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Research Round Up November 2021

Welcome to the November 2021 version of the Research Round Up.  

This edition features several ongoing research projects investigating cultural participation and consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what this might mean as we move into a recovery period. 

It also features key reports from Community Resources Network Scotland, Creative Scotland and the Policy and Evidence Centre on achieving a circular economy and increasing social mobility in the creative industries.  

We also have the latest research reports from the Screen sector, including the latest accessibility statistics from Ofcom and new research on supporting parents and carers in the UK screen sector from Raising Films. 

Enjoy!

Share your knowledge!
Please forward any suggestions for the next edition to research@creativescotland.com
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COVID-19 Impact

Boundless Creativity Report 
DCMS, July 2021 

This project examined the role of innovation in shaping cultural experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has generated a new evidence base and case studies to inform the recovery, renewal, and future growth of the UK’s cultural and creative sectors. The report notes that Digital platforms and new collaborations should bring exposure to new global audiences– but this requires ongoing investment in a diverse creative workforce. 

 

 

Cultural Participation Monitor: Wave 4 key insights 
The Audience Agency, September 2021 

Initial findings from the September 2021 wave of The Audience Agency's Cultural Participation Monitor look at rising Covid-related concerns, the effects of working from home on cultural engagement, and the challenges festive shows may face this year. This briefing highlights the latest findings in an extensive national programme of ongoing research which aims to track changes in the public’s cultural participation through and beyond COVID-19. 

 

 

Cultural Consumption and Covid-19 
SocArXiv: FEDER, T., McAndrew, S., O'Brien, D., & Taylor, M., 2021, August 31   

This report uses data gathered from the DCMS Taking Part Web Panel COVID-19, and the Audience Agency COVID-19 Cultural Participation Monitor surveys to examine the potential changes to digital cultural consumption in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. It notes that while 2020 first appeared to be a moment where digital technology might make culture accessible to wider audiences, it seems that the ‘new normal’ of pandemic life was much like the ‘old normal’ of an art and cultural audience characterised by significant inequality. 

 

 

Dundee Cultural Recovery: a policy report 
Dr Lauren England, King’s College London 

This project aimed to generate insights into the impact of the pandemic on the organisations and individual cultural workers (specifically freelancers) who make up Dundee’s cultural economy and the role of policy in supporting the city’s cultural recovery.  

The findings highlight the significant contribution and performance of the cultural and creative sector prior to Covid and outlines a critical pathway for recovery. The recommendations outlined in the report recognise the importance of an ecological response to recovery, the need to support creative workers as part of the cultural economy, and the importance of collective action.
 

Creative Industries

The Creative Industries in Scotland: Embracing the Circular Economy 
Community Resources Network Scotland (CRNS) & Creative Scotland, Oct 2021 

This project considers the extent to which the creative industries are embracing the circular economy, moving away from a linear ‘take, make, waste’ model, towards a more resource efficient and environmentally sustainable way of operating. It also considers how the sector is using its creativity to educate, inform, inspire, and support others in making the transition towards more circular practices. 
 


 

Social mobility in the Creative Economy: Rebuilding and levelling up? 
Policy and Evidence Centre, in partnership with the Social Mobility Commission, Creative Industries Federation and DCMS, Sept 2021 

This second phase of the PEC’s research on class in the creative industries has sought to provide definitive evidence on the causes of class imbalances and set out an ambitious and wide-ranging programme of change to enhance social mobility into the Creative Economy. It outlines why all Creative Industries need to sharpen their focus on socio-economic diversity; what to prioritise in order to tackle class-based disadvantage; and how – through significant, systemic, and sustained action – Government, industry and educators can work together to build a more socially inclusive Creative Economy. 
 


 

Business of Fashion, Textiles & Technology: Mapping the UK Fashion, Textiles and Technology Ecosystem  
University of the Arts London, Harris, J., Begum, L., & Vecchi, A., July 2021 

This initial report aims to identify opportunities for investment, research and development, business growth, job creation and tackle skills gaps in the UK fashion, textiles and technology ecosystem. Based on a survey consultation that engaged over 2,400 small, medium and micro businesses and over 100 stakeholders and intermediaries, the report is one of the most extensive baseline studies to date. It offers the first comprehensive insight into the UK Fashion, Textiles and Technology ecosystem leading up to March 2020, pre-Covid-19, in addition to recommendations for the growth of the sector. 

This survey has been instrumental in gaining an in-depth understanding of the polycentric nature of the sector and its geographical spread. This should strongly influence both how the sector is viewed as an economic resource of national importance and the future allocation of the R&D it needs to access in order to thrive. 
 


 

Report: How much does Nightlife benefit the UK economy? 
Night Time Industries Association, 11 October 2021 

Commissioned by the Night Time Industries Association, this new report highlights the value of the UK night time cultural economy which previously contributed up to £36.4bn to the UK's GDP, but notes that the sector has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, losing approximately 86,000 jobs since 2019. 

Equalities, Diversity & Inclusion

Perspective(s) 
Mele Broomes, Degna Stone, Kim Simpson, Zoë Charlery, Christian Noelle Charles (Initiated by Freelance Task Force, sponsored by National Theatre of Scotland), 0ct 2021 

Perspective[s] is a collective statement from deep consultation with 40 Black Scottish and Scottish based freelancers (African and Caribbean descent and those with mixed heritages) facilitated by Mele Broomes and Degna Stone. Using VALUE and NAVIGATION as the discussion points. This offered dedicated time and space for freelancers to articulate challenges, share creative and individual experiences and imagine alternative futures in the creative industry. 

This work was made with care and gave space to process and learn what care might mean to the individual navigating the creative industry. This is an invitation to spend time with Perspective[s]. To listen and work through your own resistance. To explore your contributions and choice making, not only in the creative industry but to your daily lives.   
 


 

Equity and Access: Disabled audiences' COVID experiences 
The Audience Agency; Anne Torreggiani for Arts Professional, 22 Sept 2021 

This report (and related article) highlight that to retain and encourage growth in this important demographic, venues will need to ensure that disabled audiences are reassured about the safety measures in place, as well as about the behaviour of other attenders.
 


 

The Theatre Access 2021 report 
VocalEyes, Stagetext and the Centre for Accessible Environments, 11 Oct 2021 

This report builds on previous accessibility audits in the theatre sector to outline Seven Inclusive Principles to enhance multiple aspects of the audience experience. Alongside the survey findings, the report also provides an access guide for theatres, key theatre website access information, a directory of access and disability arts organisations and recommended reading. 
 

Music

This is Music 2021 report 
UK Music, 21 Oct 2021 

This report uncovers the devastation COVID has inflicted on the music sector in 2020 and sets out the urgent work needed to support the recovery. Key findings include employment in the sector plunged by 35% to 128,000 in 2020, in addition to the industry's economic contribution falling by 46% to £3.1bn. The report also contains a survey from Public First that illustrates how important music is to people in the UK. 
 


 

Music Creators Earnings, the Digital Era, and On-Demand Streaming Revenues 
Professor David Hesmondhalgh, Dr Richard Osborne, Dr Hyojung Sun, and Dr Kenny Barr on behalf of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), 23 Sept 2021 

In recent years, hundreds of online sources, in mainstream and independent outlets, blogs and social media have debated issues concerning the earnings of musicians in ‘the digital era.’ A particularly controversial issue has been the level of earnings that musicians can achieve in a new music system where audio and video streaming services are increasingly central.

This report examines key issues such as, how have changes in the digital music marketplace impacted the earnings of music creators, and how have the levels, distributions and patterns of earnings changed over time? 
 

Performance

Live Art Sector Research – A Report Mapping the UK Live Art Sector 
Live Art Development Agency (LADA), October 2021 

This report marks the culmination of the first ever UK-wide research project into the Live Art sector. It maps the Live Art sector, its impact and influence in order to identify the best way to support artists and organisations who work with a range of ambitious experimental, process-based, socially engaged, and participatory practices.
 

Visual Arts, Craft and Design

Digital Ambitions Survey Findings 
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, 11 Oct 2021 

This research report highlights the views of a sample of the arts and creative sector on key issues surrounding the use of digital within the NI arts ecology. Chief among the survey findings is that, while digital and online technologies are widely perceived to create exciting new possibilities for artists and organisations to make work, innovate, and reach wider audiences, digital is not seen as a replacement for live, in-person arts.
 

Wider Research

Creativity at Work: Interdisciplinary learning in industry and community settings 
IFACCA, Australia Council8 for the Arts, Aug 2021 

Creativity at Work presents the findings of a joint research project by the Australia Council and QUT’s Faculty of Creative Industries that investigated the role and value of interdisciplinary work, and integrated learning for creative industries students. The research focussed on projects run within the QUT School of Creative Practice capstone study program, Situated Creative Practice, as delivered across its pilot phase. 
 

Screen

Locked Down and Locked Out 
The University of Nottingham, September 2021 

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated government lockdowns have been nothing short of a disaster for mothers working in the UK television sector. Being a mother in television has always been accompanied by enormous difficulties related to the nature of the working practices and cultures that have become prevalent in the UK television. The COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the already fragile and precarious networks of support upon which mothers relied to enable them to manage work and caring responsibilities, up to the point where for many it has become unbearable.  

This report represents the voices of hundreds of television workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was led by the Institute for Screen Industries Research in collaboration with sector organisations SMTJ and Telly Mums Network, and with the support of BECTU, which represents 40,000 creative industry workers in the UK. 

 


 

How We Work Now - Supporting parents and carers in the UK screen sector 
Raising Films, October 2021 

Following on from the scoping study Back From The Brink published in March 2021, this new report emphasises how urgently the screen sector needs to take action in order to make living and working in the post-COVID screen sector a viable career-long option for all.  

The How We Work Now survey ran from May to June 2021 with around 500 parents and carers working across all areas of the UK screen sector responding. From the analysis of responses this much is starkly clear – how we work now isn’t working. It isn’t working for anyone. But for parents and caregivers in the screen industries, it really isn’t working – and for those on low incomes, single parents, and those living in non-urban regions, the situation gets exponentially worse. 

 

 

Audience attitudes to broadcast media 
Ofcom, 21 October 2021 

This biennial research explores UK adults’ and teens’ attitudes and opinions towards television and radio broadcasting, and related areas such as programme standards, advertising, and regulation.  

The findings from Ofcom’s Cross-Platform Media Tracker provide a valuable source of information on consumers’ attitudes and help inform our work on broadcasting standards. 

 


 

Television and on-demand programme services: Access services report Jan to June 2021 
Ofcom, 20 October 2021 

This report sets out the extent to which broadcast television channels carried subtitles, audio description and signing (collectively, “access services”) in January to June 2021. 
  


 

Diversity and equal opportunities in TV and radio  
Ofcom, 4 October 2021 

Ofcom's review of diversity and equal opportunities in the TV and radio industries brings together five years of data, for the first time, to take stock of the progress that has been made. Drawing on in house analysis and specially commissioned research, they set out a vision for an inclusive broadcasting sector in addition to what they intend to do to support and drive progress.  

This report presents key findings on the diversity of Ofcom regulated broadcasters, including the main eight TV and radio organisations. It covers the period from 2016/17 to 2020/21. 


  


 

Factual Television Survey Report 2021 
We are Doc Women, October 2021 

We Are Doc Women (WADW) is proud to publish the findings from our survey on career progression within the UK factual television industry. We present here data that illustrates where women and men’s careers progress and stall, and how this affects their pay and their well-being. 

 


The continuing impact of Covid-19 - Independent Cinema Office 
The Independent Cinema Office, October 2021 

This report illustrates the findings of a recent survey across 133 respondents within independent cinema, checking in on how the sector is faring nineteen months on since the first national lockdown, three further shutdowns, and a recovery package from the government.  

Although the majority of cinemas have now reopened and the regulations on social distancing measures have been removed, this study shows a strong picture of the continuing uncertainty and challenges faced by cinemas. It continues to be a very risky operating environment, with cinemas trying to find a balance between safe facilities for audiences, including social distancing, and viable operation of the cinema itself. On the positive side, there seems to be a trend of cinemas showing more independently released films, of working more closely and supportively with independent distributors on terms and to develop their online programming offer. 

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