Insightful Evaluation for Cultural and Civic Change

I specialise in evaluation that is embedded in place, led by people, and grounded in cultural practice. Whether working with cultural anchors, museums, public realm projects or creative green space initiatives, I bring over 30 years’ experience in the arts, culture and heritage sector and a strong track record of designing evaluation strategies that support reflection, accountability, advocacy and change.

My approach is creative, participatory and strategic. I work closely with organisations and communities to shape evaluation processes that are proportionate, practical and meaningful. I am often commissioned to design evaluation frameworks, deliver insight reports, or provide training and capacity-building for teams across organisations. I am also frequently brought in as a Critical Friend, evaluator or reflective partner on funded programmes and strategic initiatives.

I work with clients to leave a legacy of evaluation and monitoring that can be sustained beyond the life of a single project. This includes supporting the development of internal communities of practice and evaluation champions, embedding reflective approaches across teams, and building the confidence and capability of staff at all levels to gather, understand and use insight.

What I Offer

Development of bespoke evaluation frameworks grounded in your strategic aims and context

  • Design and implementation of metrics and monitoring tools (qualitative and quantitative)

  • Creation of evaluation systems that are embedded and proportionate to your capacity

  • Team training and workshops to build skills and confidence in evaluation and monitoring

  • Production of stakeholder-facing reports that communicate impact clearly and persuasively

  • Support to create an evaluation community of practice within your organisation

Place-Based Evaluation

I have developed specialist expertise in place-based evaluation for cultural programmes, regeneration schemes, and placemaking initiatives. I support projects to understand their impact at hyperlocal and city-wide levels, often weaving together story, data and context to show how place is shaped by cultural activity, and vice versa. I regularly evaluate cultural place partnerships, co-created public art programmes, and creative engagement strategies that aim to shift power, foster local identity and catalyse longer-term change.

Museums and Cultural Anchors

My work with museums, arts centres and other cultural anchors focuses on embedding evaluation into organisational life. This includes Front of House evaluation tools, citizen-led approaches, and new models of community voice in evaluation. I support institutions to connect their mission with audience insight and social value, helping them to tell a stronger story about their civic role and community relevance.

Nature Connectedness and Green Cultural Space

Evaluation of nature and cultural space is another key strand of my practice. I work with environmental arts programmes, green infrastructure schemes, and place-based nature initiatives to explore the impact of creative connection to the natural world. I bring a dual lens of environmental responsibility and cultural participation, helping organisations to track outcomes around wellbeing, environmental awareness, stewardship and inclusive access.

An ever- growing suite of evaluation tools, methods and guideworks

The Magpie Collection brings together the tools, templates and guides I have created or worked with over the years. Designed to be practical and adaptable, these resources are used by arts organisations, museums, civic teams and community-led groups across the UK.

Each tool in the Magpie Collection is designed to be used as a standalone resource or integrated into a wider evaluation strategy. The collection continues to grow and evolve as new projects unfold.

The Magpie Collection is available to purchase as individual documents, as a complete set, or as a bespoke selection tailored to your organisation’s needs.

The Magpie Collection

  • Citizen Evaluator

    A flexible evaluation approach that equips participants and project leads to take on the role of evaluators themselves. Includes both a ‘lite’ and a full model, with supporting training and planning materials.

  • Front of House Evaluation Toolkit

    A practical set of roles, training tables and skills development plans designed to embed evaluation in day-to-day visitor engagement. Includes a comment card builder template, methods flowcharts and analysis planning guides.

  • Hyperlocal Community Evaluation Framework

    A comprehensive toolkit for embedding hyperlocal community perspectives in evaluation. Includes a readiness checklist, phased implementation plan and a self-assessment scoring tool.

  • Qualitative and Quantitative Method Menu

    An expanded list of over 200 evaluation methods, including Q methodology, adapted specifically for the arts, culture, place and heritage sectors.

  • Placemaking Evaluation Tools

    Custom tools and guidance for evaluating place-based programmes, public realm strategies, and co-created placemaking initiatives. Tailored to suit partnership models and local authority collaborations.