Victorian Government cultural and creative industries and COVID support expenditure, 2023-24

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Government cultural funding survey estimates how much public funding (federal Government, state and territory governments and local government) is provided each year to arts and cultural activities and facilities.

The latest research reflects on the 12 months of 2023-24.

During 2023-24, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and other portfolio areas, provided $726.8m to support cultural activities and businesses across the state. This represented a decrease of 2 per cent or $18.2m from 2021–22.

Snapshots
      • Chart 1 shows a decrease of 2 per cent ($18.2m) in Victorian Government funding in 2023-24 following a decline of 3 per cent ($26.9m) in Victorian Government funding in 2021-22.
      • Victorian Government experienced record funding in 2020-21 and expenditure growth of 35 per cent over the two years to June 2022 (including COVID support).
      • Chart 2 shows largest proportion (37%) of Heritage funds were spent on Libraries ($112.8m), 32% on Art museums ($98.6m), 25% on Other museums and cultural heritage ($76.0m)and 6% on Archives ($16.8m).
      • Chart 3 shows Funds for Total Arts activities rose 2% ($7.7m) to $422.6m. This increase was driven by a rise in expenditure in Cross-art form ($151.4m), however was offset by a decrease in Performing arts venues ($105.1m) and Arts Education ($29.1).
Chart 1: Cultural Funding by the Victorian Government, 2016-17 to 2023-24. Source: ABS Cultural Funding by Government survey, Office of the Arts, Creative Victoria Note: *survey not run in 2018-19 and 2022-2023
Chart 2: Victorian Government heritage expenditure by selected categories (recurrent and capital). Source: ABS Cultural Funding by Government survey, Office of the Arts, Creative Victoria Note: *survey not run in 2022-2023
Chart 3: Victorian Government arts expenditure by selected categories (recurrent and capital). Source: ABS Cultural Funding by Government survey, Office of the Arts, Creative Victoria Note: *survey not run in 2022-2023

To find out about national government cultural expenditure please visit the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts.