Building a National Cultural Data Observatory with Combined Authorities in England

Evidence Report

Partners

Centre for Cultural Value, The Audience Agency, My Cake, Research England

Author

Trevor MacFarlane

Description

This evidence report summarises the findings from a national policy roundtable convened by Culture Commons with senior officers from Combined Authorities across England to inform the blueprint for a proposed National Cultural Data Observatory (NCDO). It examines how a shared cultural data infrastructure could enable regional leaders to evidence the social, economic and civic value of culture, strengthen accountability within England’s evolving devolution framework, and embed cultural metrics within the emerging Local Government Outcomes Framework. The paper distils six key insights—on investment and evaluation, spatial analysis, data efficiency, qualitative and quantitative integration, local authority collaboration, and ethical governance—and outlines practical next steps for pilot engagement between Combined Authorities and their constituent local authorities.

Published as part of Scoping a National Cultural Data Observatory project.

September 2025