Cultural Observatory

Who are we?

The Cultural Observatory is a resource for all those with an interest in the cultural sector in the West Midlands region.

We provide intelligence and evidence relating to the scope, scale and significance of the cultural and creative industries, highlighting the inter-​linkages between culture and the regional economy, people and places.

The Cultural Observatory was launched in response to an options study (PDF, 115 KB) conducted by Birmingham University in 2004. We are a joint initiative between the DCMS Agencies in the West Midlands (DAWM) and Advantage West Midlands, and are located at the West Midlands Regional Observatory.

This arrangement took effect from April 2009. Prior to this, we were an arm of the Regional Cultural Consortium (Culture West Midlands) which has now closed. See this summary of what was achieved by Culture West Midlands (PDF, 43KB) between 1999-​2009.

What do we do?

1. Contribute to the development of evidence-​based policy making in the West Midlands and nationally.
2. Champion the benefits of integrated cultural research and data collection in the West Midlands region.
3. Develop collaboration in cultural research across the public sector, particularly with the region's higher and further education institutions.
4. Improve the dissemination of cultural intelligence, developing effective routes for bottom-​up and top-​down distribution.
5. Work towards the development of a sustainable and appropriate delivery model for cultural research and intelligence in the West Midlands.

More specifically, our work is guided by the Regional Cultural Intelligence Action Plan 2006–2008 (PDF, 1.08mb) devised by the Cultural Research & Intelligence Group (CRAIG).

We welcome engagement with all in the cultural sector and beyond. We seek to widen discussion and participation through the Cultural Research & Intelligence Network. 

Lauren Amery, Cultural Research Analyst

Email: lauren.amery@wmro.org
Tel: 0121 202 3249

As the sole researcher working under the ‘Cultural Observatory’ banner, Lauren analyses and collates data associated with the impact of culture in the West Midlands.

Currently, this includes supplying timely evidence for the cultural elements of the Regional Strategy, monitoring the impact of the recession on local cultural organisations and the evaluation of the West Midlands Culture Programme for London 2012.

Lauren is a graduate of University of Leeds and University of Birmingham. Before joining the Observatory, she worked in various fields including research, education and regeneration sectors.

Impact of the recession on the cultural sector

• Role of culture in the region's post-​​recession recovery (November 2009) (PDF, 140kb)
• Summary of findings to date (November 2009) (PDF, 205kb)
• Economic snapshot (July-​​September 2009) (PDF, 504kb)
• Economic snapshot (April-​​​June 2009) (PDF, 359kb)
• Summary of findings to date (June 2009) (DOC, 170kb)
• Economic snapshot (January–March 2009) (DOC, 284kb)
• Economic snapshot (October–December 2008) (Word, 306kb)

Cultural research publications

Published 6th May 2009
Researching culture at local level in the West Midlands: guidance for local authorities (DOC, 226kb)

Published 11th March 2009
Culture & prosperity: the economic role of culture in the West Midlands (full report) (PDF, 1.2mb)

Culture & prosperity: the economic role of culture in the West Midlands (executive summary) (PDF 1.1mb)

Culture, people & place: the social and environmental role of culture in the West Midlands (PDF, 1.6mb)

Culture, people & place: the social and environmental role of culture in the West Midlands (executive summary) (PDF, 1.24mb)

Pusblised 30th October 2008
Analysis of cultural trends and usage in the West Midlands (PDF, 84kb)

Published 2007
Growing the cultural economy in the West Midlands (PDF, 1.7mb)

Published 2006
West Midlands cultural research & intelligence action plan 2006-​2008 (PDF, 1.08mb)

Published February 2005
Regional cultural research network scoping and options study (PDF, 226kb)