Harnessing the power of research to learn and generate new insights, enabling the arts community to be strategic, focused and adaptive.

We build capacity for arts organizations to implement change.

What is Evaluative Thinking?

A program that supports the arts sector in continuous learning, reflection, and adaptation by spotlighting, supporting, and sharing effective evaluative practices.

Our Ethos

Supporting Evaluation

Strengthening a culture of learning in the arts

Are you yearning to evaluate your challenges and successes, beyond funder requirements?

We now offer a service to help arts organizations develop and implement effective evaluation methods.

Meet with us to start your evaluation journey!

Find out how others are applying critical reflection to their work.

Spotlighting Evaluation

Featuring individuals and organizations

Sharing insights and tools from our own evaluation practices to demonstrate our approaches and encourage a wider community of practice.

Sharing Evaluation

Reflecting on our programs

Our Impact

Art After This with Robin Sokoloski, David Maggs, Metcalf Fellow on Arts and Society

Our Ethos

Transparency

Sharing projects and outcomes with our community so all can benefit.

Diversity of Practices

Providing space for a multiplicity of evaluation processes and approaches.

Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

Fostering a collaborative, community-driven approach to evaluation, where organizations and evaluators can learn from one another.

Capacity Building

Encouraging the development of a community of practice that will exist beyond our organization.

Continuous Improvement

Approaching the initiative with a spirit of continuous learning and improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evaluative Thinking is a new program from Mass Culture designed to support the arts sector in continuous learning, reflection, and adaptation. This initiative encourages a shift from merely measuring project outcomes to understanding the underlying processes and decisions that influence those outcomes.
The program comprises three essential components:

  1. Supporting Evaluation Practices: Providing a service to arts organizations in developing and implementing effective evaluation methods.
  2. Spotlighting Exceptional Evaluation Work: Highlighting individuals and organizations actively engaged in impactful evaluation efforts.
  3. Sharing Insights: Disseminating knowledge gained from Mass Culture’s own evaluation practices to benefit the wider arts community.

Every organization’s evaluation needs are unique, and our goal is to provide the coaching and resources to empower you to carry out this work on your own, with confidence. We begin with a one-on-one conversation, which might be all you need to get started. However, if you require more customized support, such as creating tailored evaluation tools or frameworks, that’s where our fee-for-service model comes in. This can include helping to develop and organize the questions you want to ask, designing the methods to gather data, analyzing the results, and creating engaging ways to share and apply the findings. Mass Culture is uniquely positioned to support the arts sector in this process. With our deep knowledge of evaluation, our understanding of the arts community, and our creatively driven approach, we ensure the work is not only effective but also accessible and engaging at every stage. Schedule a conversation with us and become part of a growing community dedicated to evaluative practices in the arts.

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