The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released its first experimental measures of the economic contribution of cultural and creative activity in Australia.

The publication entitled Australian National Accounts: Cultural and Creative Activity Satellite Accounts, Experimental, 2008-09 demonstrates that cultural and creative activity is estimated to have contributed $86.0 billion (6.9%) to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product in 2008-09.

The release shows cultural and creative activity, including that of the museums, galleries and arts sectors, is a significant component of the Australian economy, in addition to playing an important role in the well-being and quality of life of the community. The report also found that:

• Volunteer services to arts and heritage organisations are estimated to have been worth a further $756 million in 2008-09

• The number of persons whose main employment was in a cultural or creative industry or occupation averaged 972,200 in 2008-09.

• There were 164,730 entities actively trading as a business or non-profit institution within the cultural and creative industries at the end of June 2009.