Australian arts organisations have done little to diversify white, middle-class audience, study finds

Many arts and cultural organisations have set themselves up to nurture their existing audience at the expense of a broader base, researchers say. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

With audience profiles still stubbornly white, middle-class and middle-aged, most of Australia’s arts and cultural organisations have done little to broaden and diversify their audience base in recent years, a study has found.

And the recovery from Covid-19 may have narrowed the demographic even further, according to the joint study led by Deakin University.