The EADA Forum

There was an excellent discussion on standards in the Bergen meeting - but the key challenge I see is that behind the headline, there's an ocean of complexities exacerbated by an unbelievably complex cultural ecosystem, where funders and the different arts and culture sectors have different needs and priorities. So before we agree to make an inventory or form a cultural standards body, we should start with the minimum agreed core policies, then the associated data points needed to support these policies, which in itself will dictate the data standards associated with these. Here are headline areas which I think will help break up the Standards challenge in to its constituent parts:   Macro & Micro Policy priorities The adoption of standards are a prerequisite for the effective implementation of policies. However, the cultural sector represents a broad and complex ecosystem of cultural organizations and funders and equally a broad set of needs. The goal of the EADA is to identify, evolve and prioritize which policies best address the needs of funder and cultural organizations. Aligned Metrics & Benchmarks Having established the key priorities the goal of the EADA is to formulate the key metrics and benchmarks for cultural engagement, so that leaders can formulate priorities in terms of investments and management goals. Governance and organization An important prerequisite in legitimizing policies and standards is embedding these in an agreed governance and organization structure, be these local, trans-national or trans-sectional. The goal of the EADA is to review the best governance structures that best leverages the current eco-system.   Right?

The EADA project framework provides guidelines for how initiatives are structured and set in to context. Many projects we encounter flounder because of the temptation to deliver a solution – often in the form of an IT tool – before the underlying values, principle and capabilities have been properly aligned with the wished-for outcomes. The task of the EADA is to synthesize the broad range of existing and planned initiatives in to a coherent set of shared values, principles, capabilities and tools needed to execute (infrastructure). To this end we have adopted the new operating model for local government developed by the social innovation agency Nesta below:    Repurposed for EADA: “New operating models for local government, Nesta (April 2020)”   The EADA Forum looks to make each of these areas explicit and try to gain a common consensus.

The EADA Focus Areas The EADA has been formed to provide a forum where practitioners from across Europe can learn from others, provide insights and collaborate in the development of common programs. Our approach is co-creation and the adoption of the Wiki method for collaborative knowledge creation. Below is the high-level specific areas of investigation: Audience Data Standards a)      Macro & Micro Policy priorities         The adoption of standards are a prerequisite for the effective implementation of policies. However, the cultural sector represents a broad and complex ecosystem of cultural organizations and funders and equally a broad set of needs. The goal of the EADA is to identify, evolve and prioritize which policies best address the needs of funder and cultural organizations. b)     Aligned Metrics & Benchmarks Having established the key priorities the goal of the EADA is to formulate the key metrics and benchmarks for cultural engagement, so that leaders can formulate priorities in terms of investments and management goals. c)      Governance and organization An important prerequisite in legitimizing policies and standards is embedding these in an agreed governance and organization structure, be these local, trans-national or trans-sectional. The goal of the EADA is to review the best governance structures that best leverages the current eco-system. 2)      Audience Data Infrastructure a)      Stakeholders The EADA has identified multiple regional and national initiatives across funders and sector associations, with a broad range of non-aligned objectives. EADA looks to provide a forum wherein these initiatives and objectives become better aligned and collectively adopted. b)     Cultural Master Data Management Model A collective approach to cultural engagement predicated on standards is dependent on an agreed to set of data sets, such as defined artforms, demographics, ticketing data fields etc. c)      Input/Output Models & Collections assessment A vast array of data collection methodologies currently abound across the EU predicated by the various cultural impact models such as input-output or  value-chain metrics. d)     Database Platforms & Interoperability Following on from the previous point, there exists or are planned a vast array of IT infrastructure solutions. There exists a latent need and potential for optimizing (data warehousing solutions) across the EU. 3)      Audience Data Literacy a)      MIS (Management Information Systems) Data literacy has been identified as a key inhibitor to the adoption of better management practises both at a micro and macro level. The EADA looks to collate and formulate the key management metrics the sector should adopt in order to best leverage the collective insights have the potential for. b)     Audience Data Curriculum Underpinning the MIS for Culture are the educational modules – content, case-studies etc. – which will provide funders and cultural leaders the skills required to leverage these insights. c)      Education programs A successful data literacy program is predicated on a common dissemination and education program that allows for a consistent cross-sector and cross-border methodology, which also incorporates the broad range of practitioners. LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER KEY AREAS NOT COVERED!