AEA Consulting is a global firm setting the standard in strategy and planning for the cultural and creative industries. We are known for our candid and impartial advice that draws on deep knowledge of the cultural sector as well as robust research and analytical insight.

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AEA Consulting is a global firm setting the standard in strategy and planning for the cultural and creative industries. We are known for our candid and impartial advice that draws on deep knowledge of the cultural sector as well as robust research and analytical insight.

Since 1991, we have successfully delivered more than 1,000 assignments in 35 countries, helping clients around the world plan and realize vital and sustainable cultural projects. 

Naomi Klein recently and improbably quoted Milton Friedman: "Only a crisis, actual or perceived, produces real change. When a crisis occurs, the actions that are taken are dependent upon the ideas that are lying around."  

All of our lives – professional and personal – have been turned upside down by the current COVID-19 crisis and righting them will be slow and in some cases painful. We at AEA are committed to righting the ship – or at the very least to leaving some useful ideas lying around.

 

News

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Culture and COVID-19

Projects

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Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) / Nesta – Research

Insights

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After COVID-19: What Next for the Cultural Sector?

Services

Strategy

AEA works with clients at the earliest possible stage to develop successful project strategies, whether in the context of a new cultural facility, policy, or program. We help articulate the project’s goals and rationale; explore the possible routes to deliver it; and confirm the optimum way forward.

Planning

AEA is a leader in the planning and delivery of a wide variety of cultural & creative spaces, including cultural districts, mixed-use developments, museums and galleries, performance spaces, multi-disciplinary spaces, parks, and heritage sites. We deliver plans that pay close attention to what is required for long-term operating and financial success, and that include actionable road maps and evaluation metrics.

Research & Analysis

AEA's recommendations to our clients are underpinned by robust empiricism and unparalleled knowledge of the cultural & creative sector. We gather the facts, whether quantitative or qualitative; we parse, test, and analyze them; and challenge wishful thinking. Our customized studies combine proven methodologies and objective analysis with a sensitive understanding of our clients and the context in which they operate.

Initiatives

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The Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN) is an international membership-based network that fosters cooperation and knowledge-sharing among those responsible for planning and running districts and clusters that include a significant cultural element.