Evidence library

Cultural organisations and their funding bodies have become very good at describing their value in terms of social outcomes. Tackling exclusion, increasing diversity and contributing to economic development are all familiar justifications in grant applications. But by talking in functional terms about the value of culture, cultural organisations have lost the ability to describe their real purpose ? producing good work that enriches people?s lives. Culture now delivers government policy by other means. This report shows how alternative ways of valuing culture are possible, by drawing on disciplines as diverse as brand valuation by accountants and the language of sustainability used by environmentalists.