Diversity Data
- 26 Aug 2015
Queensland Multicultural Awareness Week 22-30 August 2015 has inspired us to share some cultural diversity and the arts data.
Queensland is culturally diverse
Queensland is an increasingly multicultural society being home to people who speak more than 220 languages, hold more than 100 religious beliefs and come from more than 220 countries. Over one fifth (20.5%) of Queenslanders stated they were born outside Australia. And yet only two-thirds of Queenslanders agree that the arts currently reflect our cultural diversity.[1]
Diversity and participation
According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics, a quarter of the population aged 15 years and over in Queensland (897,100 people) participated in at least one cultural activity in the 12 months prior to interview. Of these, those born in Australia (26%) and those born overseas in non-English speaking countries (24%) participated at a similar rate.[2]
Though there is a small difference, the ABS says there is not enough evidence to conclude that the difference between the rate of participation for those born in main English-speaking countries (25%) and those that weren’t (21%) is statistically significant.[3]
However, Australia Council data states that Australians born in non-English-speaking countries are less likely to creatively participate in the arts or attend arts events (38% and 63%) compared to Australians overall (48% and 71%).[4]
Artists and diversity
Professional artist populations are less diverse than the rest of the Australian workforce.
People from a non-English speaking background account for 8% of the professional artist population, compared to 16% in the overall workforce.
Most of these artists have a positive view of their cultural background and what it brings to their practice. However, their median income from creative practice is 40% lower than the median income of other artists.[5]
Diversity in employment
Of the 52,354 persons employed in cultural occupations[6] in Queensland, 25% (12,825) were born overseas. Of these, 40% (5,184) originated from a non-main English-speaking country, compared with 53% nationally.
The cultural occupations with the largest number of employed persons born overseas were graphic designers (1,124, architect (716), architectural draftsperson (578) and photographer (513).[7]
Of the 59,028 persons employed in cultural industries in Queensland, 13,250 (22%) were born overseas. Nearly two thirds (64%) of these were from main English-speaking countries (8,442 persons).
The cultural industries with the most employed persons born overseas were architectural services (1,649), printing (1,270) and advertising services (1,216)
If you like this post you might also like these posts from 2015
Multiculturalism and the Mainstage
Image: Kevin Walsh Bronztite (a thin section of a rock made of olivine and pyroxene – cross-polarized light. https://www.flickr.com/photos/86624586@N00/10175738
Notes:
[1] Australia Council and Arts Queensland 2013 Art in Daily Life Queenslanders and the Arts p.16
[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2013. Culture Participation: A Queensland Perspective, p.4.
[3] ABS 2013. p.4.
[4] Australia Council for the Arts, 2015 Art Nation: An Overview of Australian Arts p.13.
[5] From Throsby D and Zednik A 2010, Do You Really Expect to Get Paid? An Economic Study of Professional Artists in Australia, report for the Australia Council, August in Art Nation, p. 17
[6] ABS reports employment by looking at cultural occupations and by looking at people employed in cultural industries. The latter includes cultural and non-cultural jobs in cultural industries e.g. a finance officer in a theatre company, cleaner in a library.
[7] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2013. Employment in Culture: A Queensland Perspective, p. 6 and 9.