Arts and Sports Engagement Discrepancy in Government Policies: Is it Time for Change?

There is a noticeable discrepancy in how government policies in Australia engage with the arts and sports sectors, with a clear emphasis on participation in sports and audience engagement in the arts.

Unlike the robust focus on increasing participation in grassroots sports, arts policies in Australia tend to prioritize audience engagement rather than fostering active participation.

The Australian Sports Commission‘s Corporate Plan 2023-27 highlights specific targets to involve more Australians in sports at all levels, with a strong emphasis on grassroots participation.

On the other hand, arts policies, such as Creative Australia‘s corporate plan 2023-27, aim to expand reach to audiences and remove barriers to equity and participation.

The government sports departments’ models are centered around promoting participation at all levels, while arts departments primarily focus on engaging and enriching audiences.

State sports departments, like New South Wales Office for Sport and Sport and Recreation Victoria, prioritize lifelong participation in sports and recreation for all individuals.

Conversely, arts strategies in various states, such as Arts South Australia and Create NSW, support professional artists and organizations to benefit audiences.

While some states, like Western Australia and Victoria, are now emphasizing economic benefits derived from the arts, the overarching focus remains on audience engagement.

The community arts sector, encompassing activities like community theatre, choirs, and local art classes, often goes unrecognized in government policies, with more support usually provided at the local government level.

There are recent indications of a shift, with SA‘s decision to expand ‘sports vouchers’ to include music lessons, bridging the gap between arts and sports participation.

Data on the crossover between community arts activities and funded arts sectors is scarce, highlighting the need for a more organized system to connect arts participation data to overarching goals and strategies.

While up to 44% of Australians participate creatively in the arts, aligning this data with the goals of Creative Australia and state policies remains a challenge.

As the sports sector thrives under a connected system encompassing participation and elite performance, the arts sector may benefit from a similar approach to fully realize the potential of community arts engagement.