Three quarters of creative groups lack funding to meet huge demand

Millions want to take part, yet vast majority of creative groups across the UK & Ireland lack resources and volunteers

Launched today, the Creative Lives Monitor is the annual health-check of grassroots creativity across the UK & Ireland.

Produced by Creative Lives, the report captures the huge impact local creative groups are having on their community – and the struggles they face in doing so. Despite many local creative groups trying to stay optimistic about their future, almost three quarters don't have the funding and resources they need, and over half need more volunteers to keep going in the near future. 

The 2026 report was compiled using extensive evidence from over 500 local creative groups spanning a wide range of artforms, geographic areas, and lived experiences. Together these groups engage and support over a million people per year.

The report has received the attention of a broad range of supporters, from scientists to screen stars.

Sam Heughan, star of Outlander, said: “My own journey started in local youth theatre, so I know exactly how powerful grassroots creativity is for bringing people together. It’s the heartbeat of our communities across the UK and Ireland, including here in Scotland where around 4,000 local creative groups do incredible work every day. But as the new Creative Lives Monitor shows, this vital sector is on a knife-edge and urgently needs our support to keep thriving.”

The challenges facing grassroots creativity don’t only pose a risk to the groups themselves, but to the millions of people it supports, says Professor Daisy Fancourt, author of Art Cure and Creative Lives Ambassador. “The arts have profound benefits for individuals and communities, but to realise these benefits, we need accessible and sustainable creative opportunities in every community. Sadly, many of the UK & Ireland's grassroots creative groups are facing profound challenges. The Creative Lives Monitor 2026 is essential reading. It provides crucial, up-to-date evidence about the experiences of these creative groups, the challenges they are facing, and what support they urgently need.” 

Headline findings from this year’s report include:

• Groups are financially fragile, with the cost-of-living crisis increasing outgoings and reducing income, with almost three quarters not having the resources they need.
• The huge demand for creative activity can’t always be met, with protected groups often underserved.
• The pressure on groups transfers to individuals, often leading to volunteer burnout.
• Local creative groups feel invisible to, and undervalued by, the broader arts sector, rather than part of the ecosystem, with only 7% reporting strong connections.
• The struggle to access appropriate, affordable and accessible venues continues to be a huge problem.
• Groups struggle to establish meaningful connections with local authorities and other civic infrastructure, reducing their impact, with 52% feeling disconnected from their councils. 

Max May, Chief Executive of Creative Lives, said: “Ours is an unsung sector that consistently overdelivers. It’s also in vital need of support, with almost three quarters of groups not having the resources they need. At Creative Lives, we’re committed to using the Monitor’s findings to directly shape our work, including our support to groups, how we champion them and how we advocate on their behalf.”

Read the Creative Lives Monitor 2026 report