As the adage goes – knowledge is power, and for the arts councils of England, Scotland and Wales, it seems that they have more knowledge than they know what to do with. That’s why a collectively commissioned study was compiled earlier this year, that looked at the very compelling concern – what to do with that powerful mechanism that is data.
Renowned arts consultancy Catalyst Arts was commissioned to undertake a study, which assesses exactly how audience data is being used within arts bodies and councils throughout most of the United Kingdom. This may seem a straightforward and perhaps obvious course of action, yet the problem of what to do with data is a common headache that addles the brains of business gurus as well as those in the arts. Often costly and potentially decision-changing detailed demographic research is simply filed away by both sectors.
