Our Services

Research

We design and deliver high-quality research that brings clarity to complex risks and opportunities associated with the UK’s creative, cultural and heritage sector. By blending robust data analysis with lived experiences and sector knowledge, we surface new insights that help our sectors, and communities, to drive real policy change.

We work with researchers based in universities, research institutes, policy units and think tanks to help them translate their findings into policy recommendations that are evidence-informed, implementable and impactful

    • Collaborative by design: We co-create research with cultural practitioners, policymakers, and academics to ensure relevance and rigour.

    • Mixed methods: Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches gives our research both breadth and depth which appeals to different stakeholder groups.

    • Accessible outputs: From detailed reports to bite-sized insights, we make sure findings reach the people who need them—clearly and persuasively.

    • Public interest at our core: As a values-led, not-for-profit organisation, we take a ecosystem approach to our research which centres the public good over commercial gain.

  • Culture in Crisis – the world’s largest piece of research examining how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted our sectors. Informed UK Government and devolved government departmental decision making in real-time throughout the pandemic period.

    Connecting Through Culture as we Age - a year long study examining how people can be included in the design of digital products and services that enable them to express their full creative selves as they get older. Resulted in several prototypes that are now being developed.

Policy

We shape policy that works in real world contexts. By sitting at the intersection of culture, politics, and civil society, we help organisations and governments craft policies that empower creativity, support equity, and meet future challenges too.

We work closely with policymakers operating at the local, regional and national levels and across the creative, cultural and heritage sectors to co-design new policies that help them drive towards their policy priorities.

    • Lived knowledge meets political fluency: Our team draws on experience across the creative industries, cultural sectors, government, and academia.

    • From grassroots to Whitehall: We work across all levels—from local authorities and sector bodies to right up to parliaments and governments – tailoring solutions to each context.

    • Co-designed, not top-down: We ensure the voices of artists, practitioners and communities are included in all our work to ensure policies are not only impactful, but just.

    • Future-focused: Whether it’s environmental sustainability or digital innovations that impact our sectors, we have an eye on future-proofing cultural policy frameworks.

  • The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK – a major four nations open policy development programme in coalition with 30 partners that examined the risks and opportunities that the ‘devolution revolution’ might present to our sectors.

Advocacy

We build momentum for real-world, positive change. We lead strategic advocacy that elevates the voices our sectors, mobilises evidence, and strengthens influence in the corridors of power whilst proactively opening them up to under-represented voices.

We engage with elected politicians and officials at the local, regional and national levels and stay up to date with key legislative and policy developments within relevant parliaments. We increasingly advise elected mayors and regional leaders the devolution revolution extends and deepens across the UK.

    • Ecosystem insight: We map and connect stakeholders, from funders and unions to MPs and grassroots leaders, to shift the dial at scale.

    • Narrative as power: We help our sectors shape the story of why investment matters – grounding arguments in data, community voice and lived experiences.

    • Tailored campaigns: From roundtables and briefings to major public campaigns, we design advocacy strategies that fit the moment and the mission.

    • Trusted convenors: Our rigorous impartiality and reputation across sectors and political parties enables us to bring unusual allies together in service of shared goals.

  • English Civic Museums Network – working with circa 100 museums across England to build a case for investment. Secured a £20 million fund dedicated to museums in urgent need of repair from the UK Government.

    National Performing Companies of Scotland – working with Scotland’s flagship cultural organisations to identify collective impacts. Secured first uplift in a national Budget in over 15 years.

Evaluation

We provide tailored evaluation services that capture the values, impacts, and learnings from creative, cultural and heritage projects, programmes and policy interventions.

Working with quantitive and qualitative data, we take mixed-methods and evidence-led approaches that lead to robust, people-centre evaluations that bring statistics and stories together for maximum impact.

We work on evaluations for national cultural organisations,  research institutions, local authorities and government departments.

    • Participatory methods: We involve the public, practitioners, and programme partners in defining success and measuring progress against.

    • Learning-led approach: Our evaluations aren’t just about reporting - they support strategic development and spotlight future options for key stakeholders.

    • Sector-savvy frameworks: We apply evaluation tools that capture the nuance of creative, cultural and heritage work.

    • Values-driven insight: As a mission-led organisation, our evaluations go beyond short-term stats to trumpet and instead look to champion equity, access, and long-term potential.

  • High Street Heritage Action Zone, Chatham - a detailed evaluation of a major collaborative educational programme for University of Kent, Medway Council and Historic England unpacking the benefits of unique practical teaching module. Informed a new teaching model for university students and project to establish an ‘Urban Room’ in the town.

    Creative Improvement Districts - a comprehensive report on the policy impact of these specialist zones for sector development in urban areas. Led to the development of several new recommendations for cities across the UK.

Professor Pascale Aebisher MBE, Arts and Humanities Research Council ‘Pandemic & Beyond’ programme

“Culture Commons had a transformative impact on our project. They radically shifted the ways we engage with policymakers in Westminster, devolved governments and regional leaders through their ready-made networks.”

Jon Finch, Chair of English Civic Museums Network

“We thoroughly enjoyed working with Trevor and his team - they delivered an excellent quality, extremely well researched report for us.”

Professor Ben Walmsley, Dean at the University of Leeds

“Culture Commons have affected a step change in the traction that our research is getting with key policy stakeholders at all levels. I really can't recommend them highly enough.”

Rosie McPherson, Artistic Director of Stand and Be Counted Theatre

“We've wanted to have more influence on policy making for years. Culture Commons have opened that door. We've now put across our views to the Home Office and had a meaningful response - that’s just major for us.”

Clients & partners

Action for Children’s Arts

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museums Wales

Art Fund

Art Ultra

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Arts Council England

Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

BECTU

Belfast City Council

Born-In-Bradford

Bradford 2025

British Council

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch)

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

Cardiff Council

Centre for Cultural Value

Children’s Capital of Culture

Creative Estuary

Creative Industries Council

Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre

Culture Collective (Sheffield)

Culture Counts

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Durham County Council

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

English Civic Museums Network

Equity

Excluded UK

Flux

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Greater Manchester NHS Integrated Care Service

Hall for Cornwall

Harlow Council

Heritage Strategies International

Heseltine Institute for Public Policy

High Street Heritage Action Zone, Chatham

Historic England

HTA Consultants

IPSOS

Libraries Connected

Local Government Association

Medway Council

Musicians Union

My Cake

National Federation of Performing Unions

National Theatre of Scotland

North East Combined Authority

Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Policy@Exeter

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Royal Society of Arts (RSA)

Scottish Ballet

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Scottish Opera

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

Spirit of 2012

Stand & Be Counted Theatre Company

The Heritage Alliance

The Heritage Network Trust

Tyller A Nerth

University of Bristol

University of Canberra

University of Dundee

University of Exeter

University of Glasgow

University of Kent

University of Leeds

University of Liverpool

University of Manchester

University of Warwick

Wellcome Centre Cultures and Environments of Health

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Wigan Council

Writers Guild of Greater Britain