Programme evaluation

A curving cobalt-blue sculptural bench sits in the center of a museum room surrounded by antique wall and grandfather clocks.

We want to understand the difference our funding makes for museums and galleries, audiences and communities.

Evaluation helps us to listen, learn and reflect, bringing together data and experience to shape our programmes, inform decision-making and strengthen the sector. It helps us build a rich and evolving picture of the impact, reach and value of our programmes.

Through evaluation, we capture the experiences of the organisations, practitioners and communities we support, so we can better understand how our work contributes to a more inclusive, confident and connected sector. We encourage honest reflection, recognising that challenges and unexpected outcomes are as important as successes.

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What we evaluate

We evaluate our programmes in line with the three core areas of our strategy:

Funding art

We look at how our support strengthens collections, enables research, and brings a wider range of perspectives into public view.

Audience-making

We look at how people connect with funded work, from visitors and participants to digital audiences.

Amplifying the sector

We look at how our funding builds skills, confidence, partnerships and knowledge and how it supports sector advocacy.

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Why we evaluate

Evaluation helps us to learn and improve, and to demonstrate the value of our work. It is ongoing, helping us to track progress and understand change over time, not just one-off outcomes. We use it to:

Strengthen our programmes
Remain accountable as a charity
Demonstrate responsible stewardship of the funding we distribute
Share knowledge across the sector
Note emerging trends and challenges
Advocate for the importance of museums and galleries to partners and policymakers

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How we evaluate

We take a consistent but flexible approach to evaluation, combining data with deeper insight. Alongside this, we gather stories and reflections to understand not just what has happened, but why it matters.

Our approach has been shaped with input from the sector and is designed to be practical and meaningful. We aim to keep it proportionate and light-touch, while ensuring it remains genuinely useful.

Bringing all this information together enables us to see both the bigger picture and individual stories. This helps us celebrate successes, recognise challenges, and continue to shape our work.

It may be helpful to review the evaluation questions in advance and consult with relevant colleagues to identify the information you’ll need to gather. You can download a Word version of the evaluation form below, which can be shared and used to draft your responses before completing and submitting the online form.

View evaluation form

Evaluation downloads

Download form

A downloadable Word version of the evaluation form is available to support accessibility, including compatibility with screen readers. It’s also ideal for circulating among colleagues so you can gather information collaboratively before completing the online form.

Download

Download Welsh form

You can also download a Welsh‑language version of the evaluation form. Again, this can support accessibility or be a useful tool to share with colleagues.