Page title

Key facts: March 2022

WA digital engagement

• -4% decline in WA audiences participating in online experiences since Nov 21
• 30% of digital audiences are paying for experiences
• 46% of those paying spent $50 or more in the last fortnight
• 19% are watching pre-recorded video of performances and events

Key statistics: Western Australian audiences, March 2022

• Following an uptake in digital participation in November 2021, engagement with online arts and cultural activities has declined slightly in Western Australia (WA), as audiences return to in-person attendance in 2022.
• WA audiences are among the least likely to be participating in online arts and culture activities of any state or territory: 36% said they participated online in the fortnight before data collection (9-13 March 2022), down from 40% in November 2021.
• The most common activities engaging WA audiences are watching pre-recorded video of an event (19%, stable) and doing an online class, course or tutorial (15%, down from 19%).
• 1 in 3 (30%) digital audiences in WA are paying for online arts and culture experiences. They are most similar to audiences in SA (32% paying) and QLD (33% paying) — both states that have experienced fewer disruptions to in-person attendance in the last two years, relative to other states/territories like NSW, VIC and the ACT.
• Among the WA audiences paying for online experiences, a consistent proportion spent $50 or more in the fortnight before data collection (46%, stable from 48% in November 2021).
• Three key segments persist for digital experiences: ‘digital devotees,’ the 26% of WA audiences who see a substantial role for digital in their lives, ‘tired of tech’ audiences, the 31% who see no role at all outside of lockdown and ‘selective but supportive’ audiences, the 43% who see a small role.
• One WA ‘digital devotee’ said: ‘My home is in a rural area, so online gives me unlimited access to as much as I want. To attend live events is not always easy.’
• One WA ‘tired of tech’ audience member shared: ‘I haven't felt the need to do online events as yet, as we've been able to more or less continue life as normal in regional WA.’
• One WA ‘selective but supportive’ audience member shared: ‘Being present at a live/living performance is tops. Given that might not be possible, on line performances are much appreciated.

Table 1: Key segments for online arts and culture experiences among Western Australian audiences, March 2022.