GOVERNMENT TOOLS
business
CONSULTING
Making the business case for cultural facilities in Grafton
Key highlights
The Client
Clarence Valley Council
Challenge
Our economics team was engaged to evaluate the economic and social benefits of the proposed revitalisation of the Grafton Regional Gallery.
Highlights
The analysis captured the wider benefits of the project, including revenue for the Arts and Recreation sector, tourism expenditure, community benefits and employment.
Results
By using traditional market and non-market valuation techniques, we were able to develop a compelling case about the wider economic and social benefits of the proposed revitalisation of the Grafton Regional Gallery.
It is widely acknowledged that cultural facilities such as museums, art galleries, theatres and their related activities generate a number of social and cultural benefits to regional towns and cities such as community cohesion, sense of identity, health and improved educational outcomes.
While these facilities often have a positive economic impact on the local economy (from the operations of the facilities, the capital expenditure related to the facilities and the non-local (tourist) visitation), valuing the social impacts presents a challenge, because it is often difficult to assign a market price to them.
The .id Solution
To capture the wider benefits of this project, our economics team undertook a cost-benefit analysis and economic impact analysis. Our analysis demonstrated that the benefits of the project were well above costs and would represent a significant return on investment for the government.
- The following benefits and impacts were quantified in our analysis:
Additional revenue for the Arts and Recreation sector
Additional tourism visitation
Induced tourism expenditure
Community benefits (e.g. value of leisure, satisfaction, personal development and social interaction)
Volunteering benefits
Direct and indirect employment generated during the construction and operation phase (using the impact model developed specifically by NIEIR for the Clarence Valley economy).
Our CBA was undertaken in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Australian Government and NSW Government. The outputs from our work also directly responded to the economic criteria outlined in the grant applications guidelines (e.g. Net Present Value and Benefit Cost Ratio).
Demonstrating the Impact of Social Benefits
As part of this project, we undertook a literature review to help support our claims about the economic and social benefits of cultural facilities. This included:
- Huxley, M. for Museums and Galleries of NSW, 2014, ADDING VALUE – A report on the economic impact of the cultural infrastructure of the Evocities of NSW
- Asia Pacific Social Impact Leadership Centre, Melbourne Business School, 2013, Demonstrating impact in Public Arts Museums
- Pew Research Center, 2014, Younger Americans and Public Libraries
By using both traditional market and non-market valuation techniques, we were able to develop a compelling case about the wider economic and social benefits of the proposed revitalisation of the Grafton Regional Gallery.