Select Reports

Eastbourne ALIVE Evaluation report

Eastbourne ALIVE was an ambitious project that brought together local creative partner organisations and artists to celebrate Turner Prize 2023 coming to the town.

Our evaluation of the Turner Prize and Eastbourne ALIVE, released in 2024, explores three main areas – the economic impact, changing perceptions of Eastbourne as a place and partnership working in the arts and cultural sector.

The Summary and full Report are available on the Eastbourne ALIVE website along with other resources.

• Eastbourne ALIVE Evaluation Report – Ruth Melville with Rebecca Ranson, Catherine Doran and Ben Morgan – April 2024 (PDF, 12.7MB)

The Leap: Evaluation reports

We’ve been working with The Leap in Bradford for a number of years. As a Creative People and Places project, their mission is to change the nature of arts and culture in Bradford and Keighley, supporting local people and artists in shaping that offer.

Our 2023 report is available on their website – as is a Summary, based on our findings, which we assisted The Leap in producing.

• The Leap Year 3 Phase 1 Evaluation Report – Ruth Melville, David Lee and Rebecca Ranson – September 2023 (PDF, 4.4MB)
• Report Summary – Making a difference to Bradford and Keighley communities – The Leap with RMR  – October 2023

Back to Ours: Evaluation reports

Back to Ours is the Creative People and Places (CPP) project for Hull. At its heart is connection and engagement, mixing the familiar with the unfamiliar to grab attention, provoke and entertain.

We produced evaluations of the project from 2019 up until March 2023, when Back to Ours became an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

• Back to Ours Interim Evaluation Summary – April 2019 (PDF)
• Back to Ours Final Evaluation Report (Phase 1) – Ruth Melville – February 2020 (PDF, 2.1MB)
• Back to Ours Phase 2 Year 1 – Ruth Melville, Vickie Bissett, Catherine Doran and Ben Morgan – April 2021 (PDF, 7.5MB)
• Back to Ours Phase 2 Year 2 – Ruth Melville, Vickie Bissett, Catherine Doran, Ben Morgan and Rebecca Ranson – April 2022 (PDF, 6.5MB)
• Back to Ours Phase 2 Final Report – Ruth Melville, Charlotte Eade, Kirsty Hillyer, Ben Morgan and Rebecca Ranson – March 2023 (PDF, 3.9MB)

Chat to Ours

We worked with Chat to Ours, a group of Back to Ours volunteers, to share their research findings and present stories from the festivals. Below is an example report:

• Back to Ours Festival Highlights Report 2018-19 – Chat to Ours – February 2020 (PDF, 995KB)

Bradford Producing Hub: Evaluation reports

Bradford Producing Hub – funded by Arts Council England, Bradford Council and others – aims to make Bradford a more creative city with Live Art performance “happening all the time”.

We have produced two evaluations and are currently working on a third.

• Bradford Producing Hub: Year 2 Evaluation Report – April 2022 (PDF, 4.9MB)
• Bradford Producing Hub: Year 3 Evaluation Report – December 2022 (PDF, 4.3MB)

Build Back Better: Evaluation report

The Build Back Better grant, offered by Kent County Council in 2021/22, provided support to creatives and arts and culture organisations in the county to help with recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our report included recommendations around the application process, needs of the sector and communicating with creative businesses. Kent County Council are now using the recommendations to shape future plans.

• Evaluation Report: Build Back Better Grant – Kent County Council – Ruth Melville, Rebecca Ranson, Catherine Doran and Ben Morgan – February 2023 (PDF, 1.3MB)

England’s Creative Coast: Evaluation report

England’s Creative Coast was an ambitious project aimed at shifting the whole approach to cultural tourism in the South East of England. It was principally funded by Arts Council England’s Cultural Destinations programme and Visit England through the Discover England Fund.

Our evaluation looked at four key impacts – rebuilding the South East visitor economy; inspiring visitors to lengthen their stay; local people exploring their town and region; and partnerships across cultural and tourism networks.

• England’s Creative Coast Evaluation Report – March 2022 (PDF, 5.2MB)

#flowcellular: Evaluation report

#flowcellular explored the science behind what happens to our DNA as we get older, and was developed by Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Saturday Museum.

Our report includes stories, moments, quotes, photos and artwork produced throughout the project to illustrate and honour the generosity and wealth of creativity shared by all participants.

• #flowcellular Evaluation Report – January 2022 (PDF, 2.7MB)

LeftCoast: Evaluation and project evaluation reports

LeftCoast is the Creative People and Places (CPP) project for Blackpool, delivering highly-engaging, socially-useful arts and cultural projects in the town.

We produced a series of evaluation reports over the years – both of LeftCoast itself and specific projects.

CPP Evaluations

• LeftCoast: Phase 3 Year 1 Report – Ruth Melville and Catherine Doran – February 2021 (PDF, 2MB)
• LeftCoast Phase 3 Final Report – Ruth Melville, Rebecca Ranson and Catherine Doran – July 2022 (PDF, 3.3MB)

Project-specific evaluations

Get Dancing drew on Blackpool’s place within popular dance culture to crowdsource a new social dance. It was delivered by LeftCoast, Showtown Blackpool and dance company House of Wingz.

• Evaluation Report: Get Dancing – Ruth Melville, Ben Morgan and Rebecca Ranson – June 2022 (PDF, 2.5MB)

The Upside was a project run in the first six months of 2021 aimed at addressing issues of social isolation in some of Blackpool’s communities. The report was co-authored with writer and producer Alexandra O’Toole.

• Evaluation Report: The Upside – Alexandra O’Toole and Ruth Melville – Summer 2022 (PDF, 2.1MB)

Medway: Cultural strategy

Working with GJG Consultancy and The Audience Agency, we co-developed a new, ambitious and forward-thinking Cultural Strategy for Medway.

The Strategy was based on two core beliefs – culture is at the heart of defining Medway’s identity, and allowing people’s voices to be heard unlocks the possibility of powerful and meaningful change.

• Medway Cultural Strategy 2020-2030: Full Report – December 2020 (PDF, 4.5MB)

Revoluton: Case studies

Revoluton Arts is the Creative People and Places (CPP) project for Luton, with a mission to cultivate grassroots creativity and run high-quality creative events that engage the town’s diverse audiences.

Using three ‘cases’ — work in two geographical neighbourhoods and the young creatives programme — we explored how Revoluton was approaching its work, and why this approach mattered. This built on Ruth’s work as Critical Friend for the project.

• A Revolut(i)onart Practice? Residencies case studies – Ruth Melville – February 2020 (PDF, 2.7MB)

Truth to Power Cafe: Impact study

Truth to Power Café is an internationally acclaimed theatrical reflection on loss, hope and resistance.

In producing the impact study, we adapted our methodology to take into account the highly personal nature of the shows, their international reach and the impacts of Covid-19 on delivery. We are in the process of writing a second, larger scale study.

• Truth to Power Cafe Impact Study – Catherine Doran and Ruth Melville – 2020 (PDF, 7.1MB)