Latest recession research highlights contrasting fortunes of cultural organisations in the West Midlands

Consumers are behaving in unusual ways and this is having a conflicting impact on our region’s cultural venues.
While our visitor attractions are bucking the national trend and attracting more visitors, there continues to be cause for concern amongst architectural, advertising, arts and business tourism professionals, many of whom are battling against a tide of reduced [...]

Guidance for local authorities undertaking research into culture

Ever read through a research report and wished that you could have the same types of information for the geographical area that you live and work in?
With this in mind, the West Midlands Cultural Observatory has just published a guidance paper (Word, 226KB) aimed at local authorities in the West Midlands who want to replicate [...]

How is the West Midlands cultural sector performing during the recession?

Economic research launched in March 2009 by the West Midlands Cultural Observatory has helped to shed light on how the region’s cultural and creative sector is performing during the current economic downturn — an area which has not been the subject of sustained research in the past.
The economic snapshot paper (Word, 306KB) includes the results of [...]

New research on the impact of culture in the West Midlands

New research produced by the West Midlands Cultural Observatory has boosted understanding of the social and economic role that culture has played in the West Midlands over recent years.
Long term economic trends suggest that the sector is expanding, employing more people and increasing its GVA and turnover output year-on-year.
For example, the Culture & Prosperity (PDF, [...]

Acknowledging the cross-sector importance of culture

October has been an important month for colleagues at the West Midlands Regional Observatory.
Not only was the State of the Region Report 2008 launched, along with the Regional Integrated Economic Assessment, the Observatory held its annual conference, attracting a good cross-section of the region’s key thinkers and policy-makers. In all three cases, the importance of [...]

Uncertainty over the future of regional cultural research

Chair of the Cultural Research & Intelligence Group and Chief Executive of Museums, Libraries & Archives (MLA) in the West Midlands, Jon Finch provides some insight into the current situation for regional cultural research:

Ethnicity and social class: most influential factors in West Midlands’ cultural participation

According to the Regional Lifestyle Survey, of all demographic factors, residents’ ethnicity and social class best predict what they choose to do with their leisure time and how much importance they attach to local cultural facilities.
The Survey, published by the West Midlands Regional Observatory in 2005, used a region-wide postal questionnaire to explore a range [...]

Significant increase in participation in arts activities by West Midlands’ residents

August 2008 saw the much anticipated release of the Taking Part Survey 2006/07 results.
The annual survey, produced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, collects data about engagement and non-engagement in culture, leisure and sport by adults aged 16 and over. The latest results show a number of positive trends for the West Midlands.

Cultural Research and Intelligence Network newsletter: call for information

The next Cultural Research & Intelligence Network (CRAIN) newsletter is due out in October 2008.
If you have any information on recent research and intelligence in the arts, media, heritage, sports, play and/or tourism fields that you would like to share with the 120+ CRAIN members across the West Midlands region, please forward them to me [...]

Creative industries research from NESTA

Two research reports investigating the UK’s creative industries have recently been published by NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts:

Hidden Innovation in the Creative Industries
Beyond the Creative Industries

Hidden Innovation in the Creative Industries, published in July 2008, looks at the level and nature of innovation within the creative industries and identifies areas [...]

Creative and media sector skills review

Earlier this year, the Learning & Skills Council undertook a review of skills supply and demand for the creative and media sector in the West Midlands.
Amongst other interesting findings, the review found that employers perceive graduates to lack market-based experience and ‘job readiness’, suggesting that the education sector is struggling to link skills development with [...]

Changes to regional cultural co-ordination

Arts Minister, Margaret Hodge has announced the closure of the Regional Cultural Consortiums by March 2009.
Her intention is that in their place, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s four key agencies in the regions – Arts Council England, Sport England, English Heritage and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council – will have a duty [...]

Forthcoming research from the West Midlands Cultural Observatory

You may be interested to know about research currently being conducted at the West Midlands Cultural Observatory.
Over the next year, we will be producing three evidence papers which draw together what we know about the impact of culture on ‘prosperity’, ‘people’ and ‘place’ in the West Midlands. Not only will this help to inform regional [...]