Culture and Heritage Capital: research and outputs
Current research and findings relating to the Culture and Heritage Capital programme.
Applies to England
You should use these Culture Heritage Capital (CHC) resources if you are a:
- policy maker interested in the wider benefits of culture and heritage
- government economist or analyst wanting to understand the impact of interventions which will affect culture and heritage
- public sector organisation interested in understanding the scientific and economic evidence around culture and heritage
- private practitioner interested in CHC evidence, tools, and resources used in government
These research reports should be used alongside Embedding a CHC Approach.
DCMS CHC evidence bank
The Culture and Heritage Capital programme conducts regular research. As new evidence becomes available, DCMS will continue to add to this evidence bank.
Unit cost database
DCMS evidence on culture and heritage are now included in have fed into the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Research Team’s pioneering work of a cost benefit analysis (CBA) methodology.
The unit cost database includes a range of values relating to culture, heritage, sport, education and skills, many others, that can be used in SCBA to assess the impact of an intervention. Many of these values are from the CHC Programme, and have been quality assured by the GMCA Research Team with oversight from relevant central government departments. The database will be updated iteratively, as and when new data becomes available.
This methodology exists as supplementary guidance to HM Treasury’s Green Book.
Technical research papers
This section is for economists, academics and researchers who would like to read in detail about research outputs.
DCMS are keen to hear about other research that could contribute to the CHC Programme. If you have research you think would be relevant, please share this with us by emailing chc@dcms.gov.uk.
DCMS research
Applications of non-use values in the context of culture and heritage
A report by Alma Economics conducting exploratory research into the application of non-use value in the context of UK culture and heritage. The study used four experimental approaches to innovate on the current non-use methodologies. These focused on:
- exploring the impact of bias mitigation strategies
- changes to duration and frequency of valuation period
- distance-decay effects and household framing
- marginal changes to non-use value
Research to understand and monetise the impact of engagement with culture and heritage on health and wellbeing. The study captures individual impacts, productivity impacts, and impacts on NHS and social care costs, using Green Book and DHSC recognised methods.
Co-authored with the Creative PEC, this research estimates the use and non-use value of digital galleries using contingent valuation, with ArtUK as the subject of the analysis.
Choice Modelling and Methodology Development: Marginal Willingness to Pay for Museum Improvements
Making use of choice modelling techniques to estimate the marginal change in value when improving museums, with the National Railway Museum (NRM) as the subject of analysis. The methods developed in this report will be used to develop further guidance to help organisations more effectively show the value of investment in museums and will also be applied to other types of culture and heritage.
Using a combined approach of valuation methodologies and heritage science to estimate the cultural, economic and social impact for interventions that halt the loss or deterioration of culture and heritage assets.
Rapid Evidence Assessment: Culture and Heritage Capital Valuation Studies
This Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) provides an assessment of the current state of the literature valuing the services provided by culture and heritage assets.
The report outlines:
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the process used to collect and review the evidence
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an overview of the methods used in the literature to value culture and heritage assets
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an assessment of the priority areas for future research
An experimental research and development project to understand the welfare impact of maintenance on historic and non-historic theatres.
Arts Council England research
This research provides monetary estimates of the benefits that local museums provide to visitors and the local population in England. The approach used is consistent with HM Treasury Green Book, for use in Social Cost Benefit Analysis (SCBA).
A research study measuring the value of the digital offer of galleries and museums using contingent valuation (CV) techniques. This study helps close evidence gaps in the valuation of digital culture, an area of future research for DCMS.
The research undertaken in this report provides monetary estimates of the benefits that art galleries and theatres provide to visitors and the local population in England. The approach used is consistent with HM Treasury Green Book, for use in Social Cost Benefit Analysis (SCBA).
Historic England research
Research examining the relationship between heritage density and life satisfaction.
This study develops a set of monetary values for the ‘everyday heritage’ sites that people use and experience in their local area, such as libraries and high streets. It does so using metrics and methods consistent with UK government HM Treasury Green Book guidance.
A non-technical report examining the relationship between local historic places and assets, and their positive impact on mental health.
Using the Travel Cost Method (TCM) to assess the economic and cultural value of historic attractions, comparing English Heritage booking data with mobile GPS data. The findings highlight the potential of using mobile data to value both ticketed and non-ticketed sites, offering a reliable and cost-effective tool to value cultural sites.
This study aimed to quantify the willingness to pay (WTP) of both users (those who attend church for worship at least once a month) and non-users (a representative sample of the general population) for various church activities and functions. The study focused on isolating the additional value (‘heritage additionality’) purely associated with the historic character of the church.
British Film Institute research
This study examines the previously unmeasured social benefits created by cinemas for cinema users and communities.
A case study on the public value of Britain on Film which provides evidence on the benefits of online access to film heritage.
Updates to this page
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In 'DCMS research' the 'Applications of non-use values in the context of culture and heritage' was changed to 'Culture and Heritage Capital: Applications of non-use values' and the link was updated.
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Added Historic England research publication.
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Added link to 'Applications of non-use values in the context of culture and heritage' publication.
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Added link to new Historic England research
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The report 'The Value of Maintaining Theatre Buildings- Discrete Choice' has been added to the page.
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First published.