I have advanced skills in analysing data, communicating and presenting statistical information, and developing statistical indicators, frameworks and classifications. I have produced international benchmark reports on good practice in cultural policy statistics.
In 2010 I coordinated a special Australasian edition of Cultural Trends, an academic journal that aims to improve the use of data in cultural policy. In my editorial for the first parts of the special edition, I argue that we need more systematic inquiry to turn our wealth of cultural data into knowledge and wisdom for cultural policy. Read more in A poverty of inqury>.
Below are some examples of my experience in statistics and indicators.
****************************************************************************
Advising on indicator development
Providing commentary and guidance to international organisations and government agencies on the development of statistical indicators. Examples:
- UNESCO: Culture and Development Indicators. In 2009 I provided advice and input into this UNESCO project, which aims to establish ‘a sound and coherent set of indicators that identifies and monitors the complex relationships between culture and development.’
- New Zealand Government: Cultural indicators for New Zealand. In 2005 I provided advice to the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage on the development of its cultural indicator suite and reviewed the work of consultants. The suite was first published in 2006.
*******************************************************************************
Methods and good practice
Producing key international reviews and guides on the use of statistics in cultural policy. Examples:
- Statistical Indicators for Arts Policy, 2005, an international review of the ‘state of play’ in cultural statistics. It has been cited widely, including by Professor Ruth Towse in her Textbook of Cultural Economics, 2010.
- Cross-Country Comparisons of Cultural Statistics: Issues and Good Practice, Cultural Trends, volume 14 issue 4, 2005, looks at how best to compare cultural data between countries. Is cited in Professor David Throsby’s The economics of cultural policy, 2010.
*******************************************************************************
Frameworks and modelling
Developing statistical frameworks, definitions and models for the production and use of cultural statistics. Examples:
- An Information Model for Culture and Leisure, an unpublished internal document for the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2001, which explores how the systems architecture modelling techniques used in IT can be applied to the culture and recreation sector.
- New Zealand Framework for Cultural Statistics Te Anga Tatauranga Tikanga-a-iwi o Aotearoa, Statistics New Zealand and Ministry of Cultural Affairs, 1995. I was the key culture analyst in the framework’s development.
*******************************************************************************
Statistical analysis, interpretation, communication and statistical compendia
Analysing, interpreting and communicating statistics on art and culture and producing statistical compendia. Examples:
- Data on Artists’ Employment and Professional practice in Australia, and Executive Summary Findings on artists’ employment, professional practice, and tax and social security issues, for a review of artists’ employment issues for Federal Government policymakers. Published by Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts, 2010.
- Australia’s creative revolution, ArtsHub, 13 July, 2010, an online media article aimed at a wide audience of arts practitioners.
- The Australian Arts Industries: Statistical Profiles and Recent Trends, 2000, statistical reports to feed into workshops and strategic planning under the Australia Council’s Planning for the Future project.
- Employment in the cultural sector, 1998, and New Zealand cultural statistics 1995 (both Statistics New Zealand and Ministry of Cultural Affairs), statistical compendia on New Zealand’s cultural sector.
artspolicies.org Christopher Madden 