European inventory of
societal values of culture

Democratising Cultural Indicators

Badham, M. (2015) Democratising Cultural Indicators: Developing a Shared Sense of Progress. In: MacDowall, L., Badham, M., Blomkamp, E., Dunphy, K. (eds) Making Culture Count. New Directions in Cultural Policy Research. Palgrave Macmillan, London

Decision-makers typically employ performance indicators or comparative frameworks of measurement to understand whether progress is being made in their area of responsibility. But long-term policy aims are often uncoordinated across stakeholders and external measures may lack local relevance. Frames such as social inclusion, community wellbeing, or cultural diversity are often fleeting rhetoric in policy cycles. How can development be measured when an understanding of progress is not shared? How can cultures be compared when they may have different values and priorities? And what does it mean when someone else sets these standards and your community comes in last place?