The Arts in Local authorities
Local Government and the Arts – a vision for partnership can be downloaded from the Arts Council website and outlines the priorities for partnership in the future

In a survey of Local Authority spending in 2005/6, undertaken by nalgao, Arts spend by local authorities accounts for over three times its initial investment for the arts in leverage funding from other sources. In a time when Council budgets, not just the arts, are under increasing threat, it is worth remembering the leverage offered by arts investment.

Festivals and Celebrations
For local celebrations, festivals and fairs, look at The Impact of of Folk Festivals (2004) which contains evidence of the economic and social impact of these events, appropriate to a number of open-air projects. You could also look at Festivals and the Creative Region, a 2003 study of the cultural festivals in the East Midlands.

Social Inclusion and Regeneration
Health and Policy Action team report 10 is a Government publication that shows the impact of the arts (and sport) on neighbourhood renewal.  (http://www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk/page.asp?id=407 )

Use or Ornament – the social impact of participation in the arts – www.comedia.org.uk

Written by Comedia in 1997, this is one of the most exhaustive documents on the impact on communities of participative projects, and is still widely quoted.

The Art of Inclusion, 2004 presents a range of case studies from a 3-year research project on social inclusion and the arts. Also on the Arts Council of England website.

Arts in Health – a review of the medical literature. is a series of studies up to 2004 on the relationship between the arts and healthcare. The studies illustrate the impact of the arts on good health, improving the patient experience and reducing stress, fear and pain levels.

“Fewer than six” is a study of creativity in regeneration of specific neighbourhoods, commissioned by Yorkshire Arts from eventus, a Sheffield-based arts agency. Available on www.eventus.org.uk

Growth in Arts Attendances and Participation
In Arts in England,  a study, of attendance, participation and attitudes in 2003, carried out by Social Survey Division of the Office for National Statistics, a range of useful figures that illustrate significant growth in attendance and participation in carnival, dance, drama, festivals, literature and music, including:

• 79% of people agree that ‘Arts and cultural projects should receive public funding’
• 22% of people had visited a visual arts exhibition or event that year

www.artscouncil.org.uk/documents/publications/artsinenglandsum_phpdOUlh8.doc

Courtesy: Peepul Centre, Leicester

Cultural Tourism
The Scottish Executive has a useful review of the evidence base for the arts, including (chapter 10) Cultural Tourism from across the world, and the UK, based on major cultural events.
http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/library5/education/lrcas-14.asp

Rural Arts
The National Rural Touring Forum commissioned Only Connect a study of the social impact of rural touring on local communities which illustrates the range and diversity of rural arts work in the UK. Available from www.nrtf.org.uk

The Arts Council site also contains a comprehensive review of The Arts and rural England. A number of the case studies illustrate the range of arts initiatives in small towns and villages across the UK.

And, finally, a useful quote:

"An authority which fails to value the power of and need for Cultural Services is one which will struggle to meet the needs and aspirations of its local communities."
Derrick Anderson, Chief Executive, London Borough of Lambeth.