Cultural Learning Alliance

From our first consciousness until our last, we should sing every song and dance every dance from every part of the world as we go on our journey to become the men and women we are

David Lan
Artistic Director, Young Vic

Evidence

Evidence Reports

How do we know what cultural learning can do? Here are some of the most compelling pieces of research that we have found...

If you have evidence of the impact of your cultural learning work and would like to share that with us, please email us with details – include a short description of the project and impact that has been evidenced. Enter the website details for the evidence report if there is one. Otherwise we'll be in touch to receive a copy from you.

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The one report you need to read

CASE is a programme of strategic research led by DCMS. This report explores the debates around cultural value, and considers the meaning of culture and the reasons why the evaluation of culture is such a difficult task. It also summarises the evidence we do have about the impact of cultural activities on children and young people’s attainment.
     

A Provocation

This provocation paper has been written by 19 year old Emrys Green, who feels young people should be respected as artists and practitioners of today who can inform the direction and development of cultural organisations.


Top 10 list:
 

Creating Better Outcomes for Children and Young People by Improving the Commissioning of Cultural Services, I&DeA, 2009

This research, undertaken with 12 Directors of Children and Young People’s Services or their representatives across four regions, indicates the issues and opportunities for cultural organisations in making a strong strategic contribution to the commissioning of public services.
 
South Bank Cultural campus. Photo: Olivia Hemingway
Boys into Books Programme Evaluation, MLA, 2009

Targeted at boys aged 5-11 years, ‘Boys into Books' aimed to encourage boys to enjoy reading for pleasure by providing special collections of books intended to appeal. The programme resulted in improvement in literacy levels, listening and communication skills, and group working skills.
 
Craftspace Craft=Skills for Life workshop at Ishango Science Club © Anand Chhabra
Learning: creative approaches that raise standards, Ofsted, 2010

This report illustrates how 44 schools used creative approaches to learning, and evaluates the impact on pupils’ achievement and personal development. Examples of good practice often involve cultural and arts practice or using cultural resources as a stimulus for learning.
 
RSC 2009, St Nicholas, Ellie Kurttz
An evaluation of Stand up for Shakespeare Executive summary and Full report

This report indicates that the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network has improved the quality of teaching and learning Shakespeare, progressed teacher and learner confidence, and developed awareness of performance as a school improvement strategy.
 
Youth Ensembles - The Sage Gateshead has 6 regional youth ensembles covering a wide variety of musitcal styles, including Folkestra and Young Sinfonia. Photo: Mark Savage
Hitting the right note: Learning and participation at The Sage Gateshead, DCSF, 2005

This is an investigation into the value and success of The Sage Gateshead’s work in terms of its effects on young people, and the position of The Sage Gateshead in the music-learning ecology of the region.
 
Students from The Manning School taking part in the Nottingham Light Nights Festival. Creative Partnerships
Changing Young Lives Research, Creativity Culture & Education, 2009

This is a summary of research and evaluation from Creative Partnerships up to 2009. Creative Partnerships is the Government’s flagship creative learning programme.
 
Photo by Mr Pix
HEARTS Higher Education, the Arts and Schools: an experiment in educating teachers, NfER, 2007

HEARTS intended to strengthen the arts element of initial training of primary school teachers, through supporting HEIs in the introduction of new programmes of arts work into their curricula. This report outlines the outcomes of the programme.
 
The Sage Gateshead Comusica. Photo: Mark Savage
Cultural Hubs 2005 to 2008: evaluation report, Arts Council England and MLA, 2008

Cultural Hubs explored a model for delivering a workable cultural offer for children and young people. This report is the evaluation of the programme, showing the impact on all involved; it also analyses the three different Hub management approaches.
 
Summer Arts Colleges 2008: Outcomes Report, Unitas, 2009

Summer Arts Colleges comprise an intensive six-week programme intended for high-risk young people. This report evidences that generally, long-term participation brings about a significant reduction in the offending rate after the programme.
 
CCE PWC
The Costs and Benefits of Creative Partnerships, CCE, 2010

PricewaterhouseCoopers was commissioned by CCE to prepare a report that analyses the economic costs and benefits of Creative Partnerships. Expressed as a ratio of the benefits to the costs, they estimate that every £1 invested in the programme delivers £15.30 worth of benefits.
 

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