This event is part of our Knowledge is Power series, where we explore data - how we can collect it, use it, and turn it into a tool to enhance our creative projects, improve evaluation, and strengthen funding applications.
Where?
University of Bradford
When?
Thursday 27 March 2025
What time?
12.00 - 5.00 PM
How much?
FREE
(donations welcome)
Knowledge is Power: What do artists need, and how do we measure cultural impact?
Join us for an insightful event where we’ll unpack the needs of artists in Bradford and explore how we can effectively measure the impact of arts and culture. This event is for artists, creative freelancers and organisations, and academics and sector professionals interested in the needs of artists and creative practitioners and approaches to capturing the social value of arts and culture.
We’ll be joined by the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture evaluation team, who will share key findings from their 2024 Bradford Cultural and Creative Sector Workforce Survey, and Making Impact Matter, who will lead an interactive session on measuring social value in arts and culture.
Part 1: What did the Bradford Cultural and Creative Sector Workforce Survey 2024 tell us?
Hosted by the Bradford 2025 evaluation team
This session will explore:
- Why evaluation matters: Bradford 2025’s approach to evaluation and the importance of the Bradford Cultural and Creative Sector Workforce Survey
- Survey insights: key findings, trends, and gaps from the survey
- Research methodology: how the survey was conducted and what we can learn from it
- The bigger picture: how this survey aligns with ongoing evaluation and research
This section will conclude with a group discussion on what needs exploring further and which questions should be included in the 2025 survey.
Part 2: Measuring What Matters – Co-creating Bradford’s Social Value Framework
Hosted by Making Impact Matter
In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore Social Value Frameworks to capture the true impact of arts and culture. Together, we’ll start co-creating a framework for Bradford, shaping how we measure cultural impact through our practice throughout Bradford 2025 and beyond.
This interactive workshop will include:
- Cultural Social Value Mapping to explore Bradford’s cultural ecosystem
- Storytelling Wall to identify and share your experiences of culture’s impact on you, your practice, and your community
- Ongoing collaboration – access to a shared space to continue the conversation
Following the event, we will provide you with:
- A Social Value Toolkit to help you apply creative approaches to your evaluation and measure your social value in a way that’s demonstrable to funders
- Participatory budgeting exercises
- The opportunity to tell us what future workshops would be valuable to you and your practice
If you need financial assistance to attend this event, please see the FAQ section at the bottom of this page.
Book your place
About the venue
Norcroft Lounge, Norcroft Centre at the University of Bradford
The Norcroft Centre is an accessible venue. There are multiple ways to reach the University of Bradford campus – find more information at bradford.ac.uk/about/visit
About Knowledge is Power
Knowledge is Power is a series of events designed for artists, creative freelancers, and organisations looking to bridge the gap between creative practice, research, evaluation, and data.
Each session brings together sector professionals, academics, and policymakers to share insights on available data, how it’s being used, and strategies to effectively and resourcefully collect and apply your own. These events will help you develop and evaluate your creative projects, strengthen funding applications, and ensure your work aligns with the communities you engage with and the needs of the sector.
Rooted in Bradford and leveraging the opportunities that City of Culture brings, this series is designed to connect and empower individuals and organisations across the arts and culture sector. With an open but purposeful approach, it aims to strengthen sustainability, support growth, and create a clearer, more inclusive picture of impact, opportunity, and development.
FAQs
We offer bursaries of £50 for half-day development events such as this.
So that we can support as many artists as possible, please only request a bursary if this is something you need – for example, if you are freelance or required to take unpaid leave to participate in the activity.
To apply for this funding, please complete a Bursary & Access Fund form once you have booked a place at this event.
Yes, we can cover travel and any other access costs that may otherwise present a barrier to you being able to participate in this event. Access costs can include childcare and other caring costs; BSL, language and other interpretation costs; as well as access support workers, or any other access costs you might face.
To apply for this funding, please complete a Bursary & Access Fund form once you have booked a place at this event.
