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Understanding the difference culture makes

We are building a shared understanding of the differences that arts, culture, heritage and screen make to people’s lives and to society. We want cultural policy and practice to be based on rigorous research and evaluation of what works and what needs to change.

About us
Arts Together at Left Bank Leeds – Mafwa Theatre. Photo: Tom Arber
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Working together

We invite you to join a movement to help us better understand the role that culture plays in our lives. You might be thinking about how you can better evaluate the impact of your work, or how you can use research insights and critical reflection in your practice. Keep in touch to hear about resources, events and opportunities to shape our research and get involved.

Four musicians play outside, on a stage that is under canvass. It's getting dark and lights are strung along the tents.
Under Canvas Festival. Eden Court. Photo by Dylan Morrison.

New research paper explores the role of cultural strategies in local decision making

News
A new research paper, produced by the Centre for Cultural Value in partnership with Culture Commons as part of a major open policy development programme, highlights the growing importance of inclusive, sustainable and locally tailored approaches when developing and evaluating cultural strategies.
A young child, wearing a blue padded gilet, singing or speaking into a microphone. They have a facemask hooked around their ears and pushed down to their chin. Two other people are watching and interacting with the child. They are wearing urban style clothing and have a facemask covering their mouths and noses.
 

New book explores the impacts of Covid-19 on UK cultural sector and implications for the future

Event
Reflecting upon the findings from the Centre's research into the impact of Covid-19, our new publication Pandemic Culture is now available to buy or download for free.
Two young people stood together writing on post it notes to stick to flip chart paper on a wall. One is wearing a bright orange shirt, the other a grey top and black beanie hat.
 

Research collaborations are messy and challenging – here’s why we need them more than ever

News
Centre Manager Liz Harrop reflects on what we can learn from the Centre’s experience of supporting collaborative research projects.
A group of children, smiling and laughing stand next to a person with long dark hair, wearing sunglasses singing into a microphone. They are outside, behind them is a green gazebo with a sign that reads DJ Booth
Mafwa Theatre. Family Flourish Day. Photo by Molly McGee

Our essential reads: Evaluation Principles in practice

essential-read
A collection of articles, reports and resources providing some helpful examples of what the Evaluation Principles can look like in practice ...
A photo of 'Hibiscus Rising', an outdoor sculpture made by Yinka Shonibare, photographed in front of redbrick buildings in Leeds city centre. The sculpture is tall and plant-like, with a selection of different colourful patterns in red, yellow, blue, purple and green.
Hibiscus Rising Statue – Leeds (Photo: West Yorkshire Combined Authority)

Making evaluation count in cultural policy

research
As Lead Evaluation Officer for Culture at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, my role is concerned with how evaluation and cultural policymaking processes meet. This is an exciting space to work in, as it's where insight and learning connect directly with decision-making. Evaluation for accountability, evidence and learning For the Combined ...
Three people looking at a piece of outdoor public art. The artwork is made up of larger notebook pages. The page to the front of the image has the text: to leaf is
To Leaf is to Learn - public art by Juanjo Novella and Simon Armitage (Photo by Mark Webster)

Research Digest: Culture and placemaking

research
What is the relationship between culture and placemaking? This digest brings together research that examines how and why arts and culture play a part in placemaking and what that means for organisations, practitioners, policymakers and funders ...

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