How the Cost of Living Crisis is Shaping the Arts and Events Industry
The cost of living crisis is no longer a background concern for the arts and events industry, it’s shaping how audiences engage, how organisers operate, and how creativity is funded and delivered. From ticket sales to production budgets, the ripple effects are being felt across every layer of the sector. Yet within these challenges lie opportunities for smarter, more sustainable approaches. This is where Creative Little Soul plays a critical role in helping artists, venues, and organisers adapt and thrive.
1. Impact of Cost of Living on Audiences and Punters
Rising living costs are significantly limiting discretionary spending. For many people, arts and cultural experiences, once considered essential for wellbeing and connection are now competing with rent, groceries, and energy bills. This has resulted in fewer spontaneous ticket purchases and greater hesitation around committing to events.
Audiences are also becoming more selective. They want clear value for money, meaningful experiences, and flexibility in how they pay. Affordable ticket options, payment plans, bundled experiences, or added value (such as talks, workshops, or exclusive content) are increasingly influencing purchasing decisions.
Creative Little Soul’s role:
Creative Little Soul helps bridge the gap between audiences and events by designing access-focused ticketing strategies. By enabling flexible payment options such as Afterpay for events, they reduce the upfront financial barrier for audiences. This approach allows people to attend without financial stress, increasing ticket uptake while maintaining full ticket value for organisers. Creative Little Soul also advises on audience-centric experience design, ensuring events feel worth the investment even in tight economic times.
2. Impact of Cost of Living on Organisers, Artists, and Venues
While audiences are feeling the pinch, organisers and creatives are facing escalating costs behind the scenes. Venue hire, production expenses, staffing, marketing, insurance, and materials have all increased, often without a corresponding rise in ticket revenue. For small arts organisations and independent artists, these pressures can be overwhelming.
Many artists are experiencing reduced income as attendance fluctuates, making it harder to sustain creative careers long-term. Venues, meanwhile, may be forced to scale back programming, take fewer creative risks, or delay investment in new and innovative projects.
Creative Little Soul’s role:
Creative Little Soul works closely with organisers, artists, and venues to navigate these financial pressures with clarity and confidence. Through tailored consultancy, they assist clients with realistic budgeting, funding applications, sponsorship strategies, and diversified income planning. By identifying new revenue streams, such as flexible ticketing models, partnerships, or audience financing options, Creative Little Soul helps creatives stay focused on their work while building more resilient business models.
3. Adaptation and Innovation: How Organisers and Venues Are Combating the Crisis
Despite the challenges, the sector is responding with innovation. Organisers are experimenting with tiered ticketing, pay-what-you-can models, hybrid online and in-person events, and collaborations between artists, brands, and community groups. These approaches not only reduce financial risk but also open doors to new audiences.
Alternative funding models, such as partnerships, sponsorships, grants, and community-backed initiatives, are becoming essential tools for sustainability. Events that are adaptable, inclusive, and creatively funded are proving more resilient in the current climate.
Creative Little Soul’s role:
Creative Little Soul acts as a strategic creative partner, guiding clients through this evolving landscape. They support the implementation of innovative ticketing solutions like Afterpay, help connect organisers with aligned sponsors and partners, and develop long-term event strategies that balance creativity with financial sustainability. By combining industry insight with practical solutions, Creative Little Soul empowers clients to adapt without compromising artistic integrity or audience experience.
Moving Forward: Creativity with Care
The cost of living crisis is reshaping the arts and events industry, but it doesn’t have to diminish it. With the right strategies, tools, and support, creativity can remain accessible, events can stay viable, and audiences can continue to engage meaningfully with the arts.
Creative Little Soul exists to support this balance by helping clients stage experiences that are financially smart, creatively rich, and audience-focused. In challenging times, thoughtful innovation isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.
Have an event coming up you need some spart strategy around? Chat with our founder and events guru Chrissy – chrissy@creativelittlesoul.com.au and see how we can help you.
