Overview
This research explores how creative organisations across Australia use evaluation to learn, adapt and understand the impact of their work. Drawing on examples and case stories from organisations of different artforms, locations and sizes, it highlights how evaluation can support decision-making, advocacy and accountability - while building on the reflective and iterative ways creative organisations already work. Using a story-led approach, the research explores:
- How creative organisations integrate evaluation into everyday practice
- Common enablers and barriers
- The role of leadership and organisational culture in sustaining evaluation
- Practical insights from organisations experimenting with different approaches
Examples of case stories in practice are shared for organisations wanting to start / expand on their evaluative and impact journey.
Image: Spaghetti Circus performs ‘Monumental’ in 2023 at the Brunswick Picture House. Photo: Carnival Cinema, Hamish McCormick.
Key findings
Drawing on interviews and stories from creative organisations across Australia, this research explores how they use evaluation in practice, what supports effective evaluative practice, and the challenges they face. The findings highlight the diverse ways creative organisations learn, reflect and demonstrate value in their work, while identifying common themes across different organisational contexts. The research found that:
- Evaluation is already part of creative practice. Creative organisations are using reflection, storytelling, audience feedback and ongoing learning to understand and strengthen their work.
- There is no one way to evaluate. Effective approaches reflect an organisation's purpose, context, people and resources.
- Culture matters. Leadership, trust and a commitment to learning help build sustainable evaluation practice over time.
- Capacity remains a challenge. Time, resourcing, expertise and complexity continue to be barriers for many organisations.
- Start where you're at and build over time. Organisations can grow evaluation capability by extending the reflective and creative practices they already use.
Creative Australia is using these findings to guide future evaluation capability initiatives across the sector. By sharing practical examples, developing resources and supporting opportunities for connection and shared learning, we aim to help organisations build on existing evaluative practices and strengthen their capability in ways that reflect their own context, needs and aspirations.
Evaluation in practice
There is no single way for creative organisations to evaluate. These case stories show how different organisations have developed approaches that reflect their purpose, practice and context. They are provided as tools that might be useful, adaptable and relevant for organisations to develop their evaluation practice.
Polyglot Theatre: Creative listening as evaluation
Polyglot uses creative and participatory methods to understand children's experiences and inform organisational learning. Read more here.
Case story Polygot
PDF · 3.38 MBACMI: Audience-centred learning
ACMI’s audience research supports decision-making, continuous improvement and connections between strategy and outcomes. Read more here.
Case story Moving Image (ACMI)
PDF · 1.6 MBDancenorth: Building evaluation through organisational culture
Dancenorth's reflective practice shows how trust, reflection and organisational culture can make evaluation part of everyday practice. Read more here.
Case story Dancenorth
PDF · 2.91 MB
