This report demonstrates how the Framework could be applied to a sample of projectsfunded under the Mzansi’s Golden Economy (MGE) initiative.
Monitoring and Evaluation can be important tools for both funders and arts practitioners in terms of demonstrating the value of the arts to communities and funders, accounting for the use of public funds, and designing policy interventions. The arts (broadly defined) result in three types of value: Economic (economic growth, employment, trade), Social (community development, social cohesion, inclusiveness) and Intrinsic (artistic quality, personal enlightenment, spiritual values).
This proposed M&E Framework identifies five cultural value themes and links them to indicators that could be used by arts organisations to demonstrate these kinds of value. For a full discussion of the development of the Framework, please see A Framework for the Monitoring and Evaluation of Publically Funded Arts, Culture and Heritage (South African Cultural Observatory, 2016). This report demonstrates how the Framework could be applied to a sample of projectsfunded under the Mzansi’s Golden Economy (MGE) initiative.
In order to operationalise the Framework, the proposed themes need to be connected in indicators so that data or evidence about the impact of the specific project or organisation can be presented. The idea is not that every project should report on every theme, but that the Framework and indicators can provide a common “language” for arts professionals and funders, facilitating better communication, reporting and policy formulation. The following table suggests some indicators that could be used to demonstrate cultural value under the various themes.
The Mzansi’s Golden Economy (MGE) Guidelines: Criteria, Eligibility, Processes & Systems 2015/2016 – 2016/2017 version 1.0) funds arts, culture and heritage under three main categories, and a fourth category called “Miscellaneous”. The three categories are: Cultural Events (Annual Live Events for Young Artist; National Flagship Projects and Provincial Flagship Projects); Touring Ventures and Market Access (Digital and Social Medial Platforms Domains; Touring Ventures: DAC Institutions); and Public Art Programmes.
The advantage of having a broad framework is that it can be adapted to reflect the specific aims of the different funding categories in MGE.
Depending on the project, indicators for other value themes may also be included, but the Framework could require that projects in a specific category report on at least some of the indicators aligned with the three most important value themes identified for their category. What is immediately apparent is that, in line with the repositioning of the new White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage currently under discussion, all categories are strongly linked to the Audience Development and Education and Inclusive Economic Growth themes.
However, the range of indicators used to demonstrate value within these broad themes (and their valuation methods) are adaptable enough to take into account the different foci and goals of each project. In addition, there is scope for different projects to foreground the indicators related to their most important outcomes. Table 2 links the five value themes to suggested indicators.
