Thought Leadership
The University of Warwick is engaged in policy research that develops cultural participation and engagement in communities and is a leader in the use of cultural data to develop evidence based local and national cultural investment and planning.
Recent projects include The State of the Arts report produced for the Campaign for the Arts, Creating the golden thread; an ambition for major events in the UK for Spirit of 2012 and Joint Cultural Need Assessment Guidelines for Arts Council England and the Local Government Association.
The success and legacy of these projects underpin the University’s reputation as a centre of excellence for cultural policy research and the measurement of social and cultural value.
The State of the Arts Link opens in a new window
Researchers from the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies collaborated with the charity Campaign for the Arts on a report that maps ‘the State of the Arts’ across the UKs four nations.
It tracks changes over the last decade across five key health indicators providing an evidence base for policy makers, a baseline against which future changes can be measured and a stark indication of the challenges facing the arts in the UK.
The report Link opens in a new windowand accompanying online tool Link opens in a new windowwere launched at the House of Lords with a speech by Sir Chris Bryant Minister of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and Lord Melvyn Bragg. Evidence from the report has been cited in debates in the House of Lords and appeared in numerous press articles in the UK and Europe.
Creating the golden thread - an ambition for major events in the UK Link opens in a new window
Researchers at Warwick Business School were commissioned by Spirit of 2012, the social legacy funder from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games, to write an expert advisory report on better ways to develop the UK major events ecosystem. The report was shared at a reception held at the House of Lords hosted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.
The report set out recommendations for a national ambition that provides a framework to strengthen the legacy of culture, sport and ceremonial major events from inception to legacy.
A manifesto based on the recommendations and signed by senior local government, cultural and sporting leaders will be presented to the Secretary of State. Signatories include three Metro Mayors.
WBS is now working with the Department for Culture Media and Sport to hold four nation roundtables to consult on the next steps towards a UK ambition and evaluation framework.
Joint Cultural Needs Assessment GuidelinesLink opens in a new window
To coincide with the launch of the new Culture and Place Data Explorer, Arts Council England and the Local Government Association commissioned the University of Warwick to update the Joint Cultural Needs Assessment (JCNA) guidelines, to reference how the new tool can be used.
The JCNA helps local government, creative and cultural organisations respond to the needs of their local communities, with a view to reducing inequalities and obstacles to participation in Arts and Culture.