More arts cash for WA

Private sector support for the arts has increased again this year, according to the latest figures from the Australia Business Arts Foundation.

Nationally, private sector support for the arts, which includes sponsorship and donations, represents 10.4 per cent of the sector’s overall income, compared to 9.3 per cent in 2008-09.

“The terrific effort of arts companies to build connections with donors is clearly delivering results, with income from giving increasing significantly by 10.6 per cent to $123.1 million,” AbaF chief executive Jane Haley said.

In Western Australia, significant growth in private sector support was recorded, with a 33 per cent increase ($5.3 million) in 2009-10 compared to 2008-09.

Overall private sector support for the arts in WA totals $21 million, which represents 10 per cent of total national private sector support for the arts.

“It is particularly pleasing to see that corporate support has continued to grow in Western Australia during 2010 while giving has increased significantly from the modest base of the previous survey,” AbaF WA director Henry Boston said.

Nationally, figures for corporate sponsorship of arts organisations showed a 2.7 per cent decline last financial year to $98 million, the first fall since 2004-05.

“AbaF had expected a decrease in sponsorships in 2010 since business support for the arts tends to lag the general economic performance by 18 to 24 months,” Ms Haley said.

“Australia’s decrease of 2.7 per cent was moderate compared to similar decreases in the UK of 11 per cent.”

WA arts organisations fared well as one of the few states to record a higher percentage of private sector sponsorship, at 68 per cent or $15 million, compared to income from giving at 32 per cent or $7 million.

Nationally, private sector support for the arts was $221.1 million in 2009-10 an increase of 4.25 per cent from 2008-09. This is a 98 per cent increase from 2001-02 data, which show that overall private sector support for the arts was then $111.6 million.

Giving also increased significantly to $123.1 million from 2008-09, up 10.6 per cent.

The proportion of total income for arts and cultural organisations accounted for by private sector support has increased to 10.4 per cent in 2009-10 from 9.3 per cent in 2008-09.

The annual AbaF survey of private sector support for the arts tracks the value of sponsorships and donations to small and medium-sized not-for-profit arts organisations, as well as major galleries, festivals and performing arts companies.