Browse current research, reports, reviews and studies on the performing arts in Scotland to support evidence-based planning, policy development, funding applications and audience engagement. This collection covers a range of topics including sector trends, arts participation, theatre, dance, music and other performance forms.
We update this page regularly as new research and sector insights become available.
Sector Overview
Big ambitions for culture and communities – CPG Culture and Communities (March 2026)
British Theatre: Boosting the economy, integral to local communities – UK Theatre & SOLT (July 2024)
Our Creative Future: The Manifesto – Creative UK (April 2024)
Disappearing Act? – Data Culture Change for the Scottish Producing Theatres (July 2023)
Economic Impact Assessment of the UK Theatre Sector – Sound Diplomacy for UK Theatre & SOLT (June 2023)
Cornerstones of Culture – Local Government Association (November 2022)
Funding
Independent Review of Creative Scotland – Scottish Government (November 2025)
The State Of British Theatre In 2025: Growth, Risk And The Urgent Need For Public Investment – UK Theatre & SOLT (May 2025)
Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance Review – Creative Scotland (March 2025)
Foreign Direct Investment in the UK’s Creative Industries – Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (November 2024)
Fair Work, Workforce, and Freelancers
Cultural Production Skills Research – Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland (June 2026)
Independent Culture Fair Work Taskforce Recommendations – Scottish Government (December 2025)
Arts Pay 2025 – Arts Professional (November 2025)
Who Stays and Who Leaves? – Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (November 2025)
The Big Freelancer Survey 2025: Who’s Taking the Hit? – Freelancers Make Theatre Work (July 2025)
Policy Brief: Arts, Culture and Heritage: Recent Trends in UK Workforce and Engagement in England – Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (May 2025)
Freelance and Forgotten: A report on worker exploitation in Scotland’s Creative Industries – STUC (April 2025)
Foot in the Door – Scottish Youth Theatre (November 2024)
Audience Engagement
Perception and Potential: Public attitudes towards creativity in the UK – Creative UK (July 2025)
Let’s Create: Opera & Music Theatre Analysis – Arts Council England and The Audience Agency (March 2024)
Audience Intentions Survey – Creative Scotland (2024)
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Theatre Green Book Impact Report – Theatre Green Book (November 2025)
Greening culture: Are we on track? – Culture for Climate Scotland (2023)
Report into Shared Storage and Asset Management Systems in Scotland’s Cultural Sector – Arts Resource Management Scotland (2023)