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Cultural Ministers Council - Statistics Working Group
In 1985, the Cultural Ministers Council established the Statistics Working Group (SWG) because of concerns with the shortcomings in information and statistics for cultural industries. This lack of reliable data was seen as an impediment to policy development and effective planning.
SWG's objective is to improve policy-making and decision-making in the cultural industries, government cultural development management and policy areas by enhancing the quality, range, availability and use of appropriate statistics.
SWG is composed of officials from State and Territory arts ministries, DCITA and the National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics (NCCRS) in the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), together with the Australia Council and Australian Film Commission. The New Zealand Ministry of Cultural Affairs is also represented.
SWG liaises with the Australian Bureau of Statistics on cultural statistics, monitors the need for the development, collection and dissemination of culture/leisure statistics, commissions studies, and provides advice to the Cultural Ministers Council on statistical matters.
The Cultural Ministers Council provides funding through SWG to the ABS to supports its cultural statistics activities which include surveys of:
- Cultural funding by Government;
- Cultural industries;
- Attendance at selected cultural venues and events;
- Children's participation in culture and leisure activities;
- Work in selected culture and leisure activities; and
- Employment in culture.