Evaluation of the Culture Recovery Fund

This document describes an evaluation of the Culture Recovery Fund (CRF), a UK initiative designed to support cultural organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CRF aimed to ensure the survival and accessibility of over 5,000 organizations, with an emphasis on diversity and cultural access. A mixed-methods approach, including case studies, surveys, and econometric analysis, was used to assess the fund's effectiveness. The evaluation found that the CRF successfully helped organizations to survive, adapt, and reopen, supporting jobs and preserving cultural assets, while also delivering broader social and economic benefits. However, challenges were noted in targeting organizations at the highest risk of failure. The evaluation also reviewed changes in application processes by different funding bodies, noting a shift towards efficiency by the Arts Council England and increased detail and scrutiny by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England. Overall, the CRF was deemed efficient and potentially vital for the future of many organizations and jobs, with recommendations for future crisis support funds. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Closed organisation: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Impact evaluation; Process evaluation
• Impact methods: Quasi-experimental method
• Quasi-experimental methods: Difference-in-difference
• Process methods: Case studies; Individual interviews; Other; Surveys and polling
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: July 2022

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Links to published evaluations (DEBUGGING): No final report link found.
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes