What are we aiming for? 

The project developed new perspectives and improved methodologies for capturing the wider societal value of culture, including but also beyond its economic impact, to enhance the potential role of culture as element of public policy for social, cultural and political cohesion and inclusion. Culture is the new frontier for an effective and real European Integration.

The structural model of the Societal Dimension of Culture developed inside MESOC model is:

To define the perimeter of investigation of the societal value and impacts of cultural policies and practices, thus framing and guiding the collection of academic and institutional literature and the definition of a set of case studies relevant to the three crossover themes. 

As a theoretical lens to propose and validate, using the Delphi method, in collaboration with a large representation of key institutional, academic and professional actors, a long list of impact transmission variables and indicators reflecting the underlying approach “theory of change” of the surveyed case studies.

As an evaluative tool to assess the societal value and impacts of cultural policies and practices related to the three crossover themes, both diachronically - i.e. by comparing the status of a same community in different points of time, according to the preselected variables and indicators - and synchronically - i.e. by comparing the status of different communities in a same point of time according to the same variable and indicator.

To propose a set of statistical data sources (possibly including new ones that are practically and economically feasible) which could complement existing measures of the societal value and impacts of culture by adding its effects on personal well-being and health, citizens involvement and participation, urban identity and social cohesion.