on marketing costs
Production | $71m | 56% |
Administration | $35m | 27% |
Marketing | $14m | 11% |
Other | $4m | 3% |
Depreciation | $4m | 3% |

Workforce
The sector employed 2,249 people.
- Total employment is equivalent to 907 full time employees
- 57% are employed on a casual basis.
Performing arts centres engaged the services of 2,152 creative practitioners.
469 volunteers provided 4,068 hours of service.
Full time | 673 | 30% |
Part time | 290 | 13% |
Casual | 1,286 | 57% |

Audience
Performing arts organisations reported attendances of 2 million.
- 38% from metropolitan Melbourne
- 57% from regional Victoria
- 4% from interstate
- 1% from overseas
29 organisations reported 129 million views on digital platforms (incl. radio, TV, live streaming, downloads), in addition to over 4 million unique website views.
Programming
Performing arts organisations presented 1,114 events, including:
- 365 productions
- 12 exhibitions
- 451 workshops
- 158 lectures, seminars and public talks
- 54 films
- 74 other events
Sector development
Organisations that offered education or youth participation programs recorded 118,952 student or youth attendances throughout 2,950 sessions.
A number of organisations offered targeted programming:
- 16 offered programming for First Peoples
- 14 offered programming for children (up to 12 years)
- 24 offered programming for youth (12 to 25 years)
- 18 offered programming for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- 7 offered programming for senior citizens
- 9 offered programming for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex
- 10 offered programming for people who identify as women
- 14 offered programming for people who identify as having a disability
- 17 offered programming for people living in regional communities.
The sector reported nil inbound tours and 21 outbound tours.
Inbound | - | Victoria | - |
Interstate | - | ||
International | - | ||
Outbound | 21 | Victoria | 6 |
Interstate | 9 | ||
International | 6 |