Culture sector support needs survey

Introduction

Background

The Scottish Government has committed to reviewing the way the culture sector is supported, which will take the form of a culture sector support programme, including an independent review of Creative Scotland, the lead body for the arts, screen, and creative industries in Scotland.^[6] This is to ensure excellence in Scotland’s public services and to help inform the distribution of additional funding for the culture sector in the most effective way as possible.^[7]

The aim of this research was to hear from a wide range of people and organisations across the culture sector, particularly those who do not have regular contact with the Scottish Government, about their experiences of, and views on, current support provision for culture in Scotland. The findings add to existing evidence and sector feedback to give an indication of what support should be prioritised, to help the culture sector successfully meet ongoing challenges and better navigate future opportunities. It helps to inform the scope of the Creative Scotland review and the wider work of the sector support programme.

Method

An online survey was launched on 13th January 2025. It was open for three weeks and closed on 31^st January 2025. The survey was aimed at those working across or with an interest in the culture sector in Scotland. Ultimately, while no one was excluded from completing this survey, the questions required the respondent to have experience, knowledge, or an interest in culture funding experiences and / or other forms of support provision.

The survey was publicised by the Scottish Government through their key stakeholders, within Scottish Government culture debates^[8], and it was promoted through the Scottish Government’s culture social media ‘X’ account. Beyond these dissemination routes, some organisations may have promoted it through methods such as newsletters, social media or through word of mouth. As participation in completing the survey was voluntary and some within the sector may not have been aware of it or had the time to complete it, the results cannot be taken to reflect the views of the entire sector, and there may be some parts of the sector that are under or over represented.^[9] It is also likely that that there was a greater response from people who held strong views on the subject area.

The survey contained a mixture of closed and open-ended questions, including questions about experiences of applying for and accessing financial support, views on the respondents’ current and main provider of public sector support (if applicable), and views on future support needs. See Appendix A for a full list of the questions.

All participants were provided with a privacy notice to explain the use of their data in the research and gave their consent to take part in the research.

Who took part in the survey

Seven hundred and fifty-four responses were submitted to this survey. The majority of these came through the online survey and a small number of organisations sent their response by email. See section 1 (respondent profile) for full details on the survey sample. See Appendix B for a table detailing the number of respondents for each question.

Analysis

The analysis of responses was undertaken by Social Researchers and Statisticians within the Scottish Government.

The closed questions in the survey asked respondents to select options from a predefined set of responses or they were asked to rate their agreement or disagreement with different statements. These responses were collated, and the percentage was calculated. Please note that any differences mentioned in this report have not been tested for significance and some groups / breakdowns have small base sizes. The main data tables are all included at the end of this report (Appendix C). Alternatively, see the accompanying supplementary information for all data tables.

Breakdowns have been provided for the entire sample and by respondent type, which were ‘organisation’ and ‘individual’. This analysis was designed to give an overview of some of the main differences, or areas of consensus, between these two groups. However, it is acknowledged that there is also diversity within these groups, depending on factors such as organisation size, geographic location and / or the distinct requirements and needs associated with individual art forms and sub-sectors.

The open questions did not have a fixed response or a limit to the length of the response. The comment rate for the open questions varied (from over 500 responses to less than 60).^[10] Responses were downloaded from the survey (hosted on Microsoft Forms) and analysed thematically. This involved reading and rereading the responses to become familiar with the data and then identifying patterns and codes. The researchers discussed their coding frameworks to ensure there was consensus and consistency. Themes were then reviewed and finalised. Some of the comments were very detailed but not all issues that were raised can be covered in a summary analysis report like this. Quotes are used throughout the report to illustrate these key points and themes in the respondents’ own words. All respondents have been anonymised to protect their identity.

The survey was used to gather a diverse range of views. The analysis of the open questions did not aim to quantify the issues and views that were raised. The aim was to summarise some of the views and perspectives held by different people and show patterns or themes. Therefore, where relevant, as with the closed questions, the analysis focuses on the differences in perspectives between respondents who have identified as an ‘individual’ and those who are responding as an organisation.

Descriptive terminology is used to add clarity on the views. For example, ‘some’ or ‘many’. In general, ‘many’ or ‘most’ refers to views that were shared across a large section of the responses. Use of the term ‘some’ is used to reflect an idea or viewpoint that came up less frequently than ‘many / most’. The authors recognise that insights expressed by a smaller number of people are in no way less meaningful or useful.

Limitations

There are some limitations that should be noted. As this was an online survey, it excludes people who do not have internet access or may have found a digital form challenging to complete. It is likely there are views on these questions that have not been put forward. There will be further opportunity for individuals and organisations to provide their views as part of the review of Creative Scotland.

The survey took place in January 2025 as some respondents were waiting for feedback on their funding applications, including the Multi-Year Funding programme provided by Creative Scotland.^[11] This may have affected the results with some respondents basing their views and experiences on their circumstances before the funding announcement.

Not all respondents answered every question, and some provided greater detail on some topics than others, reflecting their interests and professional backgrounds. For example, some respondents commented that some of the questions were too business focused and that ideally there should have been a separate survey for individuals and organisations to reflect their different needs. As such, where appropriate, the analysis has focused on drawing out any differences between these two respondent types.

Structure of the report

The findings are presented within the following sections which cover all 32 questions from the survey:

1. Respondent profile

2. The proportion who have received funding (public, private, third sector) and their experiences

3. Funding challenges

4. Current experiences of public sector support

5. Future support needs