Inclusive Research and Development (R&D) plays a crucial role in driving innovation, which can lead to growth and new opportunities within the creative and cultural sector. However, over the past decade, global events and financial challenges have greatly affected the sector’s ability to invest in and carry out R&D activities.
To better understand current R&D activity in the sector, The Audience Agency are working in collaboration with Arts Council England (ACE) and the sector to gather and map intelligence. Information gathered in Spring 2025 will inform future developments.
The work starting in February 2025 will look at:
- Developing a current understanding of the sector’s current R&D activity to identify its strengths, gaps, and areas for growth to help inform future developments.
- Identifying what already exists to incentivise and support the sector to innovation and explore how best to develop and promote these opportunities.
- Building an understanding of the significance of RDI within the creative sector and assess its impact on other sectors (spillovers and economic value).
- Identifying opportunities for ACE to further support R&D in collaborations ALBs and communicate findings.
We will be bringing together our deep experience in research methods, extensive networks, plus expertise in placemaking, digital, audience development and policy making.
A useful piece of background reading for this work can be seen in this TAA report for ACE: ‘What is resilience anyway?
For further information contact
Jane Finnis at The Audience Agency
Nema Hart at Arts Council England.
