Giving Attitude | Private Sector Support Survey 2020

Research survey reports rise in private giving despite pandemic.

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre – String Symphony Photo by Luke Baker

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre - String Symphony Photo by Luke Baker

We are pleased to release the second edition of Giving Attitude, a biennial survey of private sector support for arts and culture. Designed to inform policy and aide in advocacy for investment in the arts, Giving Attitude 2020 reports both quantitative data and a reflection of sentiment towards fundraising in the sector. This edition builds on the 2018 report and with subsequent surveys, will enable trends to be monitored, including the impact of external factors such as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on private sector support.

Giving Attitude 2020 observed cash contributions through donations and sponsorships to arts and cultural organisations has risen, growing from $351 million to over $377 million. Based on financial data from the 2019 calendar year and 2019/20 financial year, the total value of private sector support for the arts and cultural sector reached $540 million. This encompassed all cash and in-kind support provided through donations, sponsorships, bequests, fundraising and volunteering.

However, due to significant falls in the value of in-kind sponsorships ($65 million to $25 million), volunteer and pro bono support ($180 million to $124 million), and bequests ($49 million to $17 million) received by arts and cultural organisations, there was an 11% decline in the value of total private sector support. This indicates that although donations and sponsorships remained steady, the reduction in intangible support for the arts through fewer volunteer hours and in-kind services has led to an overall reduction in support for the arts.

There has been an increased acknowledgement by organisations that private sector support is an important part of their revenue stream and of the need to have the appropriate skills and resources available to undertake this work. Less than a quarter of organisations surveyed had a dedicated fundraiser on their staff, indicating a gap in fundraising capacity within the sector.

The involvement of boards in fundraising remains a live issue, with senior staff reporting low levels of board engagement in fundraising activities and indicating a focus area for organisations to improve in future years.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher, reiterated the importance of private sector investment paired with Government support in sustaining a vibrant arts and cultural sector.

“The Morrison Government recognises the significant financial support the private sector provides Australian arts and culture. This is highlighted via the work of Creative Partnerships Australia in reporting vital trends and insights through Giving Attitude 2020.”

Creative Partnerships Australia’s CEO, Fiona Menzies added the report is designed to track trends as well as provide arts organisations with a reference point against which to measure their own achievements in attracting and maintaining private sector support.

“This edition of Giving Attitude includes research from the early impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on private sector support for arts and culture in Australia with our next edition to consolidate these results for organisations to measure,” Menzies said.

Creative Partnerships’ will undertake another survey of 2020 financial results in early 2022, which will provide a comprehensive picture of the impact of the pandemic on private sector support for the arts.