National Partnership for Culture recommendations: Scottish Government response

5. Data and Evidence

5.1 The four National Performance Framework indicators for Culture should be reviewed, to better encapsulate the spirit and priorities of the Culture Strategy.

The Scottish Government is currently reviewing and further developing the definition and measurement of culture and the creative industries for the existing National Indicators on the creative economy and those working in arts and culture. Work so far has engaged the Measuring Change Group (a sub-group of the NPC), and the Scottish Cultural Evidence Network.

The Review of the National Outcomes is due to commence in 2022 and decisions on updating the indicator set will be considered as part of this.

5.2. The primary generators and users of cultural data should be asked to standardise, manage, and share current, ongoing and future data sets so that cultural organisations and artists are not required to provide the same data repeatedly and a wide range of cultural organisations and bodies can easily access, use and contribute to them.

We will work with the Measuring Change group to scope this recommendation. Significant feasibility work is required across the Scottish Government, public bodies and local authorities in order to identify if this is possible to deliver. As a first step, we will identify current good practice and any areas for improvement.

5.3 The Scottish Government should commit to undertaking a meaningful evaluation of the Culture Strategy for Scotland and the extent to which the Strategy has produced change.

We will develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for the Culture Strategy and its implementation. This will be influenced by the timing and content refresh of delivery plans and consideration of proportionate and appropriate methods and data gathering approaches.

In the meantime, a refreshed Culture Strategy Action plan is underway and will be published later this year. Scoping will include review of the recommendations from the NPC and Creative Industries Leadership Group and significant stakeholder engagement.