Government study demonstrates culture’s economic value

The importance of culture, sport and heritage organisations to local economies has been highlighted by a new Government-commissioned report. The “highly exploratory” study concludes that culture and heritage are “important influencers of place-shaping,” and can influence local place-shaping and help attract and retain businesses both within and outside of major urban centres. Part of the DCMS-led Culture and Sport Evidence (CASE) programme, the research study focused on the evidence gap around an empirical link between culture, sport and heritage and positive economic outcomes, both in general and specifically for the creative industries. The findings demonstrate “positive and strong relationships” between investment in culture, sport and heritage and positive economic impacts for local places, although the report notes that the precise mechanisms through which this influence is exerted require further investigation.

Following a literature review and data collection exercise, researchers at Trends Business Research, NEF Consulting and Middlesex University created econometric models to investigate the culture, sport and heritage ecosystem in England from 2003 to 2013. The study was the first of its kind to test these relationships on a national scale but at the local level.

(Source: Arts Professional: Read more here)

Photo: Chris Goldberg (CC BY-NC 2.0)

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