About the Data Schema
This data schema was developed by local government across Australia to report headline items of local government’s contribution to the cultural life of Australians.
In 2014, the National Local Government Cultural Forum (Cultural Forum) identified that limited data existed about the contribution local governments (LG) makes to the cultural life of Australians. To address this, members of the Forum initiated a project to define and report the scope and quantity of council-led cultural investment and activity.
Throughout 2014 and 2018 a input and output schema was developed and trialed. Contributors included the Cultural Development Network on behalf of the National Local Government Cultural Forum and representatives from the capital cities, local government associations in all jurisdictions, ALGA, Australia Council for the Arts and the Department of Communications and the Arts. Additionally, a representative sample of councils across Australia engaged in the third phase of trials. At the close of 2018, the schema was published and made accessible to all governments and organisations who wish to report their cultural investments and activities.
Cultural activities are defined in the schema as arts, libraries and heritage (excluding natural heritage) activities that have a creative and expressive component.
The data schema comprises:
INPUTS: resources identified and available to produce outputs
Infrastructure
Capital assets: buildings /facilities for cultural use: $ value
Capital assets: cultural collections including public art: $ value
Capital assets: other sites of cultural significance: $ value
Financial Resources
Buildings leasing for cultural activities or management: $ spent
Annual recurrent gross expenditure: $ spent
Human Resources
Volunteers: estimated EFT number
Contractors: $ amount
OUTPUTS: Activity types that the resources (inputs) are applied to
Development of cultural collections
Acquisitions: commissioning of public art: $ amount
Practitioners
Contracts to cultural practitioners: $ amount
Grants, sponsorship and prizes for cultural activities: $ amount
Presentational activities
Exhibitions: arts and heritage objects in all forms
Performances: performing arts of all forms
Publications in all media
Commission of public art (not acquired)
Gathering, celebration or ceremony
Public Talks
Pathways and guided tours
Developmental activities
Creative recreational
Educational
Professional
Research and development
Cultural Festivals
Artists Residencies
Key activity output measures
| Sub-sets | ||
| Number of activities | Count Activity Session | |
Number of participants
| Receptive (audiences) paid Receptive (audience) free Active (enabling/creating) | |
| Number of new works | New works made New works presented |
Outcomes Schema
An additional aspect of this data schema, is a set of outcomes of cultural engagement (ie. what difference all this investment and activity makes) developed by CDN in collaboration with the National Local Government Cultural Forum. See the current progress on the outcome schema.
Contact us about this project
More information about this project is available from CDN:
John Smithies, Director, CDN on john.smithies@culturaldevelopment.net.au