The arts, culture, and events industry plays a vital role in connecting communities, preserving cultural heritage, and driving local economies.
Demonstrating the true value of this industry requires showing stakeholders tangible outcomes rather than relying on attendance numbers or testimonials alone. By focusing on outcomes that reveal social, cultural, and economic impacts, organisations can highlight their contributions meaningfully to funders, policymakers, and their community.
Why use outcomes?
Outcomes are the changes that result from taking part in a program, activity or service. Outcomes differ from basic outputs (such as attendance) as they focus on measurable, often transformative, effects that an initiative has on individuals and communities. You can read more about outcomes in our Support Hub.
Applying outcomes
The Culture Counts Dimensions provide a structured approach for identifying outcomes, offering insights into areas such as community impact, economic growth, and personal wellbeing. Below are some primary outcomes relevant to the cultural industry, with definitions and examples demonstrating how each outcome reflects the value and impact of cultural programs.
Community Outcomes
- Definition: dimensions that recognise engagement in decision-making and facilitating connections between community groups, generating political efficacy, and strengthening social institutions and their constituents.
- Application: Centre for Stories conducts storytelling workshops that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds, enhancing community cohesion and understanding.
Cultural Outcomes
- Definition: dimensions that encourage appreciation and engagement with new and diverse cultural experiences, expanding knowledge and insight, and stimulating creativity.
- Application: The Revealed Arts Market showcases emerging Aboriginal artists, enriching the cultural landscape and providing insights into Indigenous art forms.
Social Outcomes
- Definition: dimensions that support personal and social wellbeing for the creation of healthy, safe and inclusive communities.
- Application: L2R Dance offers free dance programs that promote physical health and social connection among youth, contributing to improved wellbeing.
Economic Outcomes
- Definition: dimensions that seek to promote dynamic and resilient local economies that are required to sustain vibrant communities. This also includes fostering professional and business development.
- Applications:
- Regional Arts Australia’s Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program bolstered local economies by attracting visitors to regional areas, which led to increased spending in local businesses and enhanced economic resilience for rural communities.
- Monkey Baa provides workshops and performances that develop creative skills in young people, fostering confidence and artistic growth.
Communicating your value
With clear, outcome-based data, communicating the impact of your programs to stakeholders becomes straightforward. Effective communication strategies ensure that each group understands the value arts and cultural initiatives bring to their lives and communities. We have highlighted some key ways to use data to tell your story.
- Visual Storytelling: Use infographics, charts, and summary dashboards to make outcomes easy to digest. This visual data helps funders, community members, and partners in quickly understanding impact.
- Narrative Impact: Personal stories and testimonials bring data to life, illustrating how arts and cultural initiatives foster community pride, enhance learning, and support wellbeing.
- Detailed Evaluation Reports: Comprehensive reports provide insights tailored for funders or government partners who need an in-depth view of outcomes to align with broader goals.
- Digital and Social Media: Sharing key highlights on social media engages the community and potential supporters. Posts showcasing improved community engagement or economic benefits, alongside participant testimonials, reinforce your value. We have provided an example below – celebrating the achievements of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
Are you interested in finding out more? Access our Arts and Culture Benchmark Report or contact us to chat to our friendly Client Team.
