Plymouth Cultural Index
Client: Plymouth Culture
Duration: 3 months
Funder: Plymouth Culture
Evaluation approach
The Social Research Unit’s approach to review the Cultural Index included research to better understand the context within which cultural organisations are working, what data is already captured and how, together with insights from key stakeholders into the specific drivers for change. The SRU worked closely with Micronomy to reduce duplication in data collection. The approach used for this research incorporated a variety of quantitative and qualitative data sources, including:
Desk-based research
Partner cultural organisational surveys
Wider stakeholder interviews
Outcomes and impacts
The Social Research Unit incorporated the key findings from the desk-based review and stakeholder interviews to produce a revised populated Plymouth Cultural Index to meet current needs. This includes several new indicators, alongside the removal of some indicators. In order to populate the Cultural Index, the SRU drew upon secondary data sources. Desk research was undertaken to identify key data providers and source relevant updated data, alongside direct contact with relevant organisations to secure data. All indicators within the Index meet the following criteria:
Reliability - data is deemed to be accurate and fit for purpose
Replicability – data can be collected in the same way, using the same methods and source, every year, to allow real change to be reflected
Ease of data collection – the data is easily accessible
Overview
The Plymouth Cultural Index project responds to on-going discussions between key stakeholders in Plymouth regarding how to evidence the impact of culture. It aligns with the Place Partnership programme ‘Sea for Yourself’ - a four-year cultural and digital initiative, funded by Arts Council England and led by Plymouth Culture with local partners, to reconnect residents with the sea through creativity, technology, and community engagement. This is an important and timely piece of work following on from the growing interest nationally in demonstrating impact of the cultural sector and how it contributes to wellbeing and a sense of place in cities. Developing a shared citywide cultural index, along with an agreed approach for collecting data from cultural organisations, will provide the sector with a robust and consistent way to understand and evidence the impact of cultural activity across the city. Findings will also support further phases of the research which will develop a common framework for evaluation and associated toolkit and training, which partners across the city can access and use.
This work builds upon a previous study by the Social Research Unit commissioned by Plymouth Culture, Developing a Cultural Index for Plymouth and updated the previous index, to reflect changing patterns of behaviour in regards to post Covid-19, sustainability, and changes in policy drivers. Alongside the Index, Micronomy are developing the data infrastructure to bring together audience data from across Plymouth’s cultural organisations.