EKOS was commissioned by Creative Scotland to provide an evaluation of the emergency funds provided to the arts, screen and creative industries by Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland during 2020/2021. The funding, from the Scottish Government, saw £85.3m reached individuals and organisations working in Scotland’s culture and creative sector between March 2020 and September 2021.

Findings included:

• 82% of organisations surveyed said that the funds had prevented job losses and prevented insolvency
• Individuals surveyed described the funds as a lifeline, providing peace of mind and validation of their worth
• The emergency funds reached far and wide and played a vital role in sustaining the creative sector throughout the worst of the pandemic
• Almost 12,500 funding awards were made to both individuals and organisations – around 10 times the number usually made in any given year
• The processes for developing and delivering the funds were effective.  The high volume of awards distributed in a relatively short timeframe, demonstrated the scale of the achievement
• Applicants rated the process positively, saying it was clear and straightforward with quick turnaround and payments

The full report can be read on the Creative Scotland website.