Objectives
It is anticipated that the recommended option will set out how an integrated regional approach to cultural research, intelligence and data collection could:

• Bring the regional cultural research community together
• Contribute to the development of sounder and more evidence based policy-making within the region and nationally
• Enhance current practice in knowledge management and intelligence sharing
• Develop a foresight function
• Broker collaborative projects and help reduce the fragmentation of expertise
• Provide objective research to inform decision-makers in the regional cultural sector and in related sectors for social, environmental and economic development
• Act as a “critical friend” to the region’s cultural agencies, especially by connecting them with international critical thinking on policy development and implementation
• Provide a forum for developing a flexible and dynamic range of educational and continuing professional development programmes
• Develop import substitution and export potential in cultural consultancy
• Encourage reflective thinking on the achievements of past cultural projects within the region.

Outcomes
The proposed outcomes of the study will include:

• An analysis of the key issues, requirements and priorities that need to be addressed in the region’s approach to cultural research and data collection
• A review of current cultural research and data collection capabilities within the region and a SWOT analysis of this existing research ecology
• An analysis of a range of options for improved networking and / or organisational development
• A recommended option including an assessment of viability and resource requirements
• A recommended plan for further work and implementation

Anyone interested in this study should contact Simon Bennett, Knowledge Development Manager, MLA West Midlands at or telephone 0121 631 5821