Research
Future Arts Centres is committed to building the evidence base for the vital role arts centres play in the UK’s cultural and civic life. Our research shines a light on the distinctiveness of arts centres, the communities they reach, and the often-hidden social, cultural, and economic impact they generate.
We have published sector-shaping studies, including our landmark collaboration with Arup on the scale of capital investment needed for arts centres. Alongside major reports, we produce annual insight surveys, salary benchmarking, and pulse surveys that capture the lived experience of our members and the challenges they face. We also use methodologies such as Most Significant Change to tell the powerful, human stories behind the data.
Looking ahead, we are planning to expand our research programme to draw on national datasets while working closely with members to capture local evidence such as footfall, community use, and social value. This helps us make the case that arts centres deliver extraordinary value for money and reach people other organisations don’t.
We are also building partnerships with universities and researchers to deepen understanding of the sector. These include the University of Manchester, Goldsmiths University and the University of Lincoln.
Through this combination of data, stories, and partnerships, Future Arts Centres is ensuring the unique contribution of arts centres is recognised, evidenced, and championed at every level.
Future Arts Centres frequently conducts research about arts centres for the benefit of our members, including:
Salary benchmarking
Annual salary benchmarking provides arts centre leaders with invaluable data for staffing (password protected).
Sector Insight Report
In 2025, we published our second Sector Insight Report which analysed data from financial statements of arts centres for 2023/24. It showed that arts centres received around £29.2m in public subsidy from Arts Councils and local authorities, yet generated total income of £205.7m – therefore for every £1 of public funding, arts centres leveraged over £6 from trading, philanthropy, and other sources. It concluded that arts centres are highly resilient, but recovering and underfunded.
Pulse surveys
We regularly invite members to answer rapid ‘pulse surveys’ on key topics, and share the results with the network to equip leaders with up to date benchmarking and insightful comparisons.
Research with Dave Moutrey and the University of Manchester
With the support of both Future Arts Centres and the University of Manchester, Dave Moutrey is developing a podcast series and book that look at where arts centres have come from, their business models, what makes them work and their role in artist development, audience development, and place-making. You can read more about the research and partnership here.
Evaluating capital needs
In 2025, Future Arts Centres joined with global sustainable development consultancy Arup, to evaluate and highlight the critical need to restore ageing cultural infrastructure and support creative communities across the UK. Drawing on in-depth research involving 90 arts centres with a combined 9.4 million annual visitors, Evaluating Capital Investment Needs for Arts Centres in the UK (May 2025) provided critical intelligence to help inform the decisions of policy makers, funders, and the cultural sector in the UK.