Our NPOs and the Annual Data Survey
National Portfolio Organisations and Creative People and Places projects are required to complete an annual data survey as a condition of their regular funding.
Intro
About the annual data survey
National Portfolio Organisations and Creative People and Places consortia are required to complete an annual data survey as a condition of their regular funding.
These surveys collect data on organisational profile, staffing, financial statements, and educational activities. It also collects data on international engagements, and digital outputs. Data on activities and attendances is collected through the Illuminate platform.
Its purposes are:
1. As evidence of the use of our funding, for reporting to Government and other key stakeholders
2. To support our understanding of the National Portfolio and to inform the Arts Council’s policies, aims and ambitions
![A person is playing a violin. They are in front of an audience member. Between them is a special sensory 'desk' with mirrors and lights.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_component_16_9_sm/public/2023-06/2.%20Fire%20Songs%2C%20Frozen%20Light.%20JMA%20Photography.%2020%20May%202023.jpg?h=2ce2da25&itok=I5dxB-uh)
Timeline
Timetable and content
Organisations submit their activity and audience data throughout the year to Illuminate, and the annual submissions to Qualtrics in June of each year. These datasets will then be analysed together to complete our official statistics release.
These are interactive reports, which allow you to filter the data by discipline, geographical region, organisation size and diversity of leadership.
Dates for the annual survey:
- 1 April: Links to the annual survey collection portal sent
- 1 April – 30 June: Annual survey portal opens (if either of these dates fall on a weekend / UK national holiday, these dates may change slightly)
- 1 July: Illuminate data received for analysis
- October: National Portfolio survey official statistics released
- December: National Portfolio and Creative People and Places full raw datasets released
![Hand-painted bunting featuring a bluetit hangs over houses in a BlackCountry street. Part of Creative Black Country's Creative Connections project.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_component_16_9_sm/public/2023-03/Creative%20Black%20Countrys%20Creative%20Connections.%20Corridor%20of%20Colour%20by%20Luke%20Perry.jpg?h=1d8526cf&itok=EAVHCnNb)
NPO guidance
2023-26 NPO Annual Survey Guidance
Here is the guidance document and template that National Portfolio Organisations will need to complete their annual survey.
CPP Guidance
2023-25 CPP Annual Survey Guidance
Here is the guidance document and templates that Creative People and Places projects will need to complete their annual survey.