Summary of the Evaluation of Canada Cultural Spaces Fund Program 2018-19 to 2022-23

Evaluation Services Directorate
November 1, 2024

On this page

• List of acronyms and abbreviations
• List of tables
• Overview
• Evaluation findings
  • Relevance
  • Effectiveness
  • Efficiency
• Recommendations

List of acronyms and abbreviations

PCH

Canadian Heritage

CCSF

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

List of tables

Table 1: Cultural Infrastructure Projects Funded, 2015-16 to 2022-23

Alternate format

Summary of the Evaluation of Canada Cultural Spaces Fund Program 2018-19 to 2022-23 [PDF version - 1.48 MB]

Overview

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) aids in enhancing, renovating, and constructing cultural facilities. It provides grants and contributions to non-profit arts and heritage organizations, provincial governments and Indigenous institutions.

The evaluation examines the relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency of the CCSF from 2018-19 to 2022-23.

Evaluation findings

Relevance

The CCSF continues to be relevant to the needs of Canadians.

• There is a clear continued need for investment in cultural infrastructure.
• While the program responded to a certain extent to current and emerging needs, it was challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising costs for construction, and a relatively stagnant budget.
• Additional funding in response to COVID-19 helped the program address new needs related to the pandemic.
• The CCSF is aligned with PCH’s mandate and government priorities.
• The CCSF is the only federal program primarily dedicated to cultural infrastructure and is seen as a leader in this area.
• The program must continue to adapt, including through increasing efforts to reach and better support equity groups and Indigenous communities.

Effectiveness

Overall, the CCSF made progress in achieving its expected results.

Annually:

• the CCSF approved an average of 169 cultural infrastructure projects that had diverse sources of funding; and
• an average of 93 communities benefited from improved cultural facilities.

The CCSF contributes to Canadians valuing and accessing arts and heritage spaces. 70%^{Footnote 1} of Canadians feel that artistic and cultural activities are at least somewhat important to their quality of life and of their families.

As a result of the CCSF, 41% of Canadians have access to improved cultural facilities.

Of funding recipients surveyed:

• 93% agreed that artists and creators have access to professional cultural facilities in their communities
• 97% agreed that diverse arts and heritage experiences are available in their community

The program has ongoing challenges to address the needs of equity groups and Indigenous communities.

Over the period covered by evaluation,

• 36% of projects focused on underserved communities^{Footnote 2} (above target of 25%)
• 20% of program funds were directed to organizations mandated to serving underserved communities^{Footnote 3} (under target of 25%)

Additional funds delivered through the CCSF from budgets 2016 and 2017 contributed to the achievement of results with:

• an important increase in the number of projects funded from 106 in 2015-16^{Footnote 4} to a peak of 204 in 2020-21
• support for the development of creative hubs - spaces that encourage collaboration, innovation and productivity

Source: PCH Information on Transfer Payment Programs - Departmental Results Report 2016-17 to 2022-23 and Departmental Performance Report 2015-16.

Efficiency

The CCSF is delivered in an efficient manner. Funding recipients surveyed were satisfied with:

• 93% program delivery overall
• 89% application process
• 85% accountability mechanisms

They particularly appreciated:

• The management of the COVID-19 funding
• The excellent service from regional program officers

The administrative ratio (9%) is relatively low and stable compared to 7% reported in both 2017-18 and in 2012-13.

Key measures to respond to inflationary pressures and pandemic-associated challenges include:

• increase of maximum amount of grant payable from $100,000 to $150,000
• increase of eligible expenses for organizations focusing on equity communities or underserved disciplines

There are opportunities to improve efficiency further by:

• simplifying and streamlining the application process
• improving outreach and communication with clients and partners

Future prospects

Given the challenges facing the sector and the limitations of the CCSF, it is important to consider innovative approaches and models moving forward, such as new partnerships and encouraging organizations to adopt social enterprise models.

Recommendations

The Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of the Cultural Affairs sector should:

1. Continue efforts to address barriers faced by equity groups, and Indigenous, rural and remote communities by revising criteria and definitions, while also enhancing outreach and assistance for these groups and communities.
2. Ensure that the CCSF adapts its funding mechanisms and criteria to continue to address the evolving and emerging needs of Canadian communities in terms of cultural spaces, particularly in the context of reduced program resources.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 2024
Catalogue No.: CH7-75/2025-1E-PDF
ISBN: 978-0-660-74699-9