New collaborative research sets out a blueprint for a National Cultural Data Observatory (NCDO) to transform how the sector understands the impact of arts, culture and heritage.

Across the arts, culture and heritage (ACH) sectors, organisations face the same challenge: how to effectively communicate their full economic and social impact in ways that are compelling to policymakers when the data available is so often fragmented, incomplete, inconsistent and insufficiently granular.

In 2024, the Centre for Cultural Value, alongside The Audience Agency, MyCake and Culture Commons, embarked on an R&D project to investigate developing a blueprint for a National Cultural Data Observatory, with a view to addressing these issues. Supported by funding from ESRC, the project was intended “to scope and demonstrate where a significant opportunity or gap lies in the data infrastructure landscape”.

The research included consultation with almost 500 sector stakeholders, and a pilot case study working with the evaluation team at Bradford, UK City of Culture 2025, including the development of a live regional demonstrator for the Bradford district.

This new report, Transforming the Cultural and Heritage Sector’s Data Infrastructure, explores why the sector’s current data infrastructure is limiting evidence-based policymaking. It highlights the need for an independent, people-centred approach to managing cultural data on a national scale, alongside a shared data framework that makes it easier to connect and compare datasets. The report also sets out how a National Cultural Data Observatory could connect fragmented datasets and uncover hidden data.

As the project moves into its next phase, the Centre will play a key role in ensuring the National Cultural Data Observatory remains research-led and ethically grounded. Continuing to work with partners across the sector, the Centre will focus on strengthening data practices, developing ethical frameworks and ensuring that the Observatory’s tools, standards and governance structures support more meaningful, people- and place-centred evidence for policy and investment.

Download the report

Discover more about the NCDO project, next steps and sign up to the NCDO manifesto by visiting the dedicated project website.

Image credit: Barnsley Bright Nights. The Dancing Fountain by Alexis Richter. Photo by James Mulkeen.