Indigenous participation in arts and cultural expression, and the relationship with wellbeing:results from the 2014-15 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey

Abstract

The analysis presented in this report shows that, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, better outcomes for socioeconomic indicators such as employment, education and income are positively associated with participation in arts and cultural expression. There is also strong evidence that those who participate in arts and cultural activities are more likely to have higher levels of subjective wellbeing. Notions of 'cultural participation' and 'wellbeing' are complex and multidimensional, and further research is needed to distinguish between selection effects - whereby individuals with more resources or higher wellbeing levels are more likely to participate in arts and cultural activities - and the benefits to individual wellbeing resulting from arts and cultural participation.