Key results
- On average Victorian creative and cultural organisations rely on volunteer and pro bono services for 45% of income support.
- 17% of Victorians engage in volunteer work in the arts, this is higher than the national average of 15%.
National results
- The importance of volunteer and pro bono services to the arts and culture sector is clear when a monetary value is calculated. At present, nearly one third of all private income support for organisations is derived through volunteering and pro bono services, worth $180 million^.
- The arts and culture sector include a large number of micro organisations+ that depend on volunteer and pro bono services. Creative Partners Australia’s 2018/19 survey found these micros organisations depend on volunteer and pro bono services for three-quarters of their income.
- Outer-metro and non-metro art and culture organisations are also more dependent upon volunteer and pro bono services, making up 75% and 55% of support received respectively, than inner metro art and culture organisations (18%).
- Media and communications, which include publishing, film production, radio and television and libraries, are the most dependent on volunteer and pro bono services (68% of support received).
- Societies (including historical, poetry and literary societies) and Museums and Galleries are also heavily reliant on volunteers (59% and 34% respectively of all support received).
- In 2016 an average of 15% of Australians did volunteer work to support artists, arts organisations and arts projects.
Victorian results
- On average Victoria relies on volunteer and pro bono services for 45% of income support (more than the national average of nearly one third).
- Victorians are more likely to volunteer for the arts than Australians as a whole. In 2016, 17% of Victorians volunteered for the arts or helped artists or community groups with arts activities compared to the national average of 15%.
Volunteer at funded organisations
- Read within the Employment section to see detail about volunteering within Creative Victoria funded organisations
Data sources
Information about Volunteering in the Creative and cultural sector comes from multiple sources:
- In 2018 Creative Partnerships Australia released the results of Giving Attitude: Private Sector Support Survey, which quantifies the value of volunteer services to the national and Victorian creative and cultural sector.
- The Australia Council’s The National Arts Participation survey of 2016 includes rates of volunteering in the arts both nationally and in Victoria.
* Based on an 8-hour day for 2017.
^ Private income support is comprised of cash support (through donations, sponsorship, bequests and fundraising), volunteer and pro bono services and in-kind support reported by those organisations surveyed by Creative Partnerships in 2018/19.
+ (turnover <$50,000)