Research project
Transforming the Cultural & Heritage Sector’s Data Infrastructure: A pilot study to establish a cultural data observatory
- Start date: 1 July 2024
- End date: 30/09/2025 (3 month no-cost extension approved)
- Funder: ESRC
- Primary investigator: Professor Ben Walmsley
- Co-investigators: Professor Martin Zebracki (Geography, University of Leeds)
- External co-investigators: Siobhan McAndrew (University of Sheffield)
- Postdoctoral researcher: Dr Clare Danek
Value
£358,357.15
Partners and collaborators
The Audience Agency and MyCake; LIDA; Bradford 2025
Description
As part of our current research, we will design and build a prototype data observatory for Bradford 2025, the next UK City of Culture.
Our prototype will illustrate the benefits of carrying out data analysis at hyperlocal, ward, city and regional levels. We will also work closely with Born in Bradford, drawing on its large, varied datasets, including the largest resident cohort study in Europe.
With the expert support of the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA), we will investigate how varied datasets could be opened up and linked together in ethical and functional ways. This work will include datasets held by Public Health England, Morrisons, Born in Bradford, The Audience Agency’s Audience Answers cultural engagement platform and MyCake’s non-profit sector financial data.
Throughout the project, we will engage with researchers, sector leaders and policymakers. This will enable us to foster a more place-based and people-centred approach to cultural data and policy development and to build a consortium to deliver the actual observatory once this pilot work is complete.
Impact
Potential to lead into the establishment and leadership of a national cultural data observatory
Publications and outputs
https://www.culturalvalue.org.uk/transforming-cultural-sector-data/