Culture Global

Cuts in public spending are creating an environment within which it is increasingly difficult for organisations to develop strategy and plan for the future. Many of the present debates are about how organisations should develop to withstand the lack of public subsidy – but there is very little focus on comparable solutions, on how other countries have dealt with a lack of government funding. National debate and policy shifts centre around diverse funding models, increased public accountability and greater local delivery but these are inconsistently grounded in local practice, or based on a clear understanding of what can be proven to work.  Cultural organisations need access to research and backing to help them navigate their own way through these agendas and mobilise support to enable recognition for their achievements.

We at the Kettle Partnership are working with Audiences UK and other key industry bodies on Culture Global, a new research project that will map and share the knowledge and practice that already exists, much of it beyond the UK, providing practical information and guidance to lighten the burden of work and avoid duplication for hard-pressed  organisations.  This need is strongest among small and medium-sized cultural organisations, which may not have the resources to maintain international links or spend time gathering and analysing case studies.  They would benefit from research that provides access to knowledge and practical tools that have been proven to achieve.  This will help them assess options and plan for the future, freeing them for genuine innovation.

Many sectors regularly exchange information on a global level (science, medicine, etc) but the cultural sector has not so readily exchanged information on the infrastructure of delivery.   Globalisation and the changes to the way government funds are distributed have increased the importance of networks and partnerships, both as alternative support structures and funding partners, but also as gatherers of data and knowledge.  The benefit of an international exchange, rather than one focusing solely on the UK cultural sector, is the ability to generate broader access to information and experience of dealing with similar issues and challenges.  This is particularly valuable, as many countries have already been working with comparatively lower levels of public subsidy for culture for some time.  Analysing and sharing international approaches will enable a better understanding of the benefits of two-way audience relations: including the potential to drive innovation in funding models, organisational development, and the political profile of the cultural sector.

Culture Global aims to establish an exchange network; one where cultural solutions developed in the UK will be able to reach a global audience just as much as we would benefit from building upon international best practice.  The network will enable:

Reinvigorated, modernised and enhanced international knowledge sharing networks for cultural organisations (national to local), which will be able to support topics of mutual interest, such as new funding models

Better understanding of the potential benefits of two-way audience relations, through analysing and sharing international approaches

Better knowledge of how to mobilise public support for culture through

Bringing public voice to organisational planning and national policy decisions

Building lobbying networks and public activism in support of culture

Between June and July 2011 Kettle Partnership are contacting strategic arts organisations across the world in order to identify best practice in the following areas:

Audience development/ marketing

Collection of data/evaluation

Funding models/sponsorship

Digital innovation

If you would like to know more about the project, have international contacts that you would like to share and would like to complete the survey of international best practice – please contact us at Kettle Partnership.

Leah Whittingham, Kettle Partnership