For UnLtd’s Research Findings Series, Hybrid edited the ‘Shining Stars’ Report. Originally not intended for publication, the reframed report drew out learning, key principles and restructured the findings in an accessible, easy to read, format. The Star People programme represented a new approach to place-based working, supporting social entrepreneurs to develop solutions to need in the places that people lived, worked and volunteered. The paper revealed how and in what ways, social entrepreneurs’ actions and behaviours affected the places that they operated in. The report can now be downloaded from UnLtd’s website at
Longitudinal Evaluation
The evaluation framework was built in from the outset and delivered both a formative and summative evaluation. The delivery team took the first, second and final reports, with recommendations, forward. The National Trust’s HLF adviser recommended the evaluation model produced to other HLF/ National Trust properties and projects. The evaluation framework considered both internal and external data and impact.
Impact and added value to BAME Performing Arts
For the British Council, Hybrid produced research and recommendations on the British Council’s impact and added value to the BAME Performing Arts sector and how the British Council can improve its existing BAME programmes of work. The research drew on evidence and evaluations from the three Theatre and Dance BAME programmes and interviews to gather current thinking from the wider BAME performing arts sector. Focus groups provided feedback on the findings and reviewed recommendations for future delivery.
Performance Live
For Performance Live, Hybrid delivered a formative evaluation, working closely with the steering group made up of partners across the performing arts sector (including Battersea Arts Centre), the BBC (arts division) and Arts Council England (Creative Media and Theatre). Performance Live commissioned fourteen new works for BBC broadcast, with a particular focus on diversity in the theatre and performing arts sector as well as in BBC commissioning and performance capture.
London Borough of Culture
Hybrid worked with Camden Council to produce a Cultural Framework and bid to the London Borough of Culture competition. Consultation for the Framework included creative engagement, with groups (delivered by Central St Martins) and on high streets (delivered by Parrabola), group sessions, one to one conversations (with key stakeholders including UCL, Knowledge Quarter, Lux, Cockpit Arts, Argent, Camden People’s Theatre) and an on line survey. The information gathered supported the production of both the Cultural Framework and Camden’s bid to be London Borough of Culture, achieving the largest Cultural Impact Award given that year.
Arts and Cultural Sector Impact Evaluation
Assessing the impact of The Space on the UK’s arts, digital and cultural sector. The evaluation is structured around The Space’s KPI Framework and runs parallel with other evaluation activity focused on audience engagement. The evaluation is intended to generate insights that help to refine strategy and increase future impact and value provided to UK arts organisations and audiences. The objectives of the evaluation are KPI measurement, gaining qualitative feedback from commissioned organisations, shaping business strategy, stakeholder participation, reporting and refining The Space’s future approach to evaluation. The evaluation will be used to evidence sector needs, the effectiveness of The Space to date in addressing needs and opportunities to refine the programme to meet evolving requirements.
Cultural Olympiad Programme
For the London Borough of Bexley, Hybrid commissioned a wide range of artists for the Cultural Olympiad programme including Janetka Platun, Parrabbola, Seiwa Cunningham, Anna Rootes, Haccamorai and Emily Tracy. Commissions were site specific, digital media, visual and performing arts and an extensive programme of participatory arts workshops.
The participatory arts workshops reached vulnerable communities who may not otherwise have engaged with the London 2012 Olympics. We worked with GLA to programme a bespoke ‘Showtime’ package in the borough. We worked with young people to report on the Olympic Torch Relay using Facebook and Twitter. The young people conducted interviews and uploaded short films and sound recordings produced on their phones. The Marketing and Comms reached across the borough achieving audiences of over 100, 000.
