In these economically challenging times it is important that the cultural sector provides robust evidence of its impact. BOP has always tried to do this in its work, but the nature of culture can make it difficult to produce the kind of evidence that will persuade the Treasury of culture's value. The issue has been explored in a literature review by Dave O'Brien of Leeds Metropolitan University, on behalf of DCMS, AHRC and ESRC: Measuring the value of culture: a report to the Department for Culture Media and Sport. His report makes three recommendations:
- DCMS, in consultation with the cultural sector, should create clear guidance on how to use the economic valuation (rather than economic impact) techniques already deployed across central government and recommended by HM Treasury.
- DCMS should develop closer links with academics working in the area of cultural economics, to use existing and future studies as best practice guidance on the use of economic valuation for the cultural sector.
- DCMS should use existing work in this area to explore the possibility of developing a multi-criteria analysis for cultural decisions, of the type recommended in DCLG’s Multi-criteria Analysis: a manual
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