Industry overview

The Australian arts and cultural industries contribute almost $8 billion to the Australian economy and employ more than 800,000 Australians.

The employment and training characteristics of these industries include a high level of contract, freelance, casual and part-time employment; a high number of micro and small businesses; limited entry level employment opportunities for 15–19 year olds; limited opportunities for structured on-the-job training; strong volunteer involvement in the museums and galleries sector and the community radio and television sector; and high attrition of workers at all career levels.

Verve works closely with the following sectors to establish industry needs:

• community and cultural development
• film, television and radio
• libraries and museums
• multimedia
• music and recording
• performing arts
• theatre and dance
• visual arts, craft and design
• writing and publishing.

Industry issues and trends

In the libraries and museums sector, staff (both paid and unpaid) in regional museums, galleries and libraries need skills upgrading.

In the entertainment sector, the existing workforce in television broadcasting and post production needs training in digital TV. Training institutions do not have state-of-the-art equipment and software. There is a shortage of suitably qualified and skilled scenic artists, stage managers, assistants and technicians.

In the visual arts, craft and design sector, artists do not have access to the latest equipment. Artists need training in writing submissions, dealing with contracts and managing projects. Public art is an area of growth which requires a new course.

In the multimedia sector, there is a shortage of people with the high-level programming and animation skills needed to produce top quality games for local and international markets.