Audiences and workforce in arts, culture and heritage sectors: Recent trends and evidence for Scotland
New research on Scotland’s arts, culture and heritage finds persistent inequalities in participation.
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The Value of Arts and Culture
Who Stays and Who Leaves? Mapping Arts, Culture and Heritage Careers
Exit rates from the sector are higher compared with other sectors. Freelancers form the vital backbone. Download the report.
What does the 2025 Spending Review mean for the creative industries?
A read out from Creative PEC Bernard Hay and Emily Hopkins On Wednesday 11th June the UK Government published its Spending Review, which outlines UK Government departmental budgets for day-to-day… Read More »What does the 2025 Spending Review mean for the creative industries?
The Mahakumbh Mela, India, 2025
The festival economy: A Priceless Moment in Time Worth GBP 280 Billion in Trade Jairaj Mashru looks at the festival economy and how these large events drive creativity and innovation.… Read More »The Mahakumbh Mela, India, 2025
Measuring the economic value of digital culture
What are consumers are willing to pay for digital streaming services, and how do we measure it?
Arts, Culture and Heritage: Audiences and Workforce
A Creative PEC State of the Nations Report Arts, culture and heritage play a vital role in the UK, enriching society and generating new ideas, while also significantly contributing to… Read More »Arts, Culture and Heritage: Audiences and Workforce
Impact Investing in the Cultural and Creative Sectors: Insights from an emerging field
This report identifies a burgeoning movement of investing for impact in the cultural and creative sectors globally, emerging at the precise moment that the sector urgently needs to examine new… Read More »Impact Investing in the Cultural and Creative Sectors: Insights from an emerging field
The economic value of cinema venues to their communities
In a tough economic climate for cinemas and where there is limited public funding, it is important to calculate their economic value more fully and it is incumbent on policymakers… Read More »The economic value of cinema venues to their communities
Press release: With coordinated action North of England based creative industries could add £10bn to the UK economy
Today, the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC), led by Newcastle University, say there is a ‘clear opportunity’… Read More »Press release: With coordinated action North of England based creative industries could add £10bn to the UK economy
Estimating the Contribution of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) R&D to Creative Industries R&D
The UK’s creative industries are hugely innovative; PEC research has suggested that over two-thirds of creative industries businesses conduct R&D. But despite this, uptake of R&D tax credits, which encourage business… Read More »Estimating the Contribution of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) R&D to Creative Industries R&D
Creative Destruction? Creative firms, workers and residential gentrification
A new study by Tasos Kitsos, Max Nathan, and Diana Gutierrez-Posada finds only a minor influence of creative firms and workers on neighborhood gentrification in England and Wales between 2001-2011.… Read More »Creative Destruction? Creative firms, workers and residential gentrification
A new deal for arts funding in England?
When thinking about why we publicly fund the arts, we can point to their multifaceted benefits. Not only do the arts contribute directly to the economy, but they can be… Read More »A new deal for arts funding in England?
Can you own a pixel?
This blog is based on the discussion paper Crypto Art and Questions of Value, a guide for anyone interested in NFTs, blockchain, crypto art, and the impact of these new technologies… Read More »Can you own a pixel?
Crypto art and questions of value
Crypto Art is a novel, emerging creative form that is entirely digital, and native to the internet. It is closely associated with, and dependent upon, other emerging technologies such as… Read More »Crypto art and questions of value
Exploring societal challenges through library data
From film credits to library catalogues, the creative industries are constantly, passively generating rich textual data. Could this data be used to shed new light on societal challenges? At Nesta,… Read More »Exploring societal challenges through library data
Live music ecologies in the UK: A local perspective in the context of the pandemic
In 2019, the UK’s live music sector was valued at over £1.3 billion. After almost a decade of strong growth the sector helped push the UK music’s overall GVA from… Read More »Live music ecologies in the UK: A local perspective in the context of the pandemic
Press release: Landmark report on the Creative Industries and Climate Emergency heralded as a ‘call to action’
A sector by sector overview of activity taking place in the creative industries to achieve Net Zero Wednesday 19 October 2022 – Ahead of COP 27, a landmark new report… Read More »Press release: Landmark report on the Creative Industries and Climate Emergency heralded as a ‘call to action’
Eight things to know about the Creative Industries
What are the Creative Industries? The Creative Industries are a diverse and complex sector made up of a variety of sub-sectors, from performing arts to computer games, and graphic design… Read More »Eight things to know about the Creative Industries
Supporting the Creative Industries: The impact of the ‘Preston Model’ in Lancashire
The economic geography of the UK is highly uneven, with many of the largest clusters concentrating in the greater South East of England and some large metropolitan areas in the… Read More »Supporting the Creative Industries: The impact of the ‘Preston Model’ in Lancashire
Culture in quarantine? Cultural institutions’ uses of Twitter during lockdown
Cultural institutions, such as museums and galleries, are important for local communities. They are places that preserve and promote cultural heritage, and can be sources of familiarity, inspiration and pride. … Read More »Culture in quarantine? Cultural institutions’ uses of Twitter during lockdown
Art, climate science and policy
Can art play a role in the intersection of climate science and policy? I have been researching this question over the years, drawing on my experience in policymaking, my visual arts practice,… Read More »Art, climate science and policy
The European Capital of Culture: A review of the academic evidence
A literature review & policy implications of the impact of the Capital of Culture on local economies
Do creative industries generate multiplier effects? Evidence from UK cities 1997-2018
A paper examing the long-term impacts of the creative industries on surrounding urban economies
Comparative analysis of pay and conditions: London’s West End and New York’s Broadway
This discussion paper feeds into our wider research on freelancers, considering the employment conditions and wages of freelance musical theatre performers. The paper compares the employment situations of musical theatre… Read More »Comparative analysis of pay and conditions: London’s West End and New York’s Broadway
A little greyer and a bit more rectangular?
Using online museum collections to study the design of everyday objects A little greyer? We tracked the colour of objects overtime and found a substantial rise in the use of… Read More »A little greyer and a bit more rectangular?
Measuring the economic value of cultural and heritage sites
A major contribution of new guidance, evidence and research on the economic value of culture and heritage Visiting a free museum, walking past a historic building, going to a theatre:… Read More »Measuring the economic value of cultural and heritage sites
COVID-19: Impacts on the cultural industries and the implications for policy
We’re collaborating with the Centre for Cultural Value on a 15-month research project We’re collaborating with the Centre for Cultural Value on a 15-month research project Project overview This national… Read More »COVID-19: Impacts on the cultural industries and the implications for policy
Arts and culture: The need for a ‘live’ support system
The arts and cultural sector breathed a collective sigh of relief on Sunday evening (5th July) as the Government announced a £1.57 billion rescue package. The calls of pain from each art… Read More »Arts and culture: The need for a ‘live’ support system
A live music map for Birmingham in times of COVID-19
Recent research from UK Music has highlighted the economic contribution that music tourism has made to the UK economy, with the headline figures showing that 29.8 million people attended live music… Read More »A live music map for Birmingham in times of COVID-19
Counting craft
So I never thought I’d become a SIC and SOC code nerd. Neither an economist, nor a statistician, I’m still a regular user of stats to try and strengthen our… Read More »Counting craft
Measuring the creative economy: A guide for policymakers
Policy debates on the creative industries are mired in ambiguities and inconsistencies in terminology. Policymakers speak interchangeably of creative industries, cultural industries and creative economy. Cunningham (2009) compares the creative… Read More »Measuring the creative economy: A guide for policymakers
Home is where the art is
Why the government, funders and creative industries should come together to support cultural consumption in the Covid-19 crisis The world is at war against an invisible enemy. On the one… Read More »Home is where the art is
The impact of COVID-19 on arts and cultural charities
With many arts and cultural charities having to restrict activities as a result of COVID-19, it is more important than ever to understand the key role they play and how… Read More »The impact of COVID-19 on arts and cultural charities
Charities speak
Using data science to understand the arts and cultural charities sector in England and Wales Charities affect all walks of life – they care for underprivileged people; they provide spaces… Read More »Charities speak
The continuing significance of the centenary
What does the nature of a centenary commemoration tell us about collective memory and current social attitudes? How have commemorations changed over time? What are the most appropriate ways to… Read More »The continuing significance of the centenary
Immersive experiences in museums, galleries and heritage sites: a review of research findings and issues
Interest in immersive experiences in museums and heritage sites has increased in recent years in response to challenges faced by the sector and the potential of emerging technologies. Arts and… Read More »Immersive experiences in museums, galleries and heritage sites: a review of research findings and issues
Capturing the value of immersive experiences in museums, galleries and heritage sites
Interest in immersive experiences in museums, galleries and heritage sites has increased in recent years in response to some of the challenges those sectors face and given the potential of… Read More »Capturing the value of immersive experiences in museums, galleries and heritage sites
The value of arts and culture
Defining culture, defining value Arts and cultural institutions must strive to be nimble in a fast-changing funding environment characterised by declining public spending commitments. One of the most difficult challenges is… Read More »The value of arts and culture
Heritage, community and opportunity: a lesson on how to understand the value of culture
The broad scope of the PEC’s arts and culture area of work is orienting us in many directions; some anticipated, others less so. Given the priorities set by Arts Council… Read More »Heritage, community and opportunity: a lesson on how to understand the value of culture
Silence speaks volumes
The economic value of our creative industries is clear. But are they a priority for Britain’s political leaders? The impressive growth performance of the UK’s creative industries, from design and… Read More »Silence speaks volumes
Public Value
How can it be managed and grown? This report brought together views from Nesta on better ways of mapping and measuring public value. It built on work Nesta has done… Read More »Public Value
The Economic Value of Heritage
This report by Nesta and Simetrica looked at the value that users (residents and visitors) and non-users obtain from historic cities and their cathedrals. The researchers used a technique known… Read More »The Economic Value of Heritage
What can we learn about the innovation performance of the creative industries? (2018)
In this paper the authors considered how the innovation processes used by creative industries businesses compare with those used in other sectors. The analysis used data from the Department for… Read More »What can we learn about the innovation performance of the creative industries? (2018)
Experimental Culture: A horizon scan for the arts and culture sector
This paper was intended to serve as a prompt for Arts Council England’s consultation activity over the forthcoming months, with the intent of provoking a conversation with arts and cultural… Read More »Experimental Culture: A horizon scan for the arts and culture sector
Did you really take a hit?
Understanding how video games playing affects individuals This study addressed the important and recurring question of whether playing video games is detrimental to the socio-economic development of a person. Publication… Read More »Did you really take a hit?
Cultural policy in the time of the creative industries
This report argued that new DCMS statistics on the cultural sector, alongside the creative industries estimates, will create an important opportunity to revisit the scope of cultural policy in the… Read More »Cultural policy in the time of the creative industries
Found In Translation
How social media platforms can help UK publishers understand their market in China In this paper, the authors explored how British publishers and writers can negotiate some of the market… Read More »Found In Translation
A Map of the UK Games Industry
This report took a big data approach to measure and map the UK games industry and track its evolution over time. The analysis revealed a games industry which is larger… Read More »A Map of the UK Games Industry
The New Art of Finance
Making money work harder for the arts This report showed how a portion of arts funding could be reinvented, making use of new methods that would bring in additional finance… Read More »The New Art of Finance
A manifesto for the creative economy
The manifesto set out a 10-point plan to bolster the creative industries, one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors. Publication date: 30 October 2013
Measuring Cultural Value
This paper was based on a speech by Hasan Bakhshi, and makes the case for more rigorous valuation studies of cultural institutions. The speech was delivered at Culture Count: Measuring… Read More »Measuring Cultural Value
Staying ahead
The economic performance of the UK’s creative industries This analysis by The Work Foundation and NESTA researchers puts at the heart of the UK economy scriptwriters, computer programmers, designers and… Read More »Staying ahead