The visual arts sector generates significant economic, social and cultural value, yet too often that value remains invisible in the data and evidence used to inform policy, investment and public debate. The report, Towards a Data Observatory for the Visual Arts: A Scoping Study to Identify Sector Data Needs, explores why data matters to the visual arts sector, maps the diverse datasets that already exist, and identifies the opportunities and challenges involved in creating a shared evidence infrastructure. Drawing on insights from visual arts stakeholders, policymakers, researchers and sector partners, it sets out recommendations for how a Visual Arts Data Observatory could strengthen advocacy, inform policy, and better demonstrate the sector’s economic, social and cultural value.

Across the sector, organisations collect a wealth of information about artists, audiences, communities, places and programmes. Galleries measure engagement, studios understand the challenges facing artists, universities track skills and talent development, the commercial sector reports on economic value, and cultural organisations gather evidence on wellbeing, participation and local impact. However, this information is often collected in different ways and for different purposes, and it remains fragmented across infrastructure, the commercial industry and regions.

As a result, the visual arts struggle to present a clear, collective picture of their contribution to society. While economic indicators such as employment, trade and visitor numbers are relatively visible, many of the sector’s most important impacts – supporting artists’ livelihoods, improving wellbeing, strengthening communities, developing skills and contributing to place-making – are much harder to evidence at a national scale.

CVAN is exploring the development of a Visual Arts Data Observatory to address this challenge. The Observatory would not seek to create another layer of reporting for already stretched organisations. Instead, it would bring together existing evidence, improve consistency across datasets, and help transform fragmented information into meaningful insights and a narrative.

By connecting data from across the visual arts ecosystem, the Observatory would help the sector better understand itself, identify trends and challenges, demonstrate its impact, and make a stronger case for investment and support. It would provide a shared evidence base that can inform policy, strengthen advocacy, support research and help organisations make better decisions.

Ultimately, the Observatory is about more than data. It is about ensuring that the full value of the visual arts – economic, social, cultural and civic – is recognised, understood and reflected in the decisions that shape the future of the sector.

Read the full report Towards a data observatory for the visual arts: A scoping study to identify sector data needs

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all the organisations and individuals who contributed their time, insight and expertise to this project. Representatives and contributors from Arts Council England, Arnolfini, Artquest, the British Art Market Federation, the British Film Institute, the Council for Higher Education in Art & Design, Crafts Council, DACS, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the National Centre for Creative Health, the National Culture Data Observatory, the Society of London Art Dealers, Su Jones, UK Music and The Audience Agency.

The project has been funded by the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership in partnership with the University of Southampton and the University of Portsmouth. Thanks to Joseph Owen, lead researcher on And Towns at the Southampton Institute for Arts and Humanities, for his involvement in the project. PhD student Christopher Clarke-Dawson led the research and produced the report under the supervision of Paula Orrell, National Director, CVAN England.