Our work
We work alongside cultural practitioners and organisations, academics, funders and policymakers to explore the timeliest questions of cultural value. We investigate what kinds of arts, cultural, heritage and screen activities create value for whom, how and why, and in which particular conditions and contexts.
Creative Journeys with Sinfonia Viva in Brentwood. Orchestras Live. Photo: Paul Starr, Essex County Council

Intro
Making research and evaluation count
We want cultural policy and practice to be based on evidence of what works and what needs to change.
- We make existing research more relevant and accessible
- We support the cultural sector and funders to be rigorous in their approaches to evaluation
- We foster an evidence-based approach to policy development
We are also leading a national research project exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the UK cultural sector.
Impact of Covid-19 on the cultural industries
We’re leading a national research project exploring the impacts of Covid-19 on the cultural sector across the UK and highlighting the implications for policy making.
Delivered in collaboration with the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) and The Audience Agency, the project runs between September 2020 and November 2021.
A national consortium of researchers and cultural sector partners are analysing existing datasets and undertake new research on the impacts of the pandemic on cultural organisations, practitioners and audiences.

Collaborate fund
We are investing £200,000 in our Collaborate Fund to support pioneering research collaborations between cultural sector practitioners and academic researchers to explore questions of cultural value.
We will support 15-25 research partnerships over the next four years with grants of between £5k-£20k. The fund will be launched in September 2021.


Research

Policy
