Culture sector support needs survey

Conclusion

This research has highlighted a range of experiences and perceptions associated with how individuals and organisations navigate access to and obtain sources of support. 

Many respondents emphasised the challenges associated with funding. This included several interconnected issues covering the wider system (economic instability and rising costs); processes (short term funding models and complexity of the application process) and inequality and access (perceptions around disparities between individuals and organisations of different sizes and geographic locations).

Some respondents offered suggestions for new ways of working and connecting that they felt would benefit the sector. These suggestions mainly revolved around developing a central resource to access information and funding opportunities (across the public, private and third sector), the desire for more opportunities to network and exchange with peers (that are not reliant on funding such as conference places) and for funding bodies to implement new, and more tailored, ways of applying for funding.

The survey responses brought out some variations between individual and organisation support needs, including organisations of different sizes and in different locations. For individuals, there was more of focus on tangible, direct support that allows individuals to create, to connect with others and to access resources like studio or workshop spaces and mentoring. Organisations tended to prioritise advocacy and systemic influence, aimed at developing a more favourable environment for the sector to thrive.