Seniors in the arts
- 19 Aug 2015
Queenslanders of all ages are actively involved in the arts. To mark Seniors Week here are some quick facts about how older Queenslanders are involved in the arts….
Nine in 10 are engaged in arts
Nearly all Queenslanders aged 65 years and over participated or attended at least one arts activity or read creative writing in the 2013 (96 per cent). The most popular activity was reading literature (92 per cent). 58 per cent of Queenslanders aged 65 years and over attended a gallery or live music event, theatre or dance in 2013. 1
4 in 10 are actively involved by creating or making art
Over 200,000 Queenslanders aged 65 years and over made art or were actively involved in an arts activity during 2013 (40 per cent). Visual arts was the most popular art form for participation followed by music and theatre and dance.1
Nearly a quarter donate their time or money to the arts
Twenty-three per cent of Queenslanders aged over 65 years volunteer their time or money for the arts. Of these 53 per cent have done volunteer work in the arts and 44 per cent donated money.1
Older Queenslanders are still working in an arts occupations
5,849 or 14.6 percent of Queenslanders employed in an arts occupation during 2011 were aged over 55 years. Common forms of employment included music teacher (private tuition), printer and dance teacher.2
Source
1. Arts in Daily Life: Queenslanders and the arts
2. Employment in Culture, 2011 – Queensland, Australian Bureau of Statistics