Impact Update 3, August 2005
This newsletter reviews the content that has been added to the database since the end of May 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 from the database.
We encourage users and their networks to use the facility 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 National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has published three new reports. Participation in ensemble music making by young people of minority ethnic origin, by Filmer-Sankey, Pye and White (2005) looks at provision and participation in schools and community music groups. A study by Harland et al (2005), The Arts-Education Interface: a mutual learning triangle? evaluates an Arts Council England programme of arts-based interventions, organised within the Education Action Zones (EAZs) of Bristol and Corby. The programme was designed to explore the relationship between the arts and education. Wilkin, Gulliver and Kinder (2005) have evaluated a Calouste Gulbenkian programme in Serious play: an evaluation of arts activities in pupil referral units and learning support units.
Kinder and Harland (2004) seek to understand whether arts education might make a contribution to strategies aimed at addressing (or preventing) young people’s disengagement from learning and educational opportunity in ‘The arts and social inclusion: what's the evidence?’, British Journal of Leaning Support 19 (1): 52-56.
Bryce et al (2004) have evaluated four Australian school arts programmes in a report, Evaluation of school-based arts education programmes in Australian schools, in order to explore impacts on academic progress, engagement with learning, and attendance at school and to test whether empirical or anecdotal examples of improved learning outcomes are substantiated.
Arts, Culture and Health Arts Council England has commissioned a study undertaken by Windsor (2005), Your health and the arts: a study of the association between arts engagement and health, which seeks to establish associations between attendance at or participation in the arts and health.
Arts, Culture and Inclusion Australian Expert Group in Industry Studies of the University of Western Australia (2005) has published Social impacts of participation in the arts and cultural activities. Stage two report: evidence, issue and recommendations, which considers the impacts of arts participation on a variety of social issues. Stern and Seifert of the long-running Social Impact of the Arts Project, based in Philadelphia have published Philadelphia and Camden cultural participation benchmark project. Final report, which documents the current state of cultural participation in North Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey prior to John S. and James L. Knight Foundation multiyear investment in projects to broaden, deepen, and diversify resident participation in arts and cultural programs and events ($4.9m awarded to 18 local cultural organisations in January 2005). Associated reports have been produced by Alan S. Brown & Associates and Audience Insight LLC (2005), Philadelphia-Camden cultural participation benchmarking project: neighborhood survey and Mundell et al (2004), Meanings of cultural participation at neighborhood level: a focus group analysis.
The Nottingham Trent University and Ecotec Research and Consulting (2005) have undertaken a study of arts and youth crime for Arts Council England, Access, participation and progression in the arts for young people on Detention and Training Orders.
Arts, Culture and Regeneration Cameron and Coaffee (2005) have published a journal paper which discusses the gentrification outcomes of the arts-led regeneration strategy pursued in Gateshead in north East England, ‘Art, gentrification and regeneration - from artist as pioneer to public arts’, European Journal of Housing Policy 5(1): 39-58. An earlier paper by Strom (2002) has looked at role of cultural organisations in urban revitalisation schemes in US cities: ‘Converting pork into porcelain: cultural institutions and downtown development’, Urban Affairs Review 38(1): 3-21. Gerry Mooney (2004), ‘Cultural policy as urban transformation? Critical reflections on Glasgow, European City of Culture 1990’, Local Economy 19(4): 327-340, questions the impact of arts-led regeneration in a critique of Glasgow’s year of culture.
A special issue of the Urban Studies journal, vol. 42, nos 5-6, 2005 is dedicated to the theme of culture and regeneration. Papers that have been added to the Impact database to date include Evans, ‘Measure for measure: evaluating the evidence of culture's contribution to regeneration’ and Quinn, ‘Arts festivals and the city’.
Arts, Culture and Society TNS Transport and Tourism have produced an updated study, Taking part: arts attendance, participation and attitudes in Scotland 2004 in two volumes for the Scottish Arts Council. The second volume reports on new and additional sampling of under-represented groups.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland have published three new social and economic impact studies: Study of the economic and social impact of subsidised theatre in Northern Ireland by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (2005); the Grand Opera House and the Ulster Orchestra, both undertaken by Millward Ulster Brown and Amethyst Business Solutions (2005).
Michalos (2005) has published the first paper on the arts and quality of life in the history of the academic journal, Social Indicators Research – ‘Arts and the quality of life: an exploratory study’, Social Indicators Research 71: 11-59.
Travers and Glaister (2004) have assessed the role of the UK’s national museums and galleries (members of the National Museums Directors’ Conference) in the wider social and economic framework of society in a report, Valuing museums: impact and innovation among national museums.
Arts, Culture and the Economy Adair and Wagner (2005) have produced a study of the contribution of artists to the economy in the state of Montana, The economic impact of Montana artists. Econometric Research Limited (2005) have published another North American economic impact of the arts study: Economic impact of the arts in Alberta.
David Powell Associates Ltd. (2002) has undertaken economic impact research for the South East England Cultural Consortium and Development agency, Creative and cultural industries: an economic impact study for South East England.
Snowball (2005) has examined who gains from arts festivals in the context of a developing country in which such public spending commitments can be controversial, ‘Art for the masses? Justification for the public support of the arts in developing countries – two arts festivals in South Africa’, Journal of Cultural Economics 29(2): 107-125.
Three studies on the economic and social impact of theatre, the Grand Opera House and the Ulster Orchestra in Northern Ireland are profiled in the Arts, Culture and Society section.
Major Sporting Events Lee and Taylor (2005) have conducted a study with the aim to avoid over-estimating the impact of the 2002 world cup by collecting and analysing visitor data to distinguish between visitors who were directly attracted by the event and otherwise, ‘Critical reflections on the economic impact assessment of a mega-event: the case of 2002 FIFA World Cup’, Tourism Management 26(4): 595–603.
New Research The Centre for Cultural Policy Studies at University of Warwick has begun work on a social impact of the arts project following the award of an AHRC/Arts Council England Impact Assessment Fellowship. The holder of the fellowship is Eleanora Belfiore and Oliver Bennett is the project director. The research will involve a critical reformulation of the current debate over the social impacts of the arts and, by focusing on literature (in particular the novel) and the public performance of plays, will develop a rigorous procedure for the evaluation of these impacts.