Size Matters

Sarah Thelwall, a British researcher and consultant in creative and cultural industries, has written an interesting paper (July 2011) based on research on the value of small visual arts organizations in the arts ecology as well as society. Some of the outcomes include:

• The role and value of small visual arts organizations in society and within the arts ecology is often under-estimated by public authorities.

• The evaluation and measurement methods, ”the metrics”, of government and funders do not correspond to the value produced by these small organizations who build their operation on collaboration and flexibility.

• By investing in risk-taking and development of work, small arts organizations contribute to the development of larger art organizations.

• Small art organizations have very few tangible assets to capitalize income on compared to larger organizations, un often unacknowledged incomestream to be found in these small organizations is the intangible assets such as organizational expertise and experience, intellectual property, research skills, risk-taking etc.

• The report suggest a new investment model in order to measure the value of small visual arts organizations.

Download the report here: Common-Practice-London-Size-Matters.pdf. Sarah Thelwall also initiated the service MyCake as an easy way to manage your finances.

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One Response to “Size Matters”

Made (februari 9th, 2012 at 5:56 f m)

Yes it is pboissle to do this at the grass roots level.I look at what la Senora Marta Sahagún, the wife of former President Vicente Fox of Mexico, did in organizing, millions, and I mean millions of Mexican “mamacitas” into a movement that became “Amigas/Amigas” de FOX.Marta got all over her “amigas” to get their “amigas”, and so on and so on to support FOX and get out and vote.They spread the word and they voted! Vicente Fox became the first democratically elected President of Mexico in 2000. I agree grass roots is the way to go – may be a start is with the Vancouver Schools Music Programs – especially the after school ones that the “mamacitas” of Vancouver count on for their kids to participate in, until they, the MOMS get home from work.Just a thought and, John – brilliant post – to get the dialogue going.