Dance Mapping - Arts Council England

Dance attracted the highest number of students across all artforms and the lowest in terms of
retired people.
Income for dance groups was primarily raised though membership fee (33%) and ticket
income (32%) with sponsorship from local business/sponsorship or donations, which are
higher than in other artforms (21%). Local authority grants were low (3%), Trust and
foundations (7%), Arts Council England funding (0%) and lottery funding (7%). The group’s
own fundraising, plus donations, amounted to 17% of income.
Expenditure on premises and equipment hire, including transport, amounted to over 50% of
expenditure. Hiring rehearsal space was 30%, which was more expensive than all other areas
other than visual arts. 19% of expenditure is on hiring professional artists. Average turnover
for dance groups was at the lower end of all groups amounting to £2,300 alongside literature
and visual arts. The highest turnover was £27,200 for festivals.
29% of groups meet weekly for around 2-3 hours; this is not specified by artform in the report.
The report states that many groups in the performing arts employ artistic directors. It makes
no specific reference to dance, but states that in all these areas the groups tend to retain the
artistic control ensuring those they employ remain true to the values of the group. Dance is
the least likely of all artforms to use an arts centre. Schools and church halls seem to be the
most commonly used venues.
Infrastructure and support
Key points
• Voluntary arts groups are self-sufficient and entrepreneurial but do need access to
relevant support advice and information.
• The sector receives informal support from friends, family and the local community,
highlighting the value placed on voluntary arts activity.
• Sharing the output of their creativity is important to most organisations who place a
high value on the support of their audience,
• Groups tap into a broad network of support organisations, including local authority
arts officers, artform umbrella and membership bodies and organisations at a
regional and sub-regional level established to support arts activity.
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