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The Value of Arts and Culture

The Value of Arts and Culture

Introduction

Measuring the economic and social value of the arts and cultural sector to local and national economies is critical. The experiences of arts and culture connects with health and well-being, happiness, identity and sense of place.
Over the last five years, Creative PEC research has demonstrated the diverse and multifaceted value of arts and culture. The research in this theme has two focuses: measuring and articulating the value of arts and culture using the economic techniques, understanding the impact of emerging technologies on how interactions with culture are experienced, felt and valued.

Publications and Posts

Research Reports
East London Youth Dance Company - dancers performing on stage
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 se…

library book shelves curving round a mezzanine floor
Exploring societal challenges through library data

From film credits to library catalogues, the creative industries are constantly, passively generatin…

abstract illustration of Preston city
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 i…

Baltic Art Gallery courtesy of Lorna Simpson
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 her…

actors on stage behind a red theatre curtain
Charities speak

Using data science to understand the arts and cultural charities sector in England and Wales Chariti…

Discussion Papers

Side of building with artwork of man and a robin
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 …

Monkey sign on lamp post
Crypto art and questions of value

Crypto Art is a novel, emerging creative form that is entirely digital, and native to the internet. …

Music concert
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…

Woman relaxing watching her laptop. With a cat
Culture in quarantine? Cultural institutions’ uses of Twitter during lockdown

Cultural institutions, such as museums and galleries, are important for local communities. They are …

image of Liverpool street during European capital of culture event
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

Press Releases
Foreign Direct Investment in the UKs Creative Industries
Invest at scale in place-based approaches to unleash potential of ‘Foreign Direct Investment’ in UK’s creative industries says new research

Embargoed 00.01 Wednesday 20 November 2024 GMT With the UK Government’s forthcoming industrial strat…

growth finance for creative industries
With the right financial support creative industries could fuel the Government’s growth mission and help tackle persistent regional inequality

A new report published today by the AHRC-funded Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Crea…

Access to Finance: launch of new research project

New research is being undertaken by Creative UK in partnership with the Creative Industries Policy a…

New research points to a looming creative economy skills shortage across the UK

New report shows ‘severe’ decline in creative further education participation Embargoed 17 July 00.0…

Press Release: New research, including – once in a decade data – provides comprehensive overview of audiences and workforce across arts, culture and heritage.

Embargoed 00.01 Wednesday 15 May 2024 (BST) For the first time, census data has been used to provide…

Press Release: UK’s creative industries are an export success story

New report shows creative strength despite Brexit and Covid Embargoed 00.01 Wednesday 20 March 2024,…

Introducing the Creative PEC’s Research Fellows Network 

By Professor Hasan Bakhshi, Director Creative PEC and Professor Giorgio Fazio, Director of Research …

Angel of the North - boris-yue
‘One Creative North’ plans finalised at summit ahead of Convention of the North

30 organisations meet to set out a bold new vision for the north of England’s creative industries To…

Press Release: Investing in ‘creative clusters’ is key to economic growth– and helping to level up the UK economy

A new report published today, provides fresh insight on where policy intervention could be best targ…

city centre shopping street scene
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 Polic…

interior of Victorian shopping arcade
Press Release: ‘Creative Corridors’ can be the key to the UK’s creative industries’ ambitions

Today (Saturday 16 September), three major institutions announce a joint agreement to work together …

street wall art
Press release: Relationship between creative industries and gentrification overstated says new study

August 2023 – It’s a commonly held view that the arts drive gentrification. Many city leaders …

Blog
image of cinema
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 t…

crowd outside with confetti dropping from sky
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 …

image of bit coins
Can you own a pixel?

This blog is based on the discussion paper Crypto Art and Questions of Value, a guide for anyon…

map of Cambodia on glass wall with person in face mask viewing it
Art, climate science and policy

Can art play a role in the intersection of climate science and policy? I have been researching …

abstract art
A little greyer and a bit more rectangular?

Using online museum collections to study the design of everyday objects A little greyer? We tracked …

image of nightclub crowd watching band
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 th…

map of Birmingham
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 …

carpenter carving wood
Counting craft

So I never thought I’d become a SIC and SOC code nerd. Neither an economist, nor a statistician, I’m…

Image of school girl in library looking at laptop - courtesy of Annie Spratt
Home is where the art is

Why the government, funders and creative industries should come together to support cultural consump…

people in dance glass
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 m…

Image of the Tower of London
The continuing significance of the centenary

What does the nature of a centenary commemoration tell us about collective memory and current social…

woman looking a artwork on wall - courtesy of Matthew Kwong
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 y…

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