The Cultural Vitality Labs move cultural vitality research from theory into practice, working directly with local partners to explore how cultural indicators can meaningfully inform policy, planning and community decision-making.

In the UK, we will be working with local authority, cultural sector and community partners in three local areas:

• Norwich
• London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
• West Yorkshire

Together, we will test our initial research findings and pilot the use of the Cultural Indicator Suite in different local contexts.

With funding from the ESRC Impact Accelerator Account, we are also working with partners in Canada, Australia and Fiji to explore how the Cultural Indicator Suite can be adapted for use beyond the UK.

Insights from the Labs will contribute to the ongoing development of a more inclusive and locally grounded approach to cultural data, helping shape future national strategy, including the development of the National Cultural Data Observatory.

Nottingham Queer Arts Collective. Nottingham Playhouse

What is a Cultural Vitality Lab?

A Cultural Vitality Lab is a model that enables cultural practitioners, policymakers, researchers and community partners to work together to explore what cultural vitality looks like in their area and how it can be meaningfully evidenced.

The Labs are grounded in participatory research and co-production. Rather than imposing predefined measures, they begin with local knowledge and lived experience and respond to the need for more inclusive, place-based approaches to fully understand cultural vitality.

Each Lab is shaped by local priorities, and includes a structured series of workshops designed to build shared understanding and practical outcomes, including:

• Mapping the local cultural ecosystem – spanning formal institutions and informal, grassroots activity and identifying gaps in existing data and evidence
• Trialling participatory and creative research methods that embed local voices and lived experience into cultural measurement
• Co-designing locally meaningful cultural indicators, drawing on the Cultural Indicator Suite’s seven dimensions
• Exploring how better cultural indicators can strengthen place-based policy, support cross-sector collaboration and connect culture to wider outcomes such as wellbeing, belonging and resilience

We will share insights, practical tools and reflections from the Cultural Vitality Labs as the programme progresses.

Public art on campus. Mark Webster. University of Leeds