S1:E7 Enabling impact through cultural research – Sunil Iyengar in conversation with Adrian Ellis

Episode

Aug 19

Written By 3 Bells Admin

Guest

Sunil Iyengar

In conversation with

Adrian Ellis

Key Takeaways Contributor

Criena Gehrke

In this episode, our host Adrian Ellis speaks with Sunil Iyengar, Director of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts in the US, about the increasing global demand for research, information and statistics to demonstrate the value of the arts. They also discuss the need for more longitudinal and qualitative research, especially community-based participatory studies. Thereafter, Adrian is joined by fellow host Criena Gehrke to discuss key takeaways.

Date of Recording

26 July 2021

Date of Publication

19 August 2021

[00:00:00]

[THEME MUSIC]

[00:00:06]

Adrian Ellis: Hello, and welcome to The Three Bells. This podcast is one of a series brought to you by AEA Consulting and The Binnacle Foundation for the Global Cultural Districts Network, in which we explore what's happening around the world on those busy, and sometimes congested intersections of cultural urban life.

The series and supporting materials can be found at www.thethreebells.net. If you like our content, please subscribe and give us a positive review on your podcast listening platform of choice.

I am Adrian Ellis, the chair of GCDN. And today, I get to talk to Sunil Iyengar. Sunil is the Director of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington, DC. He has been in that post for 15 years. And as you will hear, has a fantastic overview of the development of research relevant to our field, and some suggestions on where it may be and should be going. After my conversation with Sunil, I'll be joined by Criena Gehrke for our usual key takeaways segment. So, stay tuned.

[00:01:14]

MUSIC TRANSITION

[00:01:21]

Adrian Ellis: Sunil, welcome. Thank you so much for joining me. I've been really looking forward to the opportunity to talk to you and to get you on the podcast. So, thank you so much for coming.

[00:01:30]
Sunil Iyengar: Thank you for having me, Adrian. It's great to be here.

…

Download the full transcript

External Links

National Endowment for the Arts: the US National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) supports exemplary arts projects in communities nationwide through grantmaking, initiatives, partnerships, and events.
Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account: the NEA partners with the Bureau of Economic Analysis to provide annual reports of the economic impact of arts and culture in the United States. These reports are based on supplementary statistics called the Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account, or ACPSA.
NEA Research Labs: this NEA program aims to yield empirical insights about the arts for the benefit of arts and non-arts sectors alike.
Artists’ Use of Technology as a Creative Medium: this field scan and report explore the multi-faceted practices of artists who engage with digital technologies in both the creative and functional aspects of their work.
The Diversity of Performing Arts Audiences: Sunil Iyengar’s review of Zannie Voss and Jill Robinson’s In it for the Long Haul – the first action-oriented research reports about COVID-19’s impact on arts organizations in the US.
National Endowment for the Arts Research Agenda: FY 2017‐2021: This document sets forth a five‐year research agenda for the NEA – a new five-year agenda will be published soon.

About Our Speakers

Sunil Iyengar is the Director of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in the US. Under his leadership, the NEA has produced dozens of research reports, hosted periodic research events and webinars, led strategic plan development for the agency, and established research and data partnerships with other national agencies. +

Adrian Ellis is the founder of AEA Consulting (1990) and the Global Cultural Districts Network (2013). He has worked in senior management and as a board member in both museums and the performing arts and as a strategy consultant to leading clients in the cultural, public, and business sectors around the world. +

Criena Gehrke is Chief Executive Officer of HOTA, Home of the Arts. She has a diverse and eclectic background in arts management and a particular passion for the role of arts and culture in building strong and connected communities. She has worked with all tiers of government on the development and implementation of cultural policy. +