Impact Update 7, August 2006

This newsletter reviews the content that has been added to the Impact Database since the end of May 2006. As always, many of the studies are recently published but we also include earlier research that is 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, which will then be considered for inclusion. Research should relate to the main themes of the database (listed in the Advanced Search section) and should have stated aims/objectives, methodological approach and findings/conclusions.

Arts and Culture

Madden (2005), in ‘Indicators for arts and cultural policy. A global perspective’ (Cultural trends 14(3): 217-247), a paper based upon a longer report by IFACCA, assesses the current state of quantitative cultural indicator development and looks at examples of good practice of applied cultural statistics.

Arts, Culture and Education

Jackson & Rees Leahy (2005) make a qualitative comparison of the museum experiences of 8 groups of school children to assess the effectiveness of theatre within the education programmes of two British museums, specifically in connection to children's cognitive and affective learning (‘Seeing it for real...? - Authenticity, theatre and learning in museums’. Research in Drama Education 10(3): 303-325).

Third space. When learning matters, by Stevenson & Deasy (2005), uses comparative case study research in ten US schools to study how arts instruction contributes to changes in schools serving economically disadvantaged communities.

James (2005), in her working paper ‘'Actup!' Theatre as education and its impact on young people's learning’, reports on her research into the impact of informal learning through theatre on educationally and socially disadvantaged young people (Centre for Labour Market Studies Working Paper no. 46).

Arts, Culture and Health

Bundy (2006) examines how drama is being used to build the self-capacity of child abuse survivors, in ‘Using drama in the counselling process: the "Moving On" project.' (Research in drama education 11(1): 7-18). This publication is a first result of a three-year research project into the use of drama to empower the survivors of trauma and abuse to redress the negative consequences of their experiences and move on in their lives.

Arts, Culture and Regeneration

In ‘Cultural quarters and regeneration: the case of Wolverhampton’ (Planning, practice & research 20(3): 297-311), McCarthy (2005) explores why and how cultural quartering policies are applied, and examines their potential in terms of delivery of regeneration outcomes. Building upon their earlier review of UK literature, Evans & Shaw (2006) have carried out a short international literature review on the contribution of culture to regeneration, as a background for the third World Summit on Arts and Culture. The results of this were published in Arts Research Digest 37.

Arts, Culture and Society

Two articles focus on the social impact of theatre. Pompeo Nogueira (2006) evaluates the benefits of a long-term theatre project on a local Brazilian community and explores the possible impacts of the project on the members if the community, in ‘Reflections on the impact of a long term theatre for community development project in Southern Brazil’ (Research in Drama Education 11(2): 219-234). Hughes & Wilson (2004) evaluate the strengths and limitations of an earlier study exploring the impact of taking part in youth theatre on young people's personal and social development (Research in drama education 9(1): 57-72).

Two more publications deal with social values and impacts of museums. Tyne and Wear Museums, Bristol's Museums, Galleries & Archives. Social impact programme assessment, by AEA Consulting (2005), evaluates the social impact of a number of museum projects and recommend ways to maximise their future impact. Scott (2006), in ‘Museums: impact and value’, reports on her research on perceptions of museum value and impact among museum professionals and the general public, against the background of government social policy directives for museums (Cultural trends 15(1), No. 57: 45-75).

Finally, three studies address both the social and the economic impact of culture. Ove Arup & Partners (2005) identify the economic, social and cultural impact of heritage in the North East of England in Economic social and cultural impact assessment of heritage in the North East. Final report, a publication for the North East Historic Environment Forum. This study focuses on the impact of historic houses, archaeological remains, archives, museums and the built environment, and is largely based upon 17 different case studies.

Scoping the economic and social impact of archives, a report for the Yorkshire Museums, Libraries and Archives Council by Horton & Spence (2006), offers a systematic review of published evidence on the methodologies and approaches used to assess the economic and social impact of archives, and makes recommendations for the development of analytical tools necessary for credible impact assessment. In a similar fashion, Wood (2005), in ‘Measuring the economic and social impacts of local authority events’, aims to develop a systematic and objective method for measuring the impact of local authority events and festivals (International Journal of Public Sector Management 18(1): 37-53). .

Arts, Culture and the Economy

Two studies examine the economic impact of folk festivals. Tohmo (2005) examines the regional economic impact of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival (Finland), in ‘Economic impact of cultural events on local economies: an input-output analysis of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival’ (Tourism Economics 11(3): 431-451), while a report by Morris Hargreaves McIntyre (2004) uses quantitative and qualitative surveys to assess the impact of UK folk festivals on cultural tourism (The impact of folk festivals. Final report).

The short-term economic impact of the activities during Salamanca’s 2002 reign as European Capital of Culture is the topic of a study by Herrero et al. (2006), in ‘The economic impact of cultural events. A case-study of Salamanca 2002, European Capital of Culture’ (European Urban and Regional Studies 13(1): 41-57).

A new study by Stoddard, Davé, Evans & Clopton (2006) assesses the economic impact of artists, arts organisations and arts patrons in a small county in the USA (‘Economic impact of the arts in a small US county’. Tourism Economics 12(1): 101-121).

Evidence on the economic impact of London's archives, libraries and museums sector is gathered in London's culture equation, by ALM London (2006). This publication is the first in a series of economic evaluation studies reports designed to disseminate impact evidence.

Two studies focus specifically on the creative industries. Creating growth. How the UK can develop world class creative businesses, by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) (2006), analyses the economic performance of the UK's creative industries and considers their position within the global market. The Centre for Cultural Policy Research at the University of Hong Kong (2003) has published its Baseline study on Hong Kong’s creative industries, assessing the economic impact of the local cultural industries between 1996 and 2002, as well as their future growth potential.

Finally, Skerritt & Huybers (2005) provide a quantitative analysis of the impact of international tourism on economic development in developing countries, in ‘The effect of international tourism on economic development: an empirical analysis’ (Asia Pacific journal of tourism research 10(1): 23-43).

Three studies addressing both the economic and the social impact of arts and culture have been profiled in the Arts, Culture and Society section above.

New Research

Current research can be found by using the advanced search function in the database. The Creativity and Aging Study, led by Gene D. Cohen, investigates the impact of active participation in cultural programmes on the health and social activities of older adults.

Creative Connections is a research project by the Mental Health Foundation (UK), exploring the role of the Participatory Arts project in promoting mental health and well-being.

Finally, the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Northumbria is carrying out its Cultural Investment and Strategic Impact Research (CISIR) on the impact of arts investment on the overall social, economic, and cultural life in the Newcastle-Gateshead area and the changes in attitude and aspirations among key communities. This 10-year longitudinal study has started in 2002 and will use annual population survey questionnaires among 1500 people.