Emergency Response Funds: how we invested

Funds 1 & 2: Individuals and non-NPOs

We’ve now completed awarding funds for our first two Emergency Response Funds: for Individuals, and for Organisations (outside the National Portfolio).

The headlines

This investment would not have been possible without funding from the public - whether playing the National Lottery, or from the taxpayer:

We’ve invested £64.8 million in 9,666 people and organisations
£13.1 million of funding has been made to Black and minority ethnic individuals and Black and minority ethnic-led organisations
£8.5 million of funding has been made to D/deaf or disabled individuals and disabled-led organisations

Read the report and browse the data

This report presents the headline data for our Emergency Response Funds: for individuals and for organisations (outside of the National Portfolio). It also includes reflections on the diversity of our investment and the geographical spread, along with some considerations about our process. Download the report in various formats below, and get the full data set too.

Data report: ERF Individuals & Organisations outside the National Portfolio

PDF 145.52 KB

EASY READ Data report: ERF Individuals & Organisations outside the National Portfolio

PDF 288.34 KB

LARGE PRINT Data report: ERF Individuals & Organisations outside the National Portfolio

PDF 228.93 KB

See the data

Fund 3: For NPOs

We’ve awarded a total of £33 million to 196 NPOs through this fund. This fund was also available to lead Creative People and Places organisations, but none applied. You can review or download the data below.

View the data

Five dancers on stage at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Evaluating our investment

We commissioned an independent evaluation into the Emergency Response Fund’s application process, delivery, and success in protecting jobs and businesses.

The headlines

The fund helped creative and cultural organisations to survive the pandemic and protect jobs.
44% of interviewees who were successful in their application had no or not much previous experience with the Arts Council, but nearly all awardees intend on applying for future Arts Council funding.
Applicants predominantly had a positive experience with the fund. Applicants did identify some areas for improvement, and much of this feedback reflects ERF being created quickly so we could respond to the sector’s immediate need for financial support at the start of the pandemic.