Source · National Audit Office

Investigation into the UNBOXED festival

An investigation into the UNBOXED festival by the National Audit Office found that audience engagement was lower than originally modelled, although the project was delivered on time and is forecast to be on budget.

Published: 1 Dec 2022 Recommendations: 3 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 1 Department: Department for Culture, Media & Sport

Dept: Department for Culture, Media & Sport Topics: Arts and cultureProgramme deliveryProject and service deliverySociety and culture nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

3 items

1 accepted 2 partially accepted 3 implemented

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Department for Culture, Media and Sport · Source location: Page 27, 29

We consider it important for public transparency and visibility that this evaluation should be published and should:
? include information to allow DCMS and Festival 2022 Ltd to fully understand the volume and nature of participation for each project alongside the final cost of each. This analysis could then be used in conjunction with the identification
of other financial benefits and those benefits which are difficult to quantify, to provide a fuller picture of each project?s value for money;

Response position: Partially accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 03/2023

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Department for Culture, Media and Sport · Source location: Page 27, 29

identify lessons for the future from the experience of how projects have performed against their targets, including on cost and attendance, and the split between physical and digital/broadcast audiences;

Response position: Partially accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 03/2023

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Department for Culture, Media and Sport · Source location: Page 27, 29

identify lessons for the future about the importance of agreeing clear objectives and then setting performance targets early enough in any similar future programme?s lifecycle

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 03/2023 · Confirmed by NAO