Liverpool Thrive programme – Final Report published
Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium has published the final report into the Liverpool Thrive Programme. The Thrive programme started in 2007 prior to the launch of the Capital of Culture year in Liverpool, supported by Arts Council England’s Thrive! programme. It aimed to provide a systematic approach to helping cultural organisations gain the expertise needed to respond to and influence a rapidly changing environment. The Liverpool Thrive project was given £1.34 million – the largest award within the scheme – and tested out a new model for embedding the arts and cultural sectors in the processes of social and economic renewal. The Liverpool Thrive programme final report in brief. By building on individual organisational strengths the Thrive Programme has enabled the strength, durability and flexibility of relationships to be established, tested and adapted and has therefore supported the development of deeper relationships between organisations. Working collaboratively has been very effective in advocating on behalf of the sector and engaging with key stakeholders as it has allowed LARC to ‘speak with one voice’. The fact that there has been sustained involvement by a consistent number of people has allowed strong networking, the sharing of information about programming aspirations and best practice which has supported the creation and articulation of not just a joint aspiration for the cultural direction of the city but also a shared vision and action plan – how it is to be delivered and who plays their part. The Thrive programme has therefore supported the development of a strategic profile and voice for culture and the strengthening of the relationships and influence with non-cultural strategic partners (e.g. Liverpool City Council, Primary Care Trust, Universities) despite changing political contexts during the Thrive Programme provides one example of the success of this collaborative approach. The Thrive programme has also provided the LARC partners with the resources to build a collective research and evidence base to demonstrate their collaborative and individual organisational activity, an evidence base that has given credibility to the arguments about the scope and impact of cultural activity within the City. The large scale research studies supported through the Thrive programme (e.g. economic and intrinsic impact) would not have been affordable or deliverable by a single LARC organisation and, perhaps more importantly, would not have been credible without the participation and involvement of a wide range of arts and cultural organisations in the City. Download a PDF version of the final report. Final Report ...
Read MoreInnovative Intrinsic Impacts Study released
How Audiences and Visitors are Transformed by Cultural Experiences in Liverpool In this collaborative pilot study, eight arts and cultural organisations in Liverpool (acting together as the Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium, or LARC) surveyed audiences and visitors about the impacts of their experiences over the 2009-10 season. This report discusses the range of findings with respect to audiences’ ‘readiness to receive’ the art and the six constructs of intrinsic impact: captivation, emotional resonance, spiritual value, intellectual stimulation, aesthetic growth and social bonding. The results of the study have stimulated conversations about artistic programmes, audience engagement, customer service and other topics, and also helped to advance a longer arc of learning about impact assessment underway in the U.K., U.S. and Australia. Together with the wide range of smaller cultural organisations and other major venues in Liverpool, LARC represents a cultural infrastructure that is among the best of any of the major English regional cities. For this project, Baker Richards Consulting worked in partnership with WolfBrown, combining significant experience across research, data analysis and marketing in the cultural sector. WolfBrown has pioneered the development of this type of research in the cultural sector in the US and this would be a groundbreaking study for the arts in the UK. WolfBrown helps foundations, government agencies and non-profit organizations understand their potential and fulfill the promise of their missions. Documents Intrinsic Impacts Pilot Study Report, June 2011 Press Release: Intrinsic Impacts ...
Read MoreNorth Liverpool Mapping Project
This project provides an overview of current cultural activity in North Liverpool, and identifies how LARC could work most effectively with community and cultural organisations based or working in North Liverpool. Purpose of the research It is intended to inform the development of partnerships with other agencies and programmes working in North Liverpool, including Liverpool First (the local strategic partnership), Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision, Step Clever, and the Primary Care Trust. The final report was undertaken primarily to inform the development of the Liverpool Thrive programme, but will also contribute to Find Your Talent. The research was undertaken between September 2008 and February 2009. Key Findings Some of the main findings that have come from the report are: Successful projects are directly linked to strong relationships with cultural partners The growing projects in North Liverpool need stronger support through resources and skills training Strong networks and links to community partners foster successful projects The full findings and recommendations of the report can be found here: North Liverpool Mapping Report Because of the mapping project LARC and othe cultural organisation have been able to implement stronger links and projects in North Liverpool including: The Capacity Building Programme and The Evaluation Development Project DOCUMENTS Thrive North Liverpool mapping report...
Read MoreEvaluation Development Project
LARC has initiated a programme to support community & cultural organisations working in North Liverpool to help them develop their evaluation capacity. This programme will assist organisations as they develop specific evaluation skills relating to participatory arts programmes. It will support them in learning new techniques for gathering data and documenting results in a way that demonstrates the contribution that cultural projects can make to achieving local (and national) regeneration priorities. The team is being led by Francois Matarasso, an internationally recognised consultant and writer on community-based arts practice and its impact. Francois has worked for national and local government, foundations, arts organisations and international agencies in over 30 countries. The team started work in May 2009 with the programme set to be completed in December 2010. The programme has so far run various seminars on evaluation techniques, whilst providing in-depth support in small group sessions (as well as 1-1 support) with a core group of arts practitioners and organisations in Liverpool The results from this information sharing will lead to individual evaluation toolkits for each organisation so they can confidently evaluate themselves on their...
Read MoreCapacity Building Programme
As part of its Liverpool Thrive! Programme, Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium has appointed The Hamilton Project to develop a tailored capacity building programme. They will provide support to a number of community & cultural organisations in North Liverpool, helping build their cultural programming skills and working with them in securing resources for their creative ideas. The Capacity Building Programme will run until December 2010 and will include a range of engagement methods such as seminars, small group workshops, 1-1 sessions and online support...
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