A story of how emergency COVID-19 funding supported Wales’ cultural sector

Wavehill was commissioned by the Welsh Government to evaluate the Wales Cultural Recovery Fund (CRF) 2020-2021.

The £108 million fund provided emergency support to cultural organisations, freelancers and creative businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our work examined how funding was delivered, how recipients used support in practice, and what this revealed about sector resilience and adaptation.

We delivered a process and impact evaluation, combining analysis of administrative data with research involving funded organisations, freelancers and sector stakeholders. This enabled us to assess both the immediate effects of the fund and how recipients adapted their activities, services and business models in response to unprecedented disruption.

Impact

The fund provided critical financial stability, helping organisations and freelancers cover core costs, maintain activity and navigate periods of closure or restricted delivery.
94% of cultural organisations surveyed reported that the fund had contributed to their survival, with the funding helping to safeguard an estimated 2,700 jobs across Wales.
More than half of organisations developed new activities or services, often through digital delivery, new audience engagement approaches and diversified income streams.
Freelancers reported that funding provided time and capacity to adapt their practice, develop new skills and explore future opportunities. Around a third indicated they may otherwise have left the sector entirely.

The evaluation provided the Welsh Government with robust evidence on how emergency funding helped stabilise the sector while supporting innovation and adaptation, informing future approaches to cultural sector support and resilience planning.

The report is available to read here.