Image credit: Thiago Barletta on Unsplash
Jonathan Todd
Chief Economist
Jonathan is an economist with over a decade’s experience in impact assessment and evaluation, and high-level policy experience, particularly within the cultural and creative sectors.
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LOCATION
Europe
CLIENT
European Commission
SECTOR
Projects Sectors
EXPERTISE
Culture and tourism have emerged as important recipients of ERDF funding
In the 2007-2013 programming period 80% of ERDF Operational Programmes provided support for investment in culture and tourism. A minimum of EUR 14.4 billion was allocated to culture and tourism if account is taken only of direct funding (i.e. leaving aside other support going to SMEs, transport and urban regeneration, for example, which could also have benefited culture and tourism).
Given the pre-existing scattered and rather scant evidence available on the effectiveness of ERDF investments in culture and tourism, BOP Consulting was comissioned as part of a bigger conglomerate, to provide factual and concrete evidence on the logic for ERDF support of these sectors in the 2007-2013 period, the nature and distribution of the interventions, together with their main achievements and expected effects on territorial development. The overall aim of the evaluation was to understand the rationales for investment, rather than uncover causal impact.
The evaluation is based on a range of research tools, including a review of the literature, an analysis of available statistical and administrative data, a cluster analysis and an on-line survey of 95 regional Managing Authorities, 6 in-depth regional case studies and 12 mini-case studies of specific projects.
Key Policy implications
The findings of the evaluation led to a number of key policy implications for future ERDF investments in culture and tourism, including
The first is that there is scope for the ERDF to more effectively address culture and tourism in order to support regional development. This requires, however, that regional and national authorities put greater emphasis during the programming phase on the contribution of culture and tourism to regional development, and hence on the definition of more focused ERDF investment strategies in these sectors.
Greater entrepreneurship and innovation is needed in both sectors, but particularly in culture. As for the perceived administrative burden of ERDF funding, while there may be scope for simplification, private sector and third sector operators could also be helped to improve their capacity to comply with the necessary regulations.
Monitoring and evaluation systems need to be improved through the definition and dissemination of clearer guidance and methodological support for (a) classification criteria for categories of intervention, (b) common indicators, and (c) defining relevant programme-specific indicators.
Project Report
ABOUT US
EXPERTISE
A global research and consulting practice for culture and the creative economy
The report outlines the findings from a major study into the international activity of the Arts Council England-supported cultural ecosystem.
International Activity Report
Arts Council England
BOP Consulting was appointed to outline a pilot for a Creative Worker Income Guarantee for Brighton & Hove, working on behalf of the University of Sussex and the ABCD Cultural Recovery Programme.
Cultural, Creative and Collective Recovery: Exploring a Creative Worker Income Guarantee
University of Sussex
The report on how global cities tackle climate change with cultural policies and programmes. Insights from the World Cities Culture Forum's latest report.
The Green World Cities of Tomorrow: Culture and Sustainability – Special Report Prepared for WCCF Global Conversation
World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)
Unique case guide is co-produced with the participating cities of WCCF, highlighting city examples and a global cities approach to evidenced-based policymaking.
Culture Counts: New Approaches to Evidence Based Cultural Policymaking in World Cities
World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)
Working alongside CRAIC, a new research and collaboration centre at Loughborough University, we conducted an extensive survey of virtual production assets throughout the United Kingdom to map the country’s growing ecosystem.
Mapping the UK's Virtual Production Ecosystem
Loughborough University
The World Cities Culture Report (WCCR) 2022 builds on the ground-breaking 2018 and 2015 Reports. It gives insights on the major challenges world cities facing.
World Cities Culture Report 2022
World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)
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BOP's contribution to the 2nd edition of the report UNESCO's Global Creativity Report, examining policies safeguarding the creative and cultural sectors.
UNESCO's Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity Report – Addressing culture as a global public good
UNESCO
Our strategy will guide the creation of a new digital service aiming at supporting and developing the creative scene in Downtown Kingston.
Leveraging the creative potential of Downtown Kingston through technology
Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
Our research into the UK's high streets found that 69% of people think culture on their high street makes their area a better place to live.
Culture: The cornerstone of the UK’s high streets
Arts Council England
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BOP’s updated Handbook for the Inter-American Development Bank sets out strategies for sustainability and urban resilience
Creative and Cultural Industries and Urban Revitalisation in the post-COVID era
Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
We investigated the potential impact of AI for European cultural and creative businesses. Explore the transformative opportunities AI brings to industries.
Opportunities and Challenges of AI for the Cultural and Creative Industries
European Commission
Published today: ‘Design for Good: 90 Years of the RSA Student Design Awards’, a new publication from the RSA, co-authored by BOP
A History of Bright Ideas: 90 Years of the RSA Student Design Awards
The Royal Society for Arts (RSA)
Research in the Gulf Co-operation Council States in collaboration with British Council and BOP Consulting helps identify opportunities for festival development.
An evidence-base for the growing Gulf festivals sector
British Council
Our research into the museum workforce is launched, emphasizing the importance of conscientiousness and advocating for a diverse and well-supported sector.
Conscientiousness, optimism, and curiosity
Museums Galleries Scotland
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BOP’s report on creating a healthy night-time economy for the Nanjing City Government demonstrates the importance of cross-cutting policies.
Creating Healthy Night-time Economies in World Cities
Nanjing Creative Center
Findings from our work at Great Ormond Street Hospital reveals how visual arts enhance the patient, visitor, and staff experience.
Creativity in health settings
GOSH Arts
How is China influencing the future of Cultural Tourism? China's cultural infrastructure projects are redefining the global tourism landscape.
Cultural Infrastructure for the 21st Century
Chengdu Media Group
Our new report for UNESCO sets out the huge global impact of COVID-19 on the cultural sector. We estimate $750 billion lost for the CCI and 10 million job cuts.
Economic impact of COVID-19 on the Cultural and Creative Industries
UNESCO
Our analysis of the strengths and challenges of music in the Midlands report published for Arts Council England.
Hitting the right notes in the Midlands
Arts Council England
