Creative PEC is partnering with the UK National Commission for UNESCO on a new study to measure the economic and non-economic value of the UK’s UNESCO sites. From the world-renowned Stonehenge, Tower of London and the Lake District, to Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks and the Creative Cities network, UNESCO-designated sites cover 14% of the UK’s land area and are home to 9 million people.
The new study will pioneer new methodologies to understand value not just in economic terms, but also the wider value of local partnerships and collaboration.
A.R.S. Progetti has been announced as the lead consultant for the new study, which is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the AHRC-funded Creative PEC under the UKNC’s Local to Global Programme.
James Bridge, Secretary-General and Chief Executive of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, said:
“At a time when some may ask what the United Nations is really for, UNESCO sites give us a clear answer: they bring hundreds of millions of people, and multiple communities together around the world. They don’t just protect world-famous cultural and natural heritage, they use it as a foundation to face today’s challenges, whether that be community resilience or climate change. Through this study, we want to demonstrate that partnerships forged through UNESCO sites are practical, powerful, and laboratories for creating a better future together.”
Professor Giorgio Fazio, Research Director, Creative PEC said:
“Understanding how UNESCO designation shapes the economic and social value generated through partnerships across UK sites is a complex but critical undertaking. We are delighted to partner with UNESCO UK in this pioneering project, working alongside A.R.S. Progetti and the University of Manchester to develop innovative methodologies that fully capture such value. We hope these methodologies will become the new standard for measuring the value of similar partnerships worldwide.”
For more details and the press release visit UNESCO.
