Welcome to the North East of England Cultural Observatory
The North East England Cultural Observatory (NEECO) would like to thank its visitors for using the www.neeco.org.uk website since 2007.
We wish to inform you that NEECO will no longer be updated as of 1 August 2008. This is a result of a Strategic Review of Regional Cultural Delivery (Margaret Hodge outlines measures to streamline cultural 'delivery' in the regions).
Over the past two years research within the cultural sector has developed significantly, as well as the broader cultural research agenda being imbedded within the wider research community.
The decision to discontinue the NEECO.org.uk website reflects the changing conditions in the public digital and online environment. The digital space has evolved tremendously and there are now other means for the cultural policy and research community to connect and exchange research.
Please note that no new content will be developed. The indicators will continue to updated and key cultural research will be uploaded whenever possible for the next few. During this time, every effort will be made to ensure the key functions of the observatory will continue
Any questions you may have should be directed to: Telephone: 0191 202 3917
“We have come a long way in strengthening the case for the role of culture and sport at the heart of a region, its economy and its aspirations. That’s thanks in no small part to the work of our cultural consortia and their Boards over the last nine years.
“But the regional landscape is shifting. With the new Local Area Agreements imminent and Integrated Regional Strategies on the horizon we need to put delivery at the heart of the debate at this critical time. We can only do that by coupling advocacy with action, speaking with a stronger more unified voice across our sectors and giving a better service to Local Government and Regional Development Agency partners.”
The following pages offer information on cultural research, as well as links to some key cultural research resources.
1. NERIP
NERIP is the North East Regional Information Partnership. As the name indicates NERIP is a partnership and comprises some 60-plus organisations which all aim to improve the quality of life for people in the North East of England. NERIP houses research on culture and creativity in the North East.
2. Department for Culture Media and Sport research resources
The Department for Culture Media and Sport Evidence and Analysis Unit publishes a number of useful resources online.
These pages include links to the research leads for their non-departmental public bodies who conduct research in to culture.
3. Department for Culture, Media and Sport Evidence Toolkit (DET)
The DET is an online interactive web based toolkit for accessing and using information about the Cultural Sector. It does not impose a 'one size fits all' model for the development and use of statistics, rather, the aim is to:
- establish a 'blueprint' for the analysis of Cultural Sector by outlining a standard conceptual and technical definition
- provide a reference point on how to use key data sources for a range of purposes
- outline some best practice measures for researching the Cultural Sector
4. Taking Part Survey
'Taking part' is an unprecedented piece of work commissioned by the DCMS and its partner Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs).The fieldwork for 'Taking part' is being conducted by BMRB Social Research. It is a continuous national survey, achieving an annual sample size of around 29,000. For background information on 'Taking part' and more on what it involves visit
5. Active People
Sport England has appointed Ipsos MORI to undertake a national (England) survey of participation in sport and recreational physical activity. They will collect and analyse data concerning the levels of participation in sport and recreational physical activity for adults living in all of the District, Unitary and Metropolitan Authorities in England. Data will be collected by telephone interview. The survey will be representative at a local level and aggregated up to County Sport Partnership level. The survey of each District, Unitary and Metropolitan Authority will be carried out over a full year with the sample of 1,000 interviews for most Local Authorities evenly divided over the 12 months of the year to account for seasonality factors.
Regional Cultural Observatories in England
The following contacts can provide you with the most up to date information about cultural research in their locality.
East of England http://www.eastofenglandobservatory.org.uk/Culture.asp
East Midlands East Midlands Cultural Observatory
North WestNorthwest Culture Observatory
South East Southeast Cultural Observatory
South West South West Observatory Culture Module
West Midlands West Midlands Regional Observatory – Cultural Observatory
Yorkshire Yorkshire Cultural Observatory Yorkshire Culture
7. Links
Further relevant information may be found on the following links
Arts Council England -Research
English Heritage -Research and conservation
Heritage Lottery Fund -Research and evaluation
MLA East of England -Research and Evidence
Northern Film and Media -Publications
Sport England -Research, Studies and Surveys
Government Office for the North East -Culture and Leisure
The North East England Cultural Observatory is funded in part by Arts Council England, Northern Film and Media, English Heritage, One NorthEast, Sport Engalnd, MLA and the Government Office for the North East