• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

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19 August 2010This publication contains estimates of Australian public funding for arts and cultural activities, facilities and services across three levels of government for 2008-09 and 2007-08.

The survey of Cultural Funding by Government, 2008-09 collected information on recurrent and capital expenditure by Australian and state government departments (including selected authorities, corporations and councils) for heritage and arts cultural activities, facilities and services. Funding data in this publication are aligned, where possible, with the categories specified in the Industry Classification of the Australian Culture and Leisure Classifications, Second edition (cat. no. 4902.0), released in 2008. Cultural activities have been classified into two major groups: Heritage; and the Arts.

Estimates reported at the Australian government, and state and territory government level for 2008-09 and 2007-08 are not comparable with data prior to 2007-08 due to changes in methodology, scope and coverage of the collection implemented for the 2007-08 collection. Prior to the 2007-08 collection, estimates were compiled from administrative by-product data obtained by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) from annual reports and budget papers, and from information provided by selected Australian Government authorities and state and territory governments. From 2007-08, estimates have been compiled using information provided directly to the ABS via an electronic-form which is sent to all in-scope government departments (including selected agencies, authorities and corporations).

Local government funding data is obtained by the ABS from state and territory Local Government Grants Commissions data, or equivalent. The local government data is classified according to the Local Government Purpose Classification (LGPC).

During the course of the 2008-09 collection, expenditure reported by some government departments for 2007-08 was revised. These data revisions for 2007-08 have been included in this release.