CULTURE.IMPACTS.DIY: A self-assessment toolkit unveiling the multidimensionality of value creation in cultural activities

Abstract

The question of value and its measurability has always been central in the study of social and economic practices, including cultural activities. However, contemporary structural changes related to the emergence of cognitive-cultural capitalism bring new forms of cultural production, consumption and mediation that challenge the analysis of cultural activities’ value(s). Despite the recognition of multidimensionality of its value, impacts of cultural activities are still often underestimated, and evaluation exercises have difficulties in including the diversity of dimensions of value created by these activities, in economic, social, cultural, environmental or participatory terms. Combining work developed by a DINAMIA’CET iscte team in different research projects (CREATOUR, RESHAPE, IMPACTS-AR, ARTSBANK and STRONGER PERIPHERIES), this presentation addresses value creation processes in culture, based on work developed with artists, cultural promoters, creative tourism agents and public authorities, in recent years, in several territorial contexts, both Portuguese and European, assessing the impact of their activities in their communities. A new conceptual and analytical approach to assess the impact of cultural activities in a given territory is proposed. A multidimensional impact assessment method, (co)developed with actors in creative fields, is proposed, provided through a toolkit for (self)evaluation of value(s) generated by cultural institutions.