Future performance predictions and aspirations
If we then move away from fragmented sectors, how such a knowledge-unified eco-system would like to be performing? The future performance forecast and aspirations of user organisations are examined, using both numerical and textual data from the online questionnaires. Knowledge artefact characteristics were explored in relation to current performance. But how did these organisations forecast to be performing ten years on? And how does their forecast compare with how they aspired to perform in the future?
According to the online questionnaire, the participating user sites predicted their future performance to improve slightly from just above average towards good (from 54.97% to 60.87, Table 7 2).
User sites expected a modest increase in Social participation and Environmental per-formance, and a higher increase in Economic development to just above average. These were similar rates to the providers’ prediction (matched by government departments but the performance rating was higher by commercial providers and support agencies). Both user sites and provider organisations aspired for the cultural heritage ecosystem’s performance to be above good (75.62% and 80.51% respectively).
Many participants included text in their answers relating to future prediction and aspirations. Several were concerned about the survival of their sites and service, ‘I don’t know if there will be a library service in 10 years’ time, we suffered major cuts, and more cuts are planned in the future’ (Participant QU218). Participants would like their focus to shift from ‘surviving to thriving’ (Participant QU18), also reflected in the ratings provided in the previous table, aspiring to move from just average to good and higher. Regarding Cultural education, user participants would like to improve their programme on physical and online events and exhibitions, being able to employ education and outreach staff, [re]engage with schools, have better websites and interpre-tation, improve the promotion of their significance, and engage more diverse audienc-es even with difficult cultural topics such as slavery. In Social participation, participants would like to work closer with their communities, including developing community-led events and engage audiences that are not currently connected, engage with young people regularly, improve training for staff and volunteers, and grow and man-age better their volunteer teams. In Economic development, the common themes were the lack of funds and of staff, which are seen as barriers to make sustainable changes. Participants would like to be able to grow their existing income streams and diversify more their fundraising plans, particularly where costly heritage buildings are cared for. In Environmental preservation, participants want to improve energy effi-ciency towards net zero, which is harder in listed and other historic buildings, to im-prove collections care environmental controls and systems, and to have permanent professional collections care staff.
Participants from provider organisations aspired to see more inclusive and ac-cessible engagement of communities, better staff diversity and training, ‘shift to a practitioner or artist-centric approach’ (Participant QP3), and develop longer-term funding. Measuring and evaluating performance and impact was a pattern in the comments, ‘to be better at demonstrating the economic impact of our sector, and for it to be better recognised. Not being seen as a financial burden but a public benefit’ (Participant Q27).
