Reports Database:
Measuring the economic and social impact of the arts: a review

“The aim of the Review is to provide an overview of arts impact research to complement a recent Arts Council-commissioned review on arts and social
exclusion. This review is available online at the Arts Council’s website at www.artscouncil.org.uk/news/publicationsindex.html, and covers this area of policy in more depth. Inevitably there is some overlap between the two publications.

The objectives of the Review are to:

• collate and review existing research on the economic and social impact of the arts
• share understanding of methodologies and measures used for assessing the impact of arts projects, facilities and programmes, as well as the creative industries
• assess the comprehensiveness and quality of the existing evidence base
• inform the future agenda for impact research within the sector, and support evidence-based policy making by the Arts Council
• identify key research needs to help improve the robustness of research methods and evidence demonstrating the contribution of arts and culture to the social and economic objectives of national and local government, and other key partners
• provide a practical resource to assist those working in the field”