Impact Update 1, February 2005
This first update reviews the content that has been added to the database since its launch in October 2004 until January 2005. Many of the studies are recently published but we also include earlier studies that are relevant to the themes of the database. Full bibliographical details of the references highlighted below can, of course, be obtained by searching the database.
We encourage users and their networks to use the facility on the database to submit their own research and we will consider it for inclusion. Research should relate to the main themes of the database (a list can be found in the Advanced Search section) and should have stated aims/objectives, methodological approach and findings/conclusions.
Arts, Culture and Education 'The impact of drama on pupils' language, mathematics, and attitude in two primary schools' by Fleming, Merrell and Tymms, published in Research in Drama Education 9(2), 2004, pp. 177-197 reports on further findings from the National Theatre's (UK) Transformation project with schools in East London. A Canadian project by Schellenberg, 'Music lessons enhance IQ', published in Psychological Science 15(8), 2004, pp. 511-514, finds evidence of increases in IQ among control groups of children receiving music lessons. International creative practice in early years settings, a study by Ruth Churchill Dower, published in 2004, researches three international models of creative practice in early years settings. Arts education in UK prisons is explored in a recent paper by Clements, 'The rehabilitative role of arts education in prison: accommodation or enlightenment?', published in The International Journal of Art & Design Education 23(2), 2004, pp. 169-178.
Arts, Culture and Health Staricoff makes the case for the benefits of arts to health in an Arts Council England report, Arts in health: a review of the medical literature. Research report 36, 2004.
Cultural Tourism The impact of hosting the European Capital of Culture title on Rotterdam is the subject of a paper by Richards and Wilson, entitled, ‘The impact of cultural events on city image: Rotterdam, Cultural Capital of Europe 2001’, published in Urban Studies 41(10) (2004), pp. 1931-1951. Watkins and Herbert examine the impact of the adoption of Dylan Thomas as a cultural icon of Swansea on the city's cultural regeneration and tourism. The paper, ‘Cultural policy and place promotion: Swansea and Dylan Thomas’ is published in Geoforum 34(2) (2003), pp. 249-266.
Major Cultural Events In the course of bidding for the UK Capital of Culture 2008 title, Cardiff commissioned a report in 2002 on the potential impact of a successful nomination. The impact of Cardiff 2008 was produced by the Small Firms Research Unit, Cardiff Business School, DCA (Cardiff) Ltd and Cardiff County Council. García reviews the experience of Barcelona and Glasgow together with Bilbao in using cultural events and hallmarks as tools for regeneration in ‘Cultural policy and urban regeneration in Western European cities: lessons from experience, prospects for the future’, published in Local Economy 19(4): 312-326, 2004. Popma looks forward to another major event, the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Winter Olympics and reflects on previous experiences of the Olympics in relation to culture in a report for Whistler Arts Council, Potential impact of the 2010 Olympic Games on local arts and culture in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor: lessons learned from previous host communities, 2004. Palmer/Rae Associates published their study of the 29 cities that have been designated city/capital of culture in the EU programme, Study on the European Cities and Capitals of Culture and the European Cultural Months (1995-2004) in 2004.
Arts, Culture and Inclusion A number of North American studies have been included under this heading. A large-scale survey by the National Endowment for the Arts - 2002 survey of public participation in the arts was published in 2004. Attitudes towards and participation in culture in Canada is explored by Decima Research in The arts in Canada. Access and availability, 2001 research study (2002). A Philadelphia-based project aimed at increasing cultural participation and strengthening community-based cultural organisations was evaluated by Stern and Seifert in Culture builds community evaluation. Summary report (2002). And, a US community music programme was evaluated by Cleveland and Shifferd, Continental harmony: a study in community-based arts. Results of an evaluation (2001).
Ruding and McCoy examine the issues that arise in relation to using community arts practice in criminal justice settings in Arts with offenders - a discussion paper (2002).
Volunteering and culture is examined in two studies, the first a piece of UK research by Howlett in ‘Volunteering in libraries, museums and archives’, published in Cultural Trends 12(46), p. 39, 2002 and the second a Canadian study by Hill Strategies Research Inc., Volunteers in arts and culture organizations in Canada (2003).
The role of museums in communities and issues around measuring their impact are addressed by Carol Scott, Museums and impact (2003).
Arts, Culture and Regeneration Puype looks at the Ghent 'Arts in the Neighbourhood' programme and similar initiatives in ‘Arts and culture as experimental spaces in the city: the case of Ghent’ in City 8(2): 295-301, 2004. Charles Landry reviews the debate on cities and culture and cultural strategies of the past ten years in Imagination and regeneration: cultural policy and the future of cities (2003).
Arts, Culture and the Economy Two economic impact studies have been added to the database: Will, Cheney and Mason Brown, Economic impact of the arts in Jacksonville survey (2004) and Fitzpatrick Associates, Economic impact of the professional performing arts in Ireland (2004). Critiques of the use of economic impact studies in relation to the arts are offered in Madden, 'Using 'economic' impact studies in arts and cultural advocacy: a cautionary note' in Media International Australia incorporating Culture and Policy, 2001 and Snowball and Antrobus, Valuing the arts: Pitfalls in economic impact studies of arts festivals, 2002
Markusen and King look at occupations to examine the economic impact of the arts in Artistic dividend, the: the arts' hidden contributions to regional development (2003).
Fashion is the subject of a study by Roodhouse, Designer fashion and its markets: essential facts (2003) while a subsequent study by Cox, Ninan, Hearn, Roodhouse and Cunningham looks at the music industry in Australia, Queensland music industry basics: people, businesses and markets (2004).
New Research Projects Current research can be found by using the advanced search function in the database. New projects include:
Dublin City University is undertaking a comparative study of cities where arts have played a central role in urban/community regeneration strategies, i.e. Liverpool, Glasgow, Dublin and Barcelona. The project title is Internationalisation, interculturalism & social development. Arts and community regeneration: prospects and problems.
The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) currently has two projects relating to education, arts and culture underway: Extending the role of libraries and Participation in ensemble music making by young people of minority ethnic origin. A preliminary study. Reports from both studies are due in 2005.
The Association for Tourism and Leisure Education are collaborating with the Interarts Foundation on a Cultural Tourism Research Programme. The research will analyse the motivations, socio-demographic profiles, consumption patterns and destination images of cultural tourists.
The Institute for Public Policy Research are conducting a project entitled Culture, community & civil renewal: Exploring the role of cultural and heritage policy in generating social capital. The project will examine the role that heritage and cultural policy can play in developing social capital, bridging diverse cultural communities and encouraging active citizenship – especially in poor, disadvantaged communities.