A new national research project hopes to build the first comprehensive picture of working conditions in creative industries.
The Creative Workplaces Survey was announced this morning and will explore issues such as pay and working conditions, safety at work, bullying, discrimination and harassment.
Creative Workplaces is part of Creative Australia, the Federal Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body.
The organisation’s Chair, Kate Jenkins, said there was currently no comprehensive national data on the lived experience of people working across Australia’s creative industries.
“This survey gives us the first opportunity to build a truly national picture of what it’s like to work in Australia’s creative industries, and the findings will help drive real, lasting change where it’s needed most,” she said.
Federal Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said Australia’s arts workers should not be considered “hobbyists”.
“They’re doing real work in real workplaces,” he said. “I want them to be paid and to be safe.”
Mr Burke said findings from the survey would inform future policies, guidance and training initiatives to improve standards and safety across the arts and culture sector.
The survey is open to anyone aged 18 or over who lives in Australia for tax purposes and works in the creative industries.
Target groups include workers in artistic, technical, administrative, and support roles in music, screen, visual arts, performing arts, literature, games, festivals and other creative disciplines.
The survey is anonymous and confidential and includes a short eligibility check followed by a 40-minute questionnaire that participants can complete at their own pace.
Creative Workplaces will release a detailed report in June 2026.
The survey is available here.
