As the Centre’s initial five-year funding period ends, we share our plans to take a deliberate and strategic pause to reflect, innovate and prioritise the Centre’s long-term sustainability.

In 2019, the Centre for Cultural Value was established to develop a shared understanding of the differences that arts, culture and heritage make to people’s lives and society. Over the past five years, we’ve worked to achieve this shared vision by collaborating with policymakers and the cultural and academic sectors.

The Centre has delivered pioneering research, convened conversations on cultural value, and supported the cultural sector with tools to evaluate and communicate its impact. From leading national studies to fostering partnerships that bridge academic and cultural expertise, our work has laid a foundation for continued innovation.

These achievements have been made possible through joint funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and Arts Council England, alongside the dedication of our advisory group, affiliate partners, and staff team.

A challenging climate

The Centre for Cultural Value has not been immune to the uncertainty, resource constraints, and shifting priorities facing the cultural and academic sectors. As the first five years of the Centre’s funding has ended, we’ve been considering what the future looks like and how we can further develop and sustain our work in an increasingly challenging climate.

With interim support from Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the University of Leeds, which has been the Centre’s home since it was founded, we are excited to start planning what the Centre delivers next, continuing to explore cultural value and what this means for the sector.

We are also pleased to be continuing our work funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to scope the National Cultural Data Observatory – a transformative project in partnership with The Audience Agency and MyCake. This initiative aims to provide the cultural sector with a blueprint for harnessing data to inform decisions, measure impact, and foster innovation, reflecting the Centre’s commitment to empowering the sector with actionable insights and tools.

Resilience and regeneration

Over the next year, the Centre will take a deliberate and strategic pause to evaluate lessons learned, identify core strengths, and focus on what matters most. As challenging as this period is, it offers a rare opportunity to innovate, refocus priorities, and ensure that the work going forward has greater impact and meaning.

To get to this point has been a redefining process. Working with facilitator Steph Vidal-Hall, Making Meetings Matter, the Centre for Cultural Value team has started to explore how we can use this time to develop creative, sustainable approaches to delivering value and adapting to changing circumstances. By taking the time to reflect on its successes and challenges, the Centre can build a renewed foundation rooted in resilience, innovation, and purpose, prioritising its long-term sustainability.

While the months ahead may be quieter in terms of delivery, they will be filled with purposeful work behind the scenes. The organisation will engage its team, stakeholders, and funders to co-create a blueprint for a more agile, adaptive organisation that can respond to challenges with confidence and clarity. This collaborative process will inform our next steps and ensure that decisions are grounded in the real needs of the cultural sector.

Opening up the conversation

You may be reading this, with parts ringing true to your own experiences in the cultural sector. We know that others are sensing an increasing need to find space for reflection before coming back stronger and more resilient.

As champions of learning and transparency, we endeavour to share our experiences with you over the next year with a mission to open up a conversation about how we can start building more regenerative practices within the cultural sector. We are also keen to connect with others, hear about your experiences, and offer mutual support and a platform for those embarking on a similar journey. Drop us an email at ccv@leeds.ac.uk to say hello.

For the latest updates from the Centre for Cultural Value, join our email list or follow us on LinkedIn.

Further reading about resilience and regeneration in the cultural sector:

What would a regenerative cultural sector look like? (Arts Professional, 19 March 2024)

Image credit: Mafwa Theatre. Michka & Me. Photo by Tribe Four Films.