top of page
Image Gradient
BOP Consulting Logo | HomeButton
ERDF - John Haslam Cafe Society
image gradient

Image credit: Thiago Barletta on Unsplash

Evaluation of culture and tourism in European Regional Development Funds (ERDF)

Understanding the impact of 14 billion euros of investment, to help shape future funding priorities.

Jonathan Todd

Chief Economist

Jonathan is an economist with over a decade’s experience in impact assessment and evaluation, and high-level policy experience, particularly within the cultural and creative sectors.

Jonathan Todd - Chief Economist | BOP Consulting

Planning a new project?

If you are interested to learn more about our work or if you have a project you would like to discuss, get in touch.

LOCATION

Europe

CLIENT

European Commission

SECTOR

Projects Sectors

EXPERTISE

Culture and tourism have emerged as important recipients of ERDF funding


In the 2007-2013 programming period 80% of ERDF Operational Programmes provided support for investment in culture and tourism. A minimum of EUR 14.4 billion was allocated to culture and tourism if account is taken only of direct funding (i.e. leaving aside other support going to SMEs, transport and urban regeneration, for example, which could also have benefited culture and tourism). 


Given the pre-existing scattered and rather scant evidence available on the effectiveness of ERDF investments in culture and tourism, BOP Consulting was comissioned as part of a bigger conglomerate, to provide factual and concrete evidence on the logic for ERDF support of these sectors in the 2007-2013 period, the nature and distribution of the interventions, together with their main achievements and expected effects on territorial development. The overall aim of the evaluation was to understand the rationales for investment, rather than uncover causal impact.


The evaluation is based on a range of research tools, including a review of the literature, an analysis of available statistical and administrative data, a cluster analysis and an on-line survey of 95 regional Managing Authorities, 6 in-depth regional case studies and 12 mini-case studies of specific projects. 



Key Policy implications


The findings of the evaluation led to a number of key policy implications for future ERDF investments in culture and tourism, including


  • The first is that there is scope for the ERDF to more effectively address culture and tourism in order to support regional development. This requires, however, that regional and national authorities put greater emphasis during the programming phase on the contribution of culture and tourism to regional development, and hence on the definition of more focused ERDF investment strategies in these sectors.

  • Greater entrepreneurship and innovation is needed in both sectors, but particularly in culture. As for the perceived administrative burden of ERDF funding, while there may be scope for simplification, private sector and third sector operators could also be helped to improve their capacity to comply with the necessary regulations.

  • Monitoring and evaluation systems need to be improved through the definition and dissemination of clearer guidance and methodological support for (a) classification criteria for categories of intervention, (b) common indicators, and (c) defining relevant programme-specific indicators.

DOWNLOAD REPORT

Project Report

The report outlines the findings from a major study into the international activity of the Arts Council England-supported cultural ecosystem.

International Activity Report

Arts Council England

BOP Consulting was appointed to outline a pilot for a Creative Worker Income Guarantee for Brighton & Hove, working on behalf of the University of Sussex and the ABCD Cultural Recovery Programme. 

Cultural, Creative and Collective Recovery: Exploring a Creative Worker Income Guarantee

University of Sussex

The report on how global cities tackle climate change with cultural policies and programmes. Insights from the World Cities Culture Forum's latest report.

The Green World Cities of Tomorrow: Culture and Sustainability – Special Report Prepared for WCCF Global Conversation

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

Unique case guide is co-produced with the participating cities of WCCF, highlighting city examples and a global cities approach to evidenced-based policymaking.

Culture Counts: New Approaches to Evidence Based Cultural Policymaking in World Cities

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

Working alongside CRAIC, a new research and collaboration centre at Loughborough University, we conducted an extensive survey of virtual production assets throughout the United Kingdom to map the country’s growing ecosystem.

Mapping the UK's Virtual Production Ecosystem

Loughborough University

The World Cities Culture Report (WCCR) 2022 builds on the ground-breaking 2018 and 2015 Reports. It gives insights on the major challenges world cities facing.

World Cities Culture Report 2022

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

BOP's contribution to the 2nd edition of the report UNESCO's Global Creativity Report, examining policies safeguarding the creative and cultural sectors.

UNESCO's Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity Report – Addressing culture as a global public good

UNESCO

Our strategy will guide the creation of a new digital service aiming at supporting and developing the creative scene in Downtown Kingston.

Leveraging the creative potential of Downtown Kingston through technology

Inter-American Development Bank - IDB

Our research into the UK's high streets found that 69% of people think culture on their high street makes their area a better place to live.

Culture: The cornerstone of the UK’s high streets

Arts Council England

BOP’s updated Handbook for the Inter-American Development Bank sets out strategies for sustainability and urban resilience

Creative and Cultural Industries and Urban Revitalisation in the post-COVID era

Inter-American Development Bank - IDB

We investigated the potential impact of AI for European cultural and creative businesses. Explore the transformative opportunities AI brings to industries.

Opportunities and Challenges of AI for the Cultural and Creative Industries

European Commission

Published today: ‘Design for Good: 90 Years of the RSA Student Design Awards’, a new publication from the RSA, co-authored by BOP

A History of Bright Ideas: 90 Years of the RSA Student Design Awards

The Royal Society for Arts (RSA)

Research in the Gulf Co-operation Council States in collaboration with British Council and BOP Consulting helps identify opportunities for festival development.

An evidence-base for the growing Gulf festivals sector

British Council

Our research into the museum workforce is launched, emphasizing the importance of conscientiousness and advocating for a diverse and well-supported sector.

Conscientiousness, optimism, and curiosity

Museums Galleries Scotland

BOP’s report on creating a healthy night-time economy for the Nanjing City Government demonstrates the importance of cross-cutting policies.

Creating Healthy Night-time Economies in World Cities

Nanjing Creative Center

Findings from our work at Great Ormond Street Hospital reveals how visual arts enhance the patient, visitor, and staff experience.

Creativity in health settings

GOSH Arts

How is China influencing the future of Cultural Tourism? China's cultural infrastructure projects are redefining the global tourism landscape.

Cultural Infrastructure for the 21st Century

Chengdu Media Group

Our new report for UNESCO sets out the huge global impact of COVID-19 on the cultural sector. We estimate $750 billion lost for the CCI and 10 million job cuts.

Economic impact of COVID-19 on the Cultural and Creative Industries

UNESCO

Our analysis of the strengths and challenges of music in the Midlands report published for Arts Council England.

Hitting the right notes in the Midlands

Arts Council England

New handbook 'Making Space for Culture' explores how world cities address the challenge of preserving cultural infrastructure while promoting growth.

How can cities make space for culture?

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

Related Projects

SHARE PROJECT 
Jonathan Todd - Chief Economist | BOP Consulting

Jonathan Todd

Chief Economist

bottom of page