Adelaide Festivals Contribute $62.9m To SA

By Kelly Noble

Posted on January 9, 2013

womadelaide Impressive economic impact figures released today combining the data of Adelaide’s ten major arts festivals highlight South Australians’ continuing enthusiasm for their premier arts festivals despite tougher economic times.

The study commissioned by Festivals Adelaide – the strategic collaboration of the city’s ten major Arts Festivals – revealed total attendances at Festivals Adelaide events in 2012 was around 2.82 million with over 590,000 tickets sold.

The report also highlighted:

• An estimated 63,850 of these attendees were visitors to South Australia, generating a total of 304,100 visitor nights in the state (an average length of stay of 6 nights per person)
• Festival visitors related expenditure (excluding tickets) within the state of $58.1 million
• An estimated positive economic impact on the state’s economy of $62.9 million in new incomes
• The creation of 790 full time equivalent jobs directly related to delivering Adelaide’s ten major festivals  Festivals

Festivals Adelaide Executive Officer, Tory McBride said the results reflect the value of Adelaide’s major Arts Festivals to both the state’s cultural life and its economic prosperity.

“The combined return on investment to SA is approximately 5:1 and I know that with our festivals working collaboratively through Festivals Adelaide, this is just the beginning of exponential growth,” Ms McBride said.  “One way we’re exploring new ideas to further our festivals’ collective cause is the establishment of an inaugural Festivals Adelaide advisory committee that capitalizes on the collective wisdom, knowledge and experience of some of the state’s most respected business, tourism and arts leaders.” Ms McBride said.

Tourism SA Chair, Jane Jeffreys said she was thrilled at the opportunity to be working with such a notable group of South Australians in Festivals Adelaide’s advisory committee.

“The body of knowledge and experience within this group is as diverse as it is impressive so I’m very confident we can make a real contribution to the state’s cultural and economic prosperity.” she said.

The Festivals included in the list of ten discussed include:

Adelaide Fringe
Come Out Festival
OzAsia Festival
Adelaide Festival
WOMADelaide
Adelaide Cabaret Festival
SALA Festival
Adelaide International Guitar Festival
Adelaide Film Festival
Feast Festival