2022 NSW Museum & Gallery Sector Census

As part of the Museums & Galleries of NSW research program, we conduct a comprehensive Census every four years to gather reliable data on collections, staffing levels, facilities, funding, and visitation within the sector. This study allows us to assess the sector’s overall health and progress by comparing current data with previous census findings. It also informs our policies, advocacy efforts, and future programs and services.

The 2022 Sector Census took place from August to October 2022. We sent the Census survey to 508 organisations, including 319 community-run and managed museums, 57 public and regional museums, 39 public and regional galleries, 46 community-managed galleries and artist-run initiatives, 8 Artspaces, 14 University Galleries, and 25 Aboriginal cultural organisations. We received 240 complete responses, which form the basis of our findings. Responses were based on the previous 12 month reporting period.