What counts as data: how creative methods understand place, culture and belonging

Ashton, Daniel, Marsh, Nicky and Owen, Joseph (2023) What counts as data: how creative methods understand place, culture and belonging. CKC2023: New Futures for Creative Economies, UWE Bristol, Bristol. 29 - 30 Mar 2023.

Abstract

The emphasis on affect and emotion in cultural policy and regeneration initiatives is now commonplace: “restoring pride in place”, for example, was a guiding mission of the 2022 Levelling Up White Paper. Yet the concept, experience and mechanics of place attachment remain relatively undefined and unexamined in policy documents, practice and evaluations. In this presentation, researchers from SIAH at the University of Southampton explore the multitudes and complexities of place attachment, particularly its relationship to local pride, neighbourhood cultures and civic engagement.

This presentation will use our research on towns—undertaken with partners and a wider community of practice—to collectively explore creative methods and metrics, particularly those which address the monitoring, evaluating and reporting of pride in place. We share findings and recommendations from our recent AHRC-funded projects, where we developed and tested our creative place-based methods. We will also discuss some of the political, ethical and epistemological challenges and opportunities of place-based research. This presentation argues for the value and range of qualitative research, which can complement econometric data on culture, regeneration and local economies.

After our presentation, the audience will be invited to contribute insights and experiences concerning the value and potential of creative methods, and how such methods might develop new understandings of place, culture and belonging.

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Contributors

Author: Daniel Ashton

Author: Joseph Owen

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