Insights
AEA is at the forefront of thinking about the future of the cultural sector. We offer a clear and informed view on the key issues at stake for the cultural and creative industries. We share our insights through regular writing, publishing, reports as well as conferences and seminars.
The Platform – AEA’s newsletter
The Platform is AEA Consulting's newsletter delivering insights from our work in the cultural and creative sectors around the world, providing you with AEA's distinctive perspective on the critical trends and issues affecting our clients.
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Serious Fun: Why Play Belongs in Cultural Spaces
The Platform, August 2025
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How a Library Applies a Trauma-Informed Care Framework to Serve its Community
The Platform, June 2025
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Oak Park Public Library: A Library for Everyone
The Platform, February 2025
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What's the Opportunity Now? Exploring an agenda for the arts, cultural, and creative sector in 2025
The Platform, January 2025
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Social Impact of Arts and Cultural Organizations: Perspectives from the Field
The Platform, December 2024
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Financial Support in the U.S. vs the U.K.: Key Distinctions
The Platform, November 2024
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Toronto’s The Bentway is Building a Softer City
The Platform, October 2024
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Unlocking Your Organization's Revenue Potential
Earned Income Growth for Arts, Cultural and Creative Organizations
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Reclaiming Chicano Park: How BIPOC-led placemaking can transform our cities
The Platform, August 2024
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Beyond “Arts After Dark”: Opportunities from the Nightlife Sector
Notes from the Field
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2023 Cultural Infrastructure Index: Adaptive Reuse
The Platform, July 2024
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Why decision-making about digital is not just the digital team's problem
Substrakt/Digital Works Conference 2024
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Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts And Cultural Sector: A Primer
The Platform, June 2024
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Sponsors can support digital offerings. Don’t waste that opportunity.
Maxwell Museums, February 2024
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The bravery (and rewards) of beta testing
The Platform, December 2023
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Notes from the Field: International Dance Encounter Amman
The Platform, November 2023
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Five Digital Trends Shaping the Cultural Sector
The Platform, August 2022
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Don't Call It a Museum: Perspectives
Don't Call It a Museum, June 2022
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Cultural Anchors: How can cultural institutions ‘anchor’ and facilitate growth in creative districts?
Arts Professional, May 2022
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How Do We Design Equitable Cultural Spaces?
The Platform, December 2021
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'We don’t know when last orders will be called at the last chance saloon': how culture is feeling the climate change heat
The Art Newspaper, November 2021
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So much talk, so little action...
Deloitte's Art & Finance Report 2021, October 2021
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Notes from the Field: I wish to go to the (Spoleto) Festival
The Platform, June 2021
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The Rise (and Rise?) of ‘Immersive’ Exhibitions
The Platform, June 2021
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Construction After Covid: What's Next for Performing Arts Buildings?
The Platform, April 2021
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What Does 'Feasible' Mean for Cultural Infrastructure Projects Today?
The Platform, January 2021
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The Deaccessioning Debate: 1990-2020
The Art Newspaper, November 2020
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Until Further Notice: The Next Chapter for the Performing Arts in the Continuing US Pandemic
The Platform, July 2020
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Eight Ways Museums Could Make the Most of the Coronavirus Crisis
The Art Newspaper, June 2020
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Scenario Planning for Arts and Culture
The Platform, April 2020
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"Thank You for the Opportunity"
The Platform, April 2020
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COVID-19: The Longer Term
The Platform, March 2020
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After COVID-19: What Next for the Cultural Sector?
The Platform, March 2020
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Not a Pretty Picture: Shuttered arts institutions will find a way out of this crisis. But it won’t be easy.
The Wall Street Journal, March 2020
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The Platform: A Manifesto
The Platform, March 2020
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Three Ways Museums Can Face Up to the Climate Crisis
The Art Newspaper, November 2019
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The Long Boom: Investment in Cultural Infrastructure
Deloitte's Art & Finance Report 2019, October 2019
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Museums in the Changing World Order: The Rise of Authoritarian Nationalism
The Art Newspaper, May 2019
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Museums in the Changing World Order: Restitution to Africa Reaches Tipping Point
The Art Newspaper, April 2019
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Museums in the Changing World Order: A Question of Ethics
The Art Newspaper, February 2019
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Should a Museum Be Allowed to Cash In On Its Art? Yes, But on Two Conditions
artnet news, January 2018
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Museums must reassert their values in the face of a divisive and malevolent Trump
The Art Newspaper, January 2018
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Just Leave That Botticelli Near the Bikerack
Zocalo Public Square Magazine of Ideas
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The battle to save America’s arts endowment from Trump’s cuts
Apollo Magazine
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Trouble ahead for New York’s museums
Apollo Magazine
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Arts and Culture Open New Doors in Global Cities
Chicago Forum on Global Cities – May 4, 2016
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Cultural Quarters for the Future
London Essays #4 – 2016
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Culture Club
Brunswick Review – Spring 2016
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Expanded Horizons: Looking Beyond Building Projects
The Art Newspaper – April 2016
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Article Review – Creativity, Clusters and the Competitive Advantage of Cities
February 2016
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Book Review – Advanced Cultural Districts: Innovative Approaches to Organizational Designs by Alberto Francesconi
December 2015
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Book Review – Creating Cities by Marcus Westbury
December 2015
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Why Fund the Arts: Because We Like It?
Alliance – March 2015
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All Those New Museums? Now, The Facts...
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São Paulo Ready for Big-Budget Biennial
The Art Newspaper – September 2014
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Success Looks Different Now: The International Significance of America’s Current Preoccupation with Placemaking
Grantmakers in the Arts Reader – Vol. 25, No. 1, Winter 2014
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Museums’ Robust DNA
The Art Newspaper – December 2013
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Big, Bold and Banking on Tomorrow
The Art Newspaper – September 2013
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Experience as Research
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Successful Cultural Districts are Powerful Policy Tools
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Some Reflections on the Relationship between Supply and Demand in the Formalized Arts Sector
Grantmakers in the Arts Reader – Vol. 23, No. 1, Winter 2012
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Ten Years On: Tate Modern Reaches a Watershed
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Foster. Create. Develop. Diversity...
The Art Newspaper – February 2010
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The Recession and US Museums
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Museums Should Beware of Being Used as Marketing Tools
The Art Newspaper – April 2008
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The Problem with Privately Funded Museums
The Art Newspaper – February 2008
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The Changing Place of the 501(c)(3)
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 5, Number 3 – February 2007
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The Regulation of the Art Market: Why a Clean-up would be a Clear-out
The Art Newspaper – February 2007
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A Franchise Model for the Few – Very Few: The Guggenheim Bilbao Ten Years On
The Art Newspaper – January 2007
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French Cultural Policy: A Healthy Economy Is the Cause, Not Effect, of a Healthy Cultural Sector
The Art Newspaper – January 2007
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 5, Number 2 – October 2006
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How to Survive German-style: Sell the Collections
The Art Newspaper – October 2006
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The Radical Re-hang: An Unlikely Alternative to the Blockbuster Exhibition
The Art Newspaper – May 2006
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 5, Number 1 – April 2006
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Building Success
Museum Practice – Spring 2006
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The Expansion Wager: Collections v. Crowds
The Art Newspaper – March 2006
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Attendance Figures Alone Are Not the Only Sign of Vitality
The Art Newspaper – March 2006
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Warning: Earned Income Can Be Bad For Museum Health
The Art Newspaper – December 2005
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 4, Number 3 – November 2005
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Restitution Claims and the Media: Museum Inaction is Undermining Public Trust
The Art Newspaper – November 2005
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Who Will Own Art Museums’ Content?
The Art Newspaper – October 2005
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Les Musées Pourront Difficilement Poursuivre leur Croissance avec les Moyens Actuels
Le Journal Des Arts – September 23 - October 6, 2005 (in French)
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The RAND Corporation’s Three Challenges for Survival
The Art Newspaper – September 2005
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Can Culture Save Downtown?
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Head or Heart in Museum Leadership?
The Art Newspaper – July-August 2005
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 4, Number 2 – June 2005
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Is There a Better Case for the Arts? A Public Conversation
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Clear Channel in San Diego: The Thin End of an Interesting Wedge
The Art Newspaper – November 2004
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 4, Number 1 – October 2004
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The Implications of Art Fund Collections Shown in Museums
The Art Newspaper – September 2004
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A New Approach to the Deaccessioning Issue
The Art Newspaper – March 2004
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 3, Number 3 – January 2004
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Reflections on Strategic Planning in Arts Organizations
Arts Professional – November 2003
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 3, Number 2 – July 2003
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American Museums in Financial Crisis
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 3, Number 1 – April 2003
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 2, Number 3 – May 2002
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 2, Number 2 – October 2001
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Loss Leaders: Reflections on the Impact of Growth on the Financial Health of Arts Organizations
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Museum Boom will be Followed by Bust
The Art Newspaper – June 2001
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 2, Number 1 – March 2001
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 1, Number 6 – December 2000
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 1, Number 5 – June 2000
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The Platform e-zine – Volume 1, Number 4 – April 2000
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Book Review – The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual
The Art Newspaper – January 2000
Conferences and SeminarsU
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A Holistic Approach to Sustainability
International Museum Construction Congress, November 2023
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The Power of Cultural Districts
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, October 2022
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Reaching People Through Cultural Districts
Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association, August 2022
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Designing the 21st Century Museum
Museum Trustee Association, November 2021
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Navigating Uncertain Times
League of American Orchestras, January 2021
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Resilience & Adaptation: Culture and the Corona Crisis
1014 and the American Council on Germany, July 2020
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Coronavirus and Culture: Challenges, Changes and Creative Responses
King's College London, June 2020
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Making Change
Opera America's 50th Annual Opera Conference, June 2020
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LA as LAB 3.0
Claremont Graduate University – Claremont, CA, May 2019
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Big Spaces, Small Spaces: Urban, Architectural, and Artistic Strategies for City-Based Cultural Districts
The Arab Gulf States Institute - Washington, DC 2018
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Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres Conference
Guangzhou, China - September 2017
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Global Cultural Districts Network Meeting
Barcelona, Spain - May 2017
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Music Cities Summit
Toronto, Canada - April 2017
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CultureSummit Abu Dhabi
TCA Abu Dhabi – April 2017
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Raising the Stakes - Going Global with a Citywide Vision
London Culture Forum – London, 2016
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Investments in the Arts, Entertainment and Open Space — Catalysts for Urban Redevelopment
CREW Network – New York, 2016
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Museums in a Global Age
LSE Arts and ArtReview – London, 2016
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Animation and Appropriation of Public Spaces
Global Social Economy Forum – Montreal, 2016
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Keynote: Cultural Diplomacy in its Evolving Context
Danish Cultural Ministry – Copenhagen, Denmark, 2016
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Global Cultural Districts Network Bi-Annual Meeting
Brooklyn, 2016
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Annual Canadian Art Summit
Business for the Arts – Alberta, Canada 2016
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Global Cultural Districts Network Bi-Annual Meeting
London, 2015
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New Cities Summit
New Cities Foundation - Jakarta, 2015
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Securing Cultural Commissions: Trends, Opportunities, and Strategies
American Institute of Architects – New York, 2015
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Art for Tomorrow Conference
New York Times - Doha, 2015
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Building the Field of Our Dreams
Grantmakers in the Arts Annual Conference – Houston, 2014
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International Conference on Cultural Institutions and Urban Transformation
Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA)and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
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CityTalks Design
City of Sydney - Australia, 2014
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Stavros Niarchos Foundation 3rd International Conference on Philanthropy
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New Cities Summit 2014
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The Performing Arts in Lean Times: Opportunities for Reinvention
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Clore Leadership Programme Residential Leadership Course
Clore Duffield Foundation – London, 2004-2008
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Emerging Financial Models
The Wallace Foundation, 2008
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Collections Planning for the 21st Century
Colloquium at The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute – Williams College, 2006
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Thundering Hooves: Maintaining the Global Competitive Edge of Edinburgh’s Festivals
For the Scottish Arts Council
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Bring New Orleans Back
Mayoral Task Force, City of New Orleans
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The Challenges to Mid Sized Presenters
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation – New York, 2004
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After Critique: Art Museums in the World
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute – Williams College, 2004
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Planning in a Cold Climate
Association of Art Museum Directors – Cincinnati, 2004
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What’s it Worth?
Collegium at the Bolz Center for Arts Administration, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2004
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Managing the Creative – Engaging New Audiences
J. Paul Getty Trust – Los Angeles, 2004
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Mission, Money, and Models
Arts & Business and The Jerwood Charitable Foundation – London, June 2004
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Valuing Culture
Demos, The National Gallery and the National Theatre – London, June 2003
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Planning in a Cold Climate
J. Paul Getty Trust Directors’ Seminar: Leading Retrenchment – Los Angeles, 2002
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Taking Risk in Times of Adversity
The Ford Foundation / Nonprofit Finance Fund – New York, May 2002
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The Context for Culture Now
J. Paul Getty Trust – Venice, 2001
ReportsU
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Cultural Infrastructure Index Dashboard
2016-2024 Cultural Infrastructure Index Data Dashboard
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2024 Cultural Infrastructure Index
AEA Consulting - April 2025
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Little Island, New York: Social Impact Study
For Little Island - July 2024
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2023 Cultural Infrastructure Index
AEA Consulting - July 2024
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2022 Cultural Infrastructure Index
AEA Consulting – July 2023
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2021 Cultural Infrastructure Index
AEA Consulting – July 2022
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Private Investment in Culture Survey Report 2022
for Arts Council England – June 2022
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Experience on Main Street
for the UK Department for International Trade – December 2021
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2020 Cultural Infrastructure Index
AEA Consulting – July 2021
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The Relationships Between Cultural Organisations and Local Creative Industries in the Context of a Cultural District
for Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre led by Nesta
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Feasibility Study for the Vltava Concert Hall in Prague
for the Prague Institute of Planning & Development
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Arts Organizations’ Early Response to COVID-19 Uncertainty: Insights from the Field
for The Wallace Foundation – October 2020
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Navigating Uncertain Times: A Scenario Planning Toolkit for the Arts & Culture
for The Wallace Foundation – October 2020
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2019 Cultural Infrastructure Index
AEA Consulting – August 2020
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2018 Cultural Infrastructure Index
AEA Consulting – August 2019
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2017 Cultural Infrastructure Index
Global Cultural Districts Network – November 2018
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2016 Cultural Infrastructure Index
Global Cultural Districts Network – November 2017
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Building the Field of Arts Engagement: Prospects and Challenges
for the James Irvine Foundation
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From Live-to-Digital: Understanding the Impact of Digital Developments in Theatre on Audiences, Production and Distribution
Arts Council England (ACE), UK Theatre, and the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) – 2016
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Culture Forward: Downtown Brooklyn's cultural plan
for the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Alliance
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Why "Where"? Because "Who."
for The James Irvine Foundation
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Knight Arts Challenge Interim Review 2008–2011
For the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
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Anticipating Change in the Major Performing Arts
for The Australia Council for the Arts
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National Study of Artist-Endowed Foundations
For The Aspen Institute
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Critical Issues Facing the Arts in California
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Beyond Performance: Building a Better Future for Dancers and the Art of Dance
for the International Organization for the Transition of Professional Dancers
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Social Impact Programme Assessment
for the Tyne & Wear Museums and Bristol’s Museums, Galleries & Archives
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The Maecenas Initiative: A Review of Charitable Giving Vehicles and Their Use in the U.S. and Canada
for Arts & Business
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National Dimensions
for the National Museum Directors’ Conference (UK)
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Finding People to Manage Major Arts Building Projects
With Saxton Bampfylde