Barnsley Cultural Development Fund

Work areas: evaluation

We are currently supporting the evaluation of Barnsley Council's Cultural Development Fund project (2022-2026). The project involves two strands: Forging Ahead, a multi-million pound investment in Elsecar Heritage Centre, an internationally-important and unique cultural asset; and Storying Barnsley: investment in Barnsley's cultural and creative sector and public engagement activities aimed at Barnsley's under-served communities. We are supporting the council to measure key outputs and outcomes, and to tell the story of the project.

 

The Atkinson, Southport

Work areas: business planning, marketing, audience analysis

A £16 million project to create a unified cultural centre for Southport at the Atkinson as part of the Sea Change initiative. We produced a detailed business plan, including financial and audience forecasts, programming and management.

 

The Cultural Centre is an exciting proposal which brings together elements from across the cultural spectrum and improves existing physical spaces to provide a substantial new public amenity. The space will include a theatre complex, museum and gallery spaces and a public library, as well as catering and other public spaces.

 

The business plan demonstrated to the North West Regional Development Agency and the Council that the business case for the operation of the combined centre was sustainable. To ensure a robust business plan we analysed historic data from performances and used this to build a flexible model which allowed us to forecast income and expenditure from a range of events and deal types. We also worked with Sefton Council to develop its marketing strategy for the theatres. This included audience modelling, market analysis and identifying target groups.

 

Spring Bank Arts Centre, New Mills

Work areas: options appraisal, activity planning, interpretation planning

We supported a successful Heritage Fund bid to convert this redundant Grade II listed church to sustainable use as a community arts centre. The project was instigated by local community members who formed the St James the Less Preservation Trust to protect this valued local building.

 

DBA Consulting produced a suite of documents to support the NLHF bid, including an initial feasibility study, a business plan, an audience development strategy, an activity plan and an interpretation and learning plan.

After the funding was secured, we worked with the Trust to develop and implement the learning and interpretation package.

 

Dublin Contemporary 2011

Work areas: business planning, financial planning

We worked with the Irish Museum of Modern Art and a group of contemporary art curators to obtain funding for a major city-wide contemporary art festival.

Our role included developing the economic and social case for the festival and providing a business and organisational framework around which an ambitious multi-site programme could be successfully delivered.