The aim is to produce a framework for the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of arts, culture and heritage projects funded under the Mzansi’s Golden Economy (MGE) programme.
The report sets out to develop and test a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for publically funded arts, culture and heritage projects. From a review of the international literature, three kinds of cultural value were identified: Economic, Social and Intrinsic. Debates around the relationship of these values to each other and to their relevance to cultural policy were reviewed. Using South African and international case studies, a variety of valuation methods were discussed.
From the work on cultural indicators, five major cultural value “themes” were identified in line with the aims of the Mzansi’s Golden Economy funding guidelines developed by the Department of Arts and Culture. These were: Audience development and education; Human capital and professional capacity building; Inclusive economic growth; Social cohesion and community development; and Reflective and engaged citizens.
Examples of indicators for each theme were also identified. It was then demonstrated how the Framework could be applied to a wide variety of funded projects and how the emphasis of the Framework could be changed depending on the specific aims of each funding category. In terms of monitoring progress towards the stated goals of the project, a “Logic” model was suggested.
