Perth Festival boost for WA people and culture

A review of Perth Festival’s Covid-struck 2022 program has found the event provided a big social, cultural and economic boost for the Western Australian community.

Based on participant surveys and financial data analysis by Culture Counts, the 2022 Impact Report confirms the not-for-profit Perth Festival’s significant public value as an investment in community wellbeing.

In a financial lift for the arts sector, the Festival paid $10.9 million into the pockets of local artists, workers, suppliers, and contractors. And a range of social, cultural and community impact scores were the highest in five years of Culture Counts measuring the Festival’s impact.

As expected after Covid-enforced cancellations and venue restrictions, audiences and economic impact results were down. Attendances were 143,665 and direct economic impact was $20 million, with a multiplied flow-on impact of $55 million.

The Festival still managed to exceed its box-office target, with overall ticket sales of $3.22 million, and its 125 events featured 630 artists.

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