Monitoring the impact of the recession on the cultural sector

The Cultural Observatory is co-​ordinating research into how the economic downturn is affecting the cultural sector in the West Midlands.

We're producing quarterly economic snapshots using a combination of sources that give an indication of:

• How different types of cultural organisations are being affected by economic conditions (visitor numbers, revenue, and so on)
• Cultural consumer confidence
• Examples of how the region's cultural organisations are responding to adverse economic conditions
• Variations in levels of employment and in the number of cultural job vacancies
• Variations in the price of cultural goods and services

Recession updates

• Economic snapshot (October-​December 2009) (pdf, 311kb)
• 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) (doc, 306kb)

Take part in our cultural sector economic survey

As part of this research we're co-​ordinating an informal survey with a sample of cultural venues. We're continually looking to increase the number of organisations that take part in this survey. The bigger the sample size, the more accurate our message can be.

We would love to hear from you if:

• You work for a cultural organisation and would be willing to take part in the survey and/​or
• You think you know someone who would be willing to take part

You can take part in the survey online or complete this survey in Word (DOC, 28kb) and return to lauren.amery@wmro.org.

For more information, please contact Lauren Amery at lauren.amery@wmro.org or telephone 0121 202 3249.

Recession updates

• Economic snapshot (October-​December 2009) (pdf, 311kb)
• 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) (doc, 306kb)

Take part in our survey

• Economic survey for cultural venues (DOC, 28kb)
• Alternatively, complete the survey online