Audiences return but younger ones are feeling the pinch

Rising costs of living are making it hard for under-35s and families to afford cultural events. A new report suggests ideas to reach them.

Rising costs of living and economic uncertainty are causing younger Australian arts-goers and audiences to spend less on tickets and be more cautious about what they see, according to a new report released by the Australia Council, which surveyed 1318 recent attendees of cultural events.

Financial reasons are the top barrier to attendance, affecting four in 10 audience members, especially the under-55s, according the audience research.

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Rochelle Siemienowicz is the ArtsHub Group's Education and Career Editor. She was previously a journalist for Screenhub and is a writer, film critic and cultural commentator with a PhD in Australian cinema. She was the co-host of Australia's longest-running film podcast 'Hell is for Hyphenates' and has written a memoir, Fallen, published by Affirm Press. Her second book, Double Happiness, a novel, will be published by Midnight Sun in 2024. Instagram: @Rochelle_Rochelle Twitter: @Milan2Pinsk