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Respondent profile

584 creative artists who are mainly engaged in making original work, shared their experiences on how COVID-19 has impacted their work. 

Respondent type

• 76% Sole traders
• 15% Freelancers
• 9% Other.

Industry sub-category (top responses)

• 38% Visual artists or sculptors
• 20% Musicians or composers
• 12% Writers, poets, playwrights or screenwriters
• 7% Actors
• 4% Dancers or choreographers
• 4% Circus performers.

The following findings are based on respondents’ reported impacts from 1 April to 30 June 2020. 

Number of jobs

Jobs for creative artists fell 77%. This was based on expected versus actual number of employees reported by partnerships, companies and not-for-profits operating in the creative artists sector. There were significant decreases in freelance and contract jobs (down 94%) and casual jobs (down 73%). 

Actual versus expected revenue

• 30% - Percentage of expected revenue earned before COVID-19 support
• 53% - Percentage of expected revenue earned after COVID-19 support.

COVID-19 support

• 23% - Received COVID-19 support
• $4,537 - Average value of support.

JobKeeper

Percentage of business entities that received JobKeeper assistance for employees.

• N/A - Freelancer
• 31% - Sole trader
• 23% - Partnership
• 42% - Company
• 30% - Not-for-profit.

Alternative revenue sources 

Percentage of business entities that needed to draw on alternative revenue sources to cover lost revenue.

Methodology

This fact sheet was compiled from a survey conducted in 2020 by CATALYSE® Pty Ltd on behalf of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. View the full survey report.