We made a big impact in WA!
Together, we pulled off the impossible
Our Impact Report has landed revealing stats and survey results showcasing how we boosted Western Australia’s social wellbeing, community pride and economy in 2021.
We were incredibly lucky to be able to present one of the few festivals to go ahead anywhere in the world and considering all that has happened over the past year, the positive impact we made on our community in 2021 hit even harder.
There were still plenty of hardships including a week-long lockdown just as we were about to open but as they say, 'the show must go on' and thanks to our talented team, loyal audiences, artists, companies, government partners, sponsors and donors it did!
‘Perth Festival 2021 captures this palpable yen to rediscover our own backyard, to connect with the spirit of a place.’ Rosamund Brennan, The Guardian
New audiences, local artists supported and community connections rebuilt!
Despite restrictions on venue capacities and mass gatherings, the report by analysts Culture Counts reveals that the Festival attracted new audiences, supported local artists and rebuilt community connections disrupted by COVID-19.
More positive results show:
- 15% of our 473,616 attendances were Festival newcomers – led by the great success of Songlines at WA Museum Boola Bardip.
- Spending by audiences, artists and the Festival made a $32 million direct impact and $90.3 million in flow-on impact across the economy.
- Audiences spent $3 million at the box office at an average ticket price of $30 and another $19.1 million on food, hospitality, and associated activities.
- The Festival presented 111 events including 44 new commissions and 18 world premiere productions.
- Almost all the 1041 participating artists were from WA and Perth Festival paid $11.28 million into the pockets of local artists, workers, suppliers, and contractors.
- 95% of people said Perth Festival delivers high quality cultural experiences to the people of WA.
- Away from the spotlight, the report noted strong results for the Festival’s arts-sector support, creative learning, accessibility, and engagement programs across the community.
- Some 92% of the 7063 students and 279 teachers from 172 schools rated their Creative Learning experience as good or excellent.
'This 2021 Impact Report confirms that a Festival like ours helps turn groups of people into a community,’ Festival Executive Director Nathan Bennett said. ‘It affirms how human rituals of creation and participation contribute significant public value in times of adversity.
‘We were very grateful to be able to present the 2021 program, one of the few to go ahead anywhere in the world over the past year. The Festival’s role in amplifying local artists’ voices, and stimulating our city’s vitality, social cohesion and economic activity seemed more critical than ever,’ Mr Bennett said.
‘None of this would have been possible without the astonishing support of our donors and partners, including our Founding Partner the University of Western Australia and Principal Partner Lotterywest, whose COVID-19 Relief Fund has kept the arts afloat.
‘With such strong partners working with us, we are deep in the dreaming and planning for next year and look forward to seeing everyone come together to celebrate our creativity as a community once again for Festival 2022.’
You can read the full report here.
Read the FAQs here.