News from 2008
This is an archive of news items dating from 2008, in reverse chronological order.
December 2008
Latest update to our Benchmark Indicators report now online!
The latest version of our Benchmark Indicators report (first published in 2007 to accompany our Baseline report) is now available on our Reports & Seminars|Reports & Papers page. This new version contains much richer data than was available last year, including comprehensive figures for 2007 and some early indications from 2008.
New report available: 'Volunteering for Culture'
The 08 Volunteer Programme was set up in 2005 to help support the delivery of Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture Programme, and we have been tracking the impact of the volunteers’ involvement in this process. Our first report, Volunteering for Culture: Exploring the Impact of being an 08 Volunteer, presents findings from Phase I (conducted in late 2007/early 2008) and is now available to download from our Reports & Papers page. We are now about to embark on Phase II, when volunteers will reflect on their experiences once the year is over - a report of this work will be available in the New Year. For more information about this and all our special projects, see our About|Projects section.
November 2008
National Creative Industries Conference 2008: 'Creative Cities'
The Fourth National Creative Industries Conference, 'Creative Cities', is taking place at FACT in Liverpool on Thursday 11 December. With a comprehensive programme of debate, workshops and keynote presentations, as well as guided visits to some of the North West's leading creative sector developments, the conference will seek to explore the concept of a 'Creative City' in the face of changing economic times, and will consider the impact of competing social, economic and infrastructural drivers on a city's economy. Impacts 08 Director Beatriz Garcia will be speaking during Session 1 (Policy and Strategy) on the morning of the main conference day. For further information and to book a place, visit: http://www.nationalcreativeindustriesconference.co.uk.
October 2008
New report available: 'Who Pays the Piper?'
Another new report is now available to download from the Impacts 08 Reports and Papers page. Who Pays the Piper? sets out the findings from research with the organisations acting as sponsors of Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture 2008 (ECoC) programme. It was conducted shortly before the official launch in January 2008. The research explores how the sponsors describe and understand their experience of the programme and provides a qualitative insight into how they view and engage with the ECoC in the lead up to the actual event.
AHRC/ ACE Impact workshops
Impacts 08 Director, Beatriz Garcia, has been been awarded a one-year grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and Arts Council England under the scheme: ‘Research Workshops on the Impact of Arts and Humanities Research’. The workshops will address the question: understanding the visitor/audience experience and impact. What is the nature of experience for visitors and audiences at arts and cultural organisations and events? What constitutes a ‘quality’ experience? How do we assess the impact of the experience? Further details are available here.
Background documents now available to download
A new 'Background documents' section is now available on the Impacts 08 Reports and Papers page. Here you will find a number of literature reviews and other documents that have informed our research. The following background documents have been uploaded this month:
- Bond, H. Estimating the Economic Benefits of Event Tourism: A Review of Research Methodologies
- Hunter-Jones, P. Student-linked Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) Traffic: Exploring the Customer Journey
- Phythian-Adams SL, Sapsford D and Southern A. Considering the Economic Impacts of the 2008 European Capital of Culture: A Review on the Literature concerning "Economic Multiplier" Effect
September 2008
Impacts 08 presentation at BA Festival of Science 2008
As part of this year's BA Festival of Science, Beatriz Garcia and experts in researching cities, urban policies and city lifestyles explore the impacts and effects of Liverpool as European Capital of Culture on the city. Dr Garcia's presentation, 'Looking in on the City. The impact of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture', will be followed by ' and Who is "Out" of the City?">Who is "In" and Who is "Out" of the City?', a round table discussion with Phil Redmond and staff from the University of Liverpool's School of Sociology and Social Policy.
Date: Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Time: 1.30pm-2.30pm (Looking in on the City); 2.30pm-3.30pm (Who is "In" and Who is "Out" of the City?)
Venue: Hearnshaw Lecture Theatre, Eleanor Rathbone Building, University of Liverpool.
August 2008
The Big Question: joint seminar with Arts Research Digest
A booking form and further information is now available for 'The Big Question: The Changing Role of Research in Bidding for, and Measuring the Impact of, Large-Scale Cultural Events', an interactive event Chaired by Sara Selwood that we will be hosting with Arts Research Digest. The event will take place at The Holiday Inn, Lime Street, Liverpool on 23 October 2008 (preceded by an informal networking evening on 22 October). Click here for more details, or visit the ARD website at www.artsresearchdigest.co.uk.
July 2008
'Look of the City' research study
We are happy to announce that England's Northwest Research Service has been awarded the tender for the 'Look of the City' research study. Thank you to all that applied.
June 2008
Programme Manager (Maternity Cover) vacancy now open for applications
Applications are now invited for the post of Programme Manager (Maternity Cover), and should be made via the University of Liverpool (post ref. R-567931/WWW) - please click here for a form and details of the application procedure. The post is available from 1 September 2008 to the end of June 2009 (salary: £29,138). Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday, 21 July 2008 (interviews will take place on 1 August). Further details about the vacancy can be found on our Team page.
Tenders invited for 'Look of the City' research study
Impacts 08 is seeking to employ an individual or agency with experience of research in the areas of city marketing/branding and public space to carry out a study as part of our wider programme. This will involve desk-based research, online and on street surveys and online discussion forums. Click here to view a brief for the work. Tenders should be sent by email to impacts08@liverpool.ac.uk by 12 noon on 4 July 2008.
April 2008
Reviewing the Contribution of Culture in Regeneration
A Northwest Culture Observatory Briefing Note is now available which reports on the knowledge-transfer seminar that they hosted with the Department for Culture Media and Support in January 2008 on 'Reviewing the contribution of culture in regeneration - the Liverpool Model for longitudinal research and impact assessment'. The briefing summarises information presented by Dr Beatriz Garcia, Director Impacts 08, University of Liverpool and the response by Professor Graeme Evans, Director Cities Institute, London Metropolitan University and makes recommendations for the future direction of longitudinal cultural research. For more information about the seminar, visit our Reports and Seminars page. Click here to download the briefing note.
Forthcoming Seminar
The latest in the series of Arts Research Digest seminars will be held in conjunction with the Impacts 08 Team in Liverpool on Thursday, 23 October 2008. Chaired by Dr Sara Selwood and with guest speakers including Dr Beatriz Garcia, this full day will offer interactive breakout sessions and panel discussions. To register your interest and receive further information immediately it becomes available, e-mail enquiries@arts-research-digest.com quoting Seminar 08. Put the date in your diary now so you don't miss out, as this seminar will be open to limited numbers only.
New Reports: The Business of Culture
Three new reports on the theme of Economic Impacts and Processes are available on our website this month:
The Business of Culture
European Capital of Culture impacts and engagement
This area of research looks at the impact of the Liverpool European Capital of Culture (ECoC) award, denomination and programming on the business community in Liverpool, Merseyside and the North West, and comprises the following reports:
- Doing Business in the European Capital of Culture: A Profile and Initial Assessment of Impact on the Merseyside and North West Business Base
- Tourism and the Business of Culture: The Views of Small and Medium Sized Tourism Enterprises
- European Capital of Culture and Liverpool’s Developer Market: Impacts and Interactions
February 2008
Launch of the Impacts 08 Calendar
Keep up-to-date with Impacts 08 and related events with our NEW Calendar. If you would like to suggest an item to add to the Calendar, then contact the Impacts 08 team at mailto:impacts08@liverpool.ac.uk
You can also find news about the Impacts 08 Programme on our del.icio.us page or on the Impacts 08 WordPress blog.
January 2008
Recent Seminar
On 28 January, the Impacts 08 Team participated in the 'Reviewing the contribution of culture in regeneration - the Liverpool Model for longitudinal research and impact assessment' seminar at DCMS in London. This knowledge-transfer seminar was hosted by the Northwest Culture Observatory, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC).
The purpose of the seminar was to promote a new model for impact assessment of culture-led regeneration - The Liverpool Model. It also reviewed current research developments in this area following the 2004 call by DCMS for more longitudinal research and an improved evidence base.
The Liverpool Model was introduced by Dr Beatriz Garcia, Director of Impacts 08, with a response by Dr Graeme Evans, Director of the Cities Institute and an expert in cultural planning and co-author of the evidence review which accompanied Culture at the Heart of Regeneration.