A Culture Strategy for Scotland: Draft

This public consultation document seeks views on a draft Culture Strategy for Scotland. Sets out ambitions to “develop the conditions and skills for culture to thrive,” including by exploring new funding models for culture, and plans to support the sector to “evolve as a diverse, positive force in society” by supporting leadership skills development; improving the “economic and social status” of freelance cultural worker; and increasing inclusive opportunities.

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Government of Canada Survey of Heritage Institutions: 2017 Report

Report collected financial and operating information for the 2015 data year as well as building and capital infrastructure information for the 2017 data year on not-for-profit heritage institutions. Highlights include that attendance to all heritage institutions reached a record 75.3 million in 2015, and there were also over 203 million online visits to heritage institutions in Canada in 2015.

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Creative and Cultural Activities and Wellbeing in Later Life

Age UK uses data from a national survey to construct an Index of Wellbeing in Later Life, and finds that out of the 40 factors assessed in contributing to wellbeing, creative and cultural participation was the single factor that contributed the most to wellbeing. The charity warns there are barriers preventing older people from doing the cultural activities they enjoy, and calls for increased accessibility for those aged 60 and over.

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The New Urban Success: How Culture Pays

Working off the idea that cities that are culturally interesting tend to attract "the creative class" and end up being economically successful, the report mines data from the photo-sharing site Flickr to reveal that a combination of cultural capital and economic capital is indicative of neighborhood growth in terms of house prices, and improvements of socio-economic conditions.

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Artful Living: Examining the Relationship between Artistic Practice and Subjective Wellbeing Across Three National Surveys

Examines the effects of amateur and professional artistic practice, using three American datasets. Concludes that there is strong support that artistic practice is associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, a more positive self image, less anxiety about change, a more tolerant and open approach to diverse others, and, in some cases, less focus on materialistic values and the acquisition of goods.

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Building the Case for Business Support of the Arts

Research conducted by Business for the Arts, finds that more than half of Canadians favour businesses that invest in arts and culture. Canadians are more likely to choose arts and culture events over sports, and to keep up with this growing interest, business investment in the arts has increased by 49 per cent since 2008. Report includes a literature review on the benefits of arts engagement.

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Panic! Social Class, Taste and Inequalities in the Creative Industries

Report finds that the cultural and creative sector in the UK is marked by significant exclusions of those from working class social origins. Women, and those from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities face barriers in addition to those associated with social class origin. These inequalities are reinforced by the prevalence of unpaid labour. 

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Cultural Transformations: The Impacts of Hull UK City of Culture 2017

Evaluation of Hull’s UK City of Culture year (2017), demonstrating positive social and economic outcomes. Reports that the over 2,800 events, cultural activities, installations and exhibitions attracted an audience of 5.3 million, with over 95% of Hull residents attending at least one cultural activity during the year.

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‘Artlift’ arts-on-referral intervention in UK primary care: updated findings from an ongoing observational study

Updated findings are presented from a prospective longitudinal follow-up (observational) design study of an arts on referral programme in UK general practice, over a 7-year period (2009–2016). Examining data from 1297 patients, the study finds that a course of arts-on-prescription is effective in the promotion of overall wellbeing, including in those with very complex care needs.

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