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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.

A young person, wearing a pink "speak up" t shirt, presenting to a group of people.
Speak Up Symposium at National Theatre (2025). Photographer credit: Matthew Kaltenborn

Empowering Youth Researchers: how handing over the research reins reveals fresh perspectives and deeper insights

News
Ava Podgorski reflects on the Speak Up Youth Researcher initiative, a bold example of peer research in schools as part of a wider National Theatre-led youth programme.
Adults and children doing crafts together at an outdoor children's festival.
Junction Arts. Chesterfield Children's Festival, 2024.

Rethinking Audience Spectrum through a cultural vitality lens

News
How can the cultural sector start recognising audiences as creators, not just consumers?
A vibrant community event takes place in front of a block of flats. In the foreground is person wearing a hijab, jeans and a shirt smiling. There is also a person is a red t shirt and roller skates. In the background adults and children are rollerskating and playing.
Mafwa Theatre - Community Garden Event

Understanding and measuring cultural vitality in the UK

News
The Centre for Cultural Value has been working with The Audience Agency to develop a Cultural Indicator Suite, a new framework that helps to communicate the holistic everyday cultural vitality of the places we live.
Six women stood together wearing colourful saris and holding parasols. They are each wearing a colourful, glowing wristband.
 

Research Digest: Understanding Cultural Vitality

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This digest draws together research and practice on how to support the cultural vitality of places. Cultural vitality can be evaluated by locally specific indicators collected by local government, organisations and informal and community-led groups. These go beyond official statistics and visitor data to include qualitative and dynamic evidence of ...
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 ...

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