New data released on Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed 99 per cent of Tasmanian children aged between five and 15 years old participated in a "cultural activity".

Cultural and creative activity was defined by the ABS as including performing arts, singing, playing a musical instrument, dancing, writing and visual art and craft activities.

ABS education director Michelle Ducat said the data release report examined activities children were doing outside school hours and included screen-based activities.

About 99.7 per cent of Tasmanian children were participating in at least one cultural activity, compared to the national rate of 96 per cent.

The Australian Capital Territory came in second with 99.2 per cent. Victoria recorded 98 per cent and New South Wales children recorded 95 per cent.

Ms Ducat said similarly, Tasmanian children were also the most likely to engage in creative activities, with a rate of 74 per cent, compared to the national rate of 63 per cent.

Despite the strong figures for cultural and creative pursuits, screen-based activities were still the most popular after-school activity - in Tasmania and nationally.

About 90 per cent of Australian children are looking at screens each week, and most of them are doing so for 10 or more hours, Ms Ducat said.

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Tasmanian children reported the second highest screen time use at 96 per cent, with the Australian Capital Territory coming out on top for the highest screen-time use.

About 83 per cent of Tasmanian children also read for pleasure, however, Ms Ducat said the report showed most children spent less than five hours reading per week.

"This is considerably less than the number of hours spent on screen time," she said.

Tasmanian Youth Orchestra general manager Michelle Forbes said in the past three years, the organisation had experienced big growth in the number of young people participating.

"I've been here for three years and when I started we had about 100 students per annum come through the program, now we are looking more at 180," she said.

Ms Forbes said the benefits of engaging in cultural activities such as the TYO were numerous.

"You get a cross-section of people coming together, people from different cultures and backgrounds, but they are all like-minded peers," she said.

"Our research is also showing that participation increases empathy and increases communication skills in young people."

Ms Forbes said, in addition, it increased participants' leadership skills.

The TYO has members from across the state but is in the process of expanding into the North and North-West.

Workshops are being held once per term for the first three terms of the year in Devonport, Burnie and Launceston. However, Ms Forbes said next year the program would expand even further into these areas.

If you want to be involved in the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, find their details online.

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